[nagdu] guide dog schools and dogs growling and barking

[diane vlasoff]

I agree.  My first guide, Austria, would bark when someone came to my door. 
Since I am in the habit of leaving my door open in the summer months I 
really appreciated the alert. Sadly, she was attacked by other dogs while 
working 4 seperate times.Finally, she needed to be retired early due to 
arthritis.

Betty-joe,my current guide,  has growled several times in the past 5 years 
while working. She has never been attacked by another dog, and I partially 
attribute this to her sticking up for herself on the rare occasions she has 
growled.

So, I clearly fall into the catagory of occasionally and under specific 
circumstances, its ok with me.

Diane and Betty-Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <craig.borne at dot.gov>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:41 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dog schools and dogs growling and barking


> Doesn't it matter in what situation the dog growls or barks?  Ollie may
> growl or bark at another dog, if that other dog is off leash and in
> Ollie's face.  Under that set of circumstances, I can't say I blame him.
>
> Ollie is also in the habit of barking when our door bell rings or
> someone knocks at our door (not when the same is done when we are
> visiting others at their home).  At first, I tried to curb this
> behavior, but then I came to the conclusion that I actually like him
> alerting me to when someone is at the door.
>
> Barking and growling at someone or something on the other side of the
> street or on leash is not a very good trait in a guide dog, but the
> alternatives described above frankly do not bother me, regardless of
> whether or not the dog school agrees.
>
> Craig
>
> Craig Borne
> NHTSA/DOT
> (202) 493-0627
> craig.borne at dot.gov
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:28 AM
> To: nagdu
> Cc: New York Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] guide dog schools and dogs growling and barking
>
> I am not a liberty to mention names or dogs or schools.
>
> But there has been some talk and I would like to ask.
>
> hypothetically speaking, if a dog growls or barks, should the school
> tell
> you to retire your dog, I mean I own maxx I had that option but lets say
> you
> don't own your dog out right, and the dog is a good worker other than
> the
> little growls and barking.  Is that any reason to retire a dog.
>
> Thank you.\
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Treasurer
> National Federation of the Blind
> Greater Long Island Chapter
>
>
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