[nagdu] Thanks and re: opinions of other blind people

[Mardi Hadfield]

Hi every one,    Julie, thanks. The handle arrived this morning and it works
perfect with Wanagi"s harness / vest.We have been working her on bus lifts
and elevators and she is doing very well. I am also training her to sit when
we come to steps/stairs,and escalators. Nala was trained to step in front of
me,preventing me form going forward. I decided to have Wanagi sit as I don't
want to take the chance of running over her feet,or running into her. She
seems to not be afraid of my chair,which is good considering her foot was
injured in our accident.............Marsha, I think your are doing the right
thing with your dog. When people come into my house            , I tell my
dogs to go to their crates and stay. Some times I will lock them in if I
feel they will get in the way,as my house is very small and 4 dogs can get
under foot easily. I do not want any one to trip over them. Nala and Max are
good about not getting into the food,but the 2 new ones,Wanagi and
Tokala,will still beg and steal some times if I leave them out of their
crates. I do not think crates or tie downs are cruel. They are a necessary
part of dog training.  I have had people yell at me from their cars when
they see me use a leash correction on my dogs.  After Nala and I got hit by
a van,she tried to get accross the street as fast as possible,some times
cutting corners and ramming my wheelchair into the curb.Once my front wheel
broke off,because of this behaviour. While I under stood her fear,as I too
had the same fear,this was unacceptable behaviour. I did not want to give up
on her so I kept working with her to correct the behaviour. I had to use
alot of leash corrections , and praised her when she did it right. A lot of
people critisized me but I got her over her fear and she no longer cuts
corners.I was tough to do  as I almost never had to use leash corrections on
Nala.It was either do it or retire her,as this was a dangerous situation for
me. It was successful and she did not hate me for it. It did not take long
before she understood what I wanted her to do.There is another incident with
my first guide dog,but I will talk about that in another post as this one is
one is already long.   Have a great day, Mardi and
Nala,retired,Wanagi,gdit,and Tokala,gd at home and part time pet.