There are a lot of misconceptions out there when it comes to guide dogs and what they do and what they do not do, and I am here to save the day if you will. I feel pretty confident in saying that at one time or another, the majority of handlers have been approached by a random person and asked a totally weird question pertaining to their ability and I have actually openly started laughing during such occasions, which is kinda rude I guess but sometimes I just can not help it. I know people are just curious when they see a guy walking down the street with a big black gorgeous Labrador but some of the questions people have asked me have been so out of left field that they simply deserve to be laughed at.

Does Lars know when it is safe to cross the street? Yes and no. Lars knows when it is safe to cross because there are no cars zooming across our line of travel, but he does not have the ability to read traffic lights thus it is up to me to let him know when I want to cross the street. That said, if I tell him to go and there are cars that pose a danger to us, Lars is trained to intelligently disobey me and not move, thus saving both our lives.

Do I work Lars inside my home? Umm no. Believe it or not, blind people do know the layout of their own living area and do not need help from their service animal to find their kitchen when they are hungry. This is probably the most annoying question I am asked because when I answer it, the retort usually is something like: "So how do you find your way around then?" I am a bad ambassador for blind people because at this stage of the conversation, I get very frustrated with the sheer ignorance of the person I am talking too and simply become quite rude with them. Enough said...

Does Lars work all the time? Lar does not work all the time. When I am out in public with Lars, he has a job to do yes, but when we are at home, or at friend's houses or anywhere where I do not need his eyes to help me out, he is off duty and is free to charm, and believe me when I say that Lars loves to woo people and is very good at it.

Does Lars get play time? When healthy, Lars gets lots of play time. Play time is a great way for him to unwind and is a great method of relieving stress for both of us. The saying all work and no play does not apply with service animals, and when the harness comes off, Lars turns into a normal bouncy Labrador who needs to blow off steam with a good game of tug of war or a good jaunt.

Does Lars know where you want to go when you leave your house? Lars does not know where we are going when I leave home with him, and I can not simply put him on autopilot when I step out my door. Lars' job is to insure that I get where I am going in a safe manner, but when it comes to giving directions, he is not in charge, although there are times when he thinks he is.

These are just a few of the questions I get on a regular basis, and I hope you now have a little better understanding when it comes to what a service animal does, and does not do.