[nagdu] dog breeds and owner training

[Nicole B. Torcolini]

Ah, yes, retiring dogs. Lexia being my first, I have not gone through that 
yet. However, your story brings to mind a husky with another job. Excuse me 
for moving away from guide dogs, but, according to the author Garry Paulsen, 
it's just as hard to retire a husky from sled work. Dogs just do not 
understand why they cannot work anymore.

Nicole

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mardi Hadfield" <wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] dog breeds and owner training


Hi every one,  I have had many different breeds of dogs as pets, But all of
my guide dogs have been Huskies.  I tried a border collie, and he would have
been a good guide,but he was an abused dog before I got him and he could not
handle being out in public. Wanagi is a shepherd / husky cross and she was
coming along very nicely with her training, when the weather changed to cold
and rainy and I discovered that she had a hip problem. I think she would
have made an excellent guide if she did not have that problem. I should have
had her  xrayed, but the vet said she moved fine so I thought she was OK. I
will not make that mistake again. Tracy said it, not all dogs make it as
guides.  I kept Wanagi as we did bond, right from the start. She is still
very special to me.  I hate that I have to retire Nala. As much as I loved
Lily, my first guide, Nala is a much better guide and she really loves her
job. I have continued to work her only because she does not want to retire
yet. But I know that when the weather here gets hot, she will not be able to
work. I am going to try out a german shepherd tomorrow. I hope this dog will
work out.  If I were able to walk and use a guide dog, there would have been
several dogs that I tried out that would have worked. Finding a dog that can
keep up to my pace with the wheel chair and remain in the right position
next to the chair, is not easy. I am spoiled,as Nala was perfect from the
very beginning, when I got her.She learned very fast and really enjoyed
working. The first time I took her on the bus, she went up on the lift ,just
like she had been doing it all her life. In the time period of 4 months,she
was a finished, trustworthy guide dog. This time is not so easy, as I just
can't seem to find a dog that even wants to work, let alone keep up with me
and stay in the correct position.Things would be much simpler if I could get
a program trained dog,but I just can't be away from my home and other
animals and my business for 4 weeks. So I will keep looking for that so far
allusive dog. I know that I will find it , I just hope it is soon. I love
Huskies and for me they make a good guides, but I am open to other breeds,
if that dog can do the job for me.   Have a great day,  Mardi and
Nala,semi-retired
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