On touching or talking to a service dog
How many times have we seen a service dog and wondered how much training it took for it to be able to tell when it was safe for its "mistress" to cross a busy street? And in meeting a person who uses a service dog, have you wondered if it is okay to pet the dog? If you answered yes, this cross-cultural tip is important to you.

Here is the general rule: You never want to speak to a service dog without first having spoken to its mistress and asking if you can speak to or touch the dog. Remember that the dog — while a great companion — is more than a companion and is always working to secure the welfare and safety of its mistress. So, please refrain from making the kind of cooing or "smooching" sounds you might be in the habit of making for your family pet. You never want to distract the dog in any way from doing its job. Also, never try to feed a working dog. And please do not be offended if a person does not want to talk about her service animal: that only means you are more interesting to her at that moment than the dog.