[nagdu] My new dog

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Ted.
Congratulations on your new dog!  He sounds very nice.

I work in New York City.
I just heel the dog through the turnstiles, as Marion says.  You gotta be
ready to go, no dilly-dallying, or you'll have to swipe your card again,
but I've always made it, even with a new dog.
As for relieving, I choose a place between 2 parked cars whenever
possible, one with enough room for the dog to do his spins and sniffing. I
keep the leash short--I do not make long leash!  Long leash is long enough
for the dog to go out past the parked cars, and that's not safe.  I also
have to pay attention for idiots pulling in or out even though the dog and
I are there.  It can take some getting used to, for both you and the dog,
but it's the method used by all the people I know in the City.  Be ready
for it to take a while at first.  Ben still gets distracted by pedestrians
sometimes, and stops his dance.  Also, I guarantee you that, sometime,
someone will come up and ask you if you want to cross the street.  Why
sure, I always get ready to cross in the middle, with my dog's harness
off, and I let him sniff around by the curb first!  Grrrr!

GDB used to teach us to heel the dog off of a bus.  I don't know if they
still do, but I found it to be terrible advice.  Maybe buses in California
don't pull up in front of poles or trees or construction, but buses around
here do.  I always work the dog off the bus, and hold onto the door rail
in case the last step is extra-big.  Same with the subway, of course. 
Never step in front of your dog when you're around the subway.  I know
they told you that in class, but a person gets home and feels familiar and
whoops hey wow!
Anyway, have fun with your first trip to the Big City.  Walking in the
city can be fun with a dog.  More fun when I was young and enthusiastic,
but still awesome to work with the crowds.
Tracy

> Hello all,
>
> I have been home just over a week now with my new guide, Cruz, from the
> GDB
> Oregon campus.  Cruz is a beautiful yellow lab and an excellent (though
> not
> perfect!) guide.  He is undoubtedly a perfect companion and we are getting
> on very, very well.  He is my first guide and I'm very happy to have him.
>
> I've been taking him all over town and he does great, but has a tendency
> to
> get distracted and start sniffing around.  He is also very fond of
> everyone
> and is all to ready to jump all over people given half a chance.  But
> those
> are pretty minor things, at least to me, and in general his guide work is
> very good.
>
> Our next big challenge will be a trip into New York City, as I live
> nearby.
> I have a couple of concerns on that - getting him through subway
> turnstiles
> and also finding a reasonable place to relieve him.  If there are any New
> Yorkers out there who might have suggestions I would be grateful.
>
> Ted
>
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