[nagdu] Barking to Laura and Myrtle

Mon Dec 15 19:42:07 UTC 2008

Daniel and Laura, 
Have you both written separate to Leader Dogs, outlining the issues
you've had with your dogs? 
Stick to the facts, not your emotions, and lay out line by line what is
going on? 
Then, send it to the president of the school, as well as to whomever
liscenses guide dog schools. 
Send it via certified mail so you are notified all parties got your
letters. 
Know too that there is no law stating you have to work your dogs. If you
do not feel safe, then use a cane. 
Neither of you need to wait to get started on paperwork to obtain dogs
from other schools, should you choose to do that. 
Both these dogs sound so poor, that I wonder what the comonalities might
be, i.e. were they trained by the same instructor, had the same
parentage, the same raiser, what is broken that can be fixed, not for
these dogs, but for future dogs and teams. 
Neither of you should feel that you have to "just sit and wait". 
Be proactive and help yourselves on this. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Daniel Sweeney
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 10:45 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Barking to Laura and Myrtle

Hello Laura,
I have not posted to this list in a very long time, and I have read the
posts about returning the dog. I do not know how long you have had
Myrtle, but I would have to agree that you should insist on a
replacement. I tried to ever since I got home with my dog from Leader
Dog, and I still have him.
I thought I could work with him with the help of other people. Well,
here it is, almost 6 months later and I am still having all of the same
problems I had when I got home. He will pull so strongly I cannot take
him anywhere except for a walk up the street, and then only when it is
clear. I cannot walk him on days like the last week when the walks are
icy, as I do not feel safe at all. He has pulled me so hard and run me
into so many obstacles that I lost two teeth, I was pulled into a 4 foot
pond of water at 5 o'clock in the morning when he took off after another
dog, I have been walked into the street, and many other things. I am
totally blind and am unable to see when he is about to do something.
Sometimes I can feel it in the harness, but not when he is pulling so
hard. The last six months have been pure hell. After complaining to
Leader Dogs constantly, there is finally a trainer coming out to observe
the situation in January. Up until now they have told me no trainer was
available to assist me. I live in Denver, Colorado. Even the thought of
getting rid of this dog would break my heart now. I know he is a lousy
guide dog for me, but he is my best friend now. I only hope the trainer
will be able to help with something, but if not, I will just go to
another guide dog school. I think it is appalling the type of follow-up
instruction you receive from Leader Dogs, and the instruction given to
first time guide dog user is totally unacceptable. 
I know that I am rambling, but I really feel you should insist on a
replacement now before you get too attached as I have.
Sincerely,
Daniel and Scout

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lora and Myrtle
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 9:51 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Barking

I have a dog from Leader Dogs. Today my dog Myrtle started barking at
another dog before she saw it and before the dog started barking. She
has done this ever since she has got home. I ahve contacted leader dogs
and have tried a gentle leader. I have tried leash corrections and
verbal corrections with no luck. I think it is aggressive behavior
because her tail goes up and her ears are forward with her fur behind
her shoulders and tail sticking on end. She lunged at a dog tonight and
I almost fell on the ice. Otherwise she is a very good guide. Normally
she barks at a dog when she sees them and lunges at them. What do you
guys think. I have contacted my trainer several times and the
suggestions she has told me to do have not worked out. I'm worried I am
going to get hurt one of these days because my dog pulls so hard. I
don't know if I will go with LD again. I would like this to stop or at
least be able to get my dog under control. I don't want to go to student
seminars because she can't even handle one dog let alone alot of them.

--
Lora and Leader Dog Myrtle
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