Question

Sally Westerly, who is blind, brings her seeing-eye dog to her dental hygiene appointment. The BEST strategy for the dental hygienist when interacting with the dog is to ________.

1) Provide treats because this will distract the dog and ensure a more relaxed environment.
2) Ignore the dog and focus solely on Sally Westerly.
3) Ask Sally Westerly to leave the dog outside the dental office.
4) Call security to remove the dog from the dental office.

Answer 1

The dental hygienist should ignore the seeing-eye dog and focus on the patient, as these service animals are highly trained to perform their duties without distractions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best strategy for the dental hygienist when interacting with Sally Westerly's seeing-eye dog is to ignore the dog and focus solely on Sally. Seeing-eye dogs, like the Labrador retriever described in the example, are highly trained service animals. From a young age, they are socialized and taught basic behaviors, followed by intensive training with an instructor, including a rigorous final exam in a complex environment such as New York City.

Upon passing, a seeing-eye dog is matched with a person who is blind or visually impaired and undergoes additional training together to ensure a strong working relationship. As service animals, these dogs are trained to remain undistracted while performing their duties, making it essential to respect their role and not interfere with their work by offering treats, asking for the dog to be removed, or calling security.