[Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist

[David Andrews]

People say what they think, but it isn't necessarily so.  Discussion 
of dog guides is fine on this list.  Most of our dog discussions are 
on the nagdu list, but they are not off topic on a couple other lists.

David Andrews, Moderator

At 07:45 AM 1/13/2015, you wrote:
>Cheryl,
>
>I'm sorry.  I've gotten lots of responses off list stating that this 
>question wasn't very well suited for this list.  Now, I'm hearing 
>you say it would a been suited elseware.  I thought that this list 
>was designed for talk of blind issues in general.
>
>I'm sorry.  I won't post anything again like this.
>
>Chris.
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Cheryl Echevarria via blindtlk" 
><blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>To: "'Mark Tardif'" <markspark at roadrunner.com>; "'Blind Talk Mailing 
>List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 7:43 AM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist
>
>
>>May I suggest if a person has this particular question, that they contact
>>NAGDU talk list, or we a lot of our NFB state affiliates we know have NAGDU
>>Chapters. Like here in NY. We have NYAGDU, NY Chapter of the National
>>Association of Guide Dog Users.
>>
>>Or you can reach out to the President of NAGDU. Mr. Marion Gwizdala,
>>president at nagdu.org
>>
>>We can recommend and advise on these issues and others.
>>
>>Thank you.
>>
>>Cheryl Echevarria, Board Member
>>NYAGDU
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark Tardif
>>via blindtlk
>>Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 6:55 PM
>>To: Szostak, Christine; Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist
>>
>>I think I owe everyone an apology here.  I do think there are advantages to
>>the cane and I would imagine to working with the dog guide as well.  But
>>obviously there are a lot of people who have no trouble at all going to the
>>dentist with their dog guides, so I certainly stand corrected in the
>>previous message I sent earlier today.  I do apologize.
>>
>>
>>
>>Mark Tardif
>>Nuclear arms will not hold you.
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Szostak, Christine via blindtlk
>>Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 5:31 PM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist
>>
>>Hi All,
>>  I had to almost laugh when reading this as I just returned from the
>>dentist with my guide and this was the first message I read.
>>  I put my guide dog right next to the chair and have always done so with no
>>problems at all. If the dog freaks out a little over any of the sounds, I
>>just place my hand gently on his back or head and say good boy and he calms
>>right down. Usually he  falls asleep and the dental staff every place I have
>>taken my guide loves having him and never seems to have issues with him
>>being at all in the way. Usually, I make sure he is on the side opposite
>>from the main person doing the work (e.g., if the dentist is working on me,
>>than he goes on the side of the assistant since that person usually mainly
>>has jobs like getting me wet:)) though I always ask the dental staff which
>>side they prefer that I place him on and to let me know if he is getting in
>>their way.
>>Happy Monday!
>>Chris (and a dog who was just glad it was not himself in the dentist's
>>chair:))
>>________________________________________
>>From: blindtlk [blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Christopher-Mark
>>Gilland via blindtlk [blindtlk at nfbnet.org]
>>Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 8:59 AM
>>To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>Subject: [Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist
>>
>>Guys,
>>
>>This may seem like a somewhat off-the-wall question, but I got to thinking
>>this morning...  Tomorrow, I have a dental appointment.  Now, I myself am a
>>cane user, and don't have a dog.  Never have.  I'd love to get one one of
>>these days, but that's another topic entirely.  LOL!  Anyway, as most of you
>>probably know, a dentist office in general would be fine for a service
>>animal, like a guide dog, but once they call you back for your appointment,
>>most of you probably know that for one thing, those rooms are pretty small
>>as is.  Now, of corse, if you're at a place like I was as a kid where there
>>is no privacy, and you're out in the bare butt openning with all other
>>children, then that's another story, but again, that's a topic for another
>>day.  But generally speaking, most of the time, 95 percent the time, those
>>rooms are going to be not only quite little, but quite narrow as well.
>>Then, you put the dental chair in there, plus the cart with the tray of tool
>>instruments, plus usually a desk with a computer, then you take the dentist
>>and his/her assistant dental hygienist, it's going to get super super
>>crouded!  This said, you can't exactly put the dog under the chair, as for
>>one, the chair moves, which if not careful could hurt the dog, 2, if you're
>>getting novicayne, and are anything like me, you're gonna yelp pretty loud
>>when they stick ya, which of corse would alarm the dog... Good? Fido, nice?
>>Fido... LOL!  Just kidding.
>>But seriously, my point being, where the heck do you all  stash the dog when
>>in the back room?  OK, if it was a regular family physician appointment,
>>then yeah, ok, that wouldn't be an issue.  Just lie the dog down out of your
>>way and the doctor's way, as most examining rooms are big enough to do that,
>>but not so much a dentistry room.  Do you all just leave the dog out in the
>>waiting room?  Surely, if you're going by yourself, you don't do that. Uh,
>>skeuze me, sir?  uh, like, I'm blind and am going back in the back, will you
>>watch ma dog?  Um... Yeah... me thinks not.
>>
>>
>>
>>So, what do you all normally do?  I know there are certain times you just
>>can't! take the dog, much as you'd probably like to.  Is this one of those
>>times?
>>
>>
>>
>>Chris.

         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org