People should be able to tell if a guide dog is on or off duty from if the animal is wearing a dog harness or not.

This is one of the pieces of advice from the Canadian Press to help members of the public know how to act when they come across a canine that is assisting a blind person.

If the animal has the dog harness on, individuals should not touch or talk to it because they may lose their concentration and put themselves or their handler in danger.

However, once the strap is removed, the news provider asserted it was fine for people to ask permission to pet the creature.

"Guide dogs differentiate between work and play through the presence of their working harness," stated the online resource.

"When the harness is on, they must either be guiding their handlers or lying quietly as the owners attend to other tasks."

The website also reminded folk not to feed the canine because their weight will be carefully monitored to ensure they are in the best health possible.

Guide Dog Week ran earlier this month to provide support to young people aged under 17 who are blind or partially-sighted.