[nagdu] winter questions

[Hope Paulos]

I'm from Maine and it gets below 0 here.  On those days I leave 
my dog home (if I cggddIf Ic't, I will miss classes and stay home 
with her.  She stays home alone, but when I go to school aall day 
Idon't like to leave her home alone because she wouldn't be able 
to go outside to relieve.  I'mgone from 8 oclock to 4.  I have a 
coat for her as wellddShe won't wear boots, so I just walk very 
fast from one buildingffthe other.
Hope this helps.
Hope and Beignet

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net
>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,	the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users"<nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:04:25 -0500
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] winter questions

>Kolby,
>    I cannot answer that question for you.  I think it depends 
upon the
>individual dog.  My former guide dog was a Labrador Retriever who 
was born
>and bred in Florida.  When I traveled to michigan one winter, he 
absulutely
>loved the cold weather and the snow.  My current guide is a 
Shepherd Collie
>mix and enjoys being out in the cold, but "cold" is relative.  It 
is supposed
>to get cold here tonight and for the next three nights.  Keep in 
mind I am in
>Florida, so "cold" means it will be about 38 degrees.  Here I 
deal with a
>different type of inclement weather.  During the summer we get 
some pretty
>wet days.  On these days, even if I must go out in the rain, my 
dog does not,
>so I leave her home.
>    If your dog is uncomfortable, then it should be left home.  
Otherwise, it
>may stop working because it no longer is enjoying the experience.
>    We just read a piece about PETA claiming we abuse our dogs.  
Even though
>their examples of abuse were completely off-base, would it be 
more accurate
>to say that forcing a dog to work when it is extremely cold and 
the dog is
>uncomfortable is abusive? I realize there may be extenuating 
circumstances,
>so we need to do all we can to treat our guides humanely under 
these
>conditions, which is what Martha is trying to find out.  I hope 
some on this
>list will have some recommendations for her.
>    BTW, if it is absulutely necessary to take your dog out in 
the rain, one
>good makeshift way to keep them dry is a trash bag with holes cut 
for the
>head and front feet.  Also, one of Julie's great nylon harnesses 
are an
>essential piece of gear for wet conditions!

>Fraternally,
>Marion


>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kolby Garrison" <kolbygarrison at triad.rr.com
>To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users'"
><nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 11:53 PM
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] winter questions


>> Hello Marion and All,
>> How cold is too cold for our dogs? I live in North Carolina, 
where the
>> weather typically is mild but can also be very unpredictable.  
Under what
>> weather conditions should we hang up the harness and elect to 
use the cane
>> for the day?
>> Kolby


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