International Guide Dog Day: Matt McLaren on why you should never pat a guide dog

SURE, they’re adorable. But patting a guide dog can have dangerous consequences for blind people.

Former Australia’s Got Talent finalist Matt McLaren and his guide dog Stamford. Today is International Guide Dog Day. Picture: Tim Hunter

“CAN I pat your guide dog?’ is a question Matt McLaren gets asked all the time, even though most people who ask him already know the answer.

“People say ‘I know you’re not supposed to pat guide dogs, but can I pat him?’ and while they’re still asking the question they’re already patting him,” said the 27-year-old from Newcastle, who was born blind and has been with his guide dog Stamford for eight years.

“One woman even said to me ‘My dad’s blind’ and she still patted him. The trouble is people think they’re the exception to the rule.”

Today is International Guide Dog Day and the musician, who was a finalist on the most recent series of Channel Nine’s Australia’s Got Talent, is raising awareness about the important role guide dogs play in helping blind people live independent lives.

Almost 90 per cent of guide dog owners say their dog has been distracted by a stranger during the past 12 months, according to a 2015 survey from Guide Dogs NSW.

Stamford and Matt McLaren have been together for eight years. Picture: Tim Hunter

“If someone pats Stamford, especially while he’s walking, he is going to forget about what he’s doing. That can throw him off for that moment, or it can throw him off for the rest of the day,” Mr McLaren said.

“I rely on him when I’m in places I’ve never been before, and he won’t work as well after he’s been patted. It can be really detrimental.”

Mr McLaren cites an incident where a stranger patting Stamford caused him to lose his balance on a set of stairs.

“[Stamford] wasn’t concentrating and I fell and smashed my face into the side of the stairs,” he said.

Guide dogs usually meet their owners when they’re puppies and spend several weeks in intensive training. The dog and owner then work together to get around, using “lots of hand and verbal signals”.

“But it’s not just me giving Stamford demands,” Mr McLaren said. “There comes a time where I have to trust what he’s doing. He might be veering to the left, but there’s usually a perfectly good reason for that. You have to know when to go with him and when not to.

Stamford can be easily distracted if strangers pat him. Picture: Tim Hunter

“If I’m at a gig and I need to go to the bar, I have to know where the bar is in relation to me. I might know it’s to my left, but his job is to get around all the obstacles — the people and tables — between me and the bar.

“The first time I go somewhere new, we have to make it up a bit and hope for the best, but assuming he does his job we’re usually fine.”

Stamford is able to memorise routes and important landmarks after spending a small amount of time in a new area.

“I opened a new business recently and wanted to get familiar with the area — find out where the shops are, the bus stop is, just a few blocks — and he can memorise that in one go,” Mr McLaren said. “Stamford isn’t a robot, but he’s an exceptional guide dog.”

To donate go Guide Dogs Australia, visit guidedogsaustralia.com or call 1800 484 333.

Originally published as International Guide Dog Day: Matt McLaren on why you should never pat a guide dog