[nagdu] My new dog

[Ted Shelly]

Tracey,

Thanks for the excellent advice.  I'll make a test run in a week or two and
we'll see how it goes in the big city.

Yes, they suggested that we heel the dog on and off buses.  But it does make
sense to me to work him when getting off.  I'll practice here in Stamford
and see how it goes for us.  The subways are different, they teach working
him on and off.  We practiced that on the light rail in Portland and Cruz
did very well, he had traveled it a lot as a puppy.

I imagine we will have plenty of adventures.  Never a dull moment for a
guide dog handler!

Ted 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 8:24 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] My new dog

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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