[nagdu] Do's and Don't's

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Rox,

I agree about there being no global rules and that things like sleeping on
the bed have no impact on the dog's work in many cases.

But not every guide dog user has long experience with dogs and the knowledge
of how to communicate with them without those "rules" to establish
boundaries and hierarchy.  Or how to "read" their dog to determine how much
they can get away with and where to draw the line.  Then the rules are key,
because that is how the handler knows how to communicate the limits to the
dog, and that is how the dog is trained to understand the limits and its
role with the handler.  If that makes sense.  /smile/

Honestly, I can't predict exactly what I would do if I came home with a
shiny new program dog.  But it would make sense to start out with the rules
the dog knew until it was settled inan comfortable and until we were
communicating well.  Then I would almost certainly start bringing more
flexibility into the relationship.  Sorry, I like my dog to snuggle in bed
and on the couch.  I like being able to put down food and go off to do my
thing without having to time how long I leave the bowl down.  I like being
able to let my dog run in the park and on the trails without having to fuss
with the leash all the time.  Although with a program dog, I would be a lot
less free in that regard.  First of all, a number of people will have put an
awful lot of time, energy and money into providing me with that dog, and it
would be ungrateful in the extreme to be careless with it.  Also, it would
not be trained for off leash obedience since puppyhood.  So I would begin
trianing offleash obedience in safe areas, but I would be much, much more
cautious about letting it run in a number of places where I do Mitzi.

It is an interesting discussion.  I like hearing how various people handle
similar situations and what the results are.  I always learn something.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of The Pawpower Pack
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 1:52 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Do's and Don't's

Rebecca,

I don't think there are global "rules" about what you can or can't do  
with your dog.  Perhaps the programs have "rules" while you are in  
residence at their facility but once you get home, any "rules" you  
make are your own.

My dogs sleep on the bed all of the time.  They sleep on the couch.   
When we're out, and if I'm not doing anything, and someone asks  
politely, I let them pet my dog.

Now that I have said that, I need to say that none of these things  
have a negative impact on her work.  If they did, I wouldn't do them.
I think first time handlers, or even an experienced handler with a new  
dog may try things and not realize that it may have a negative impact  
on the dog's work due to the dog's personality or other factors.  It  
is hard to undo training-- I know because I've made more than  my  
share of mistakes.
I don't think people deliberately set out to cause problems with their  
dog's training, and they'll learn from their mistakes.

Rox and the Kitchen Bitches:
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide dog, CGC.
"We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy  
in the world." --Helen Keller
Pawpower4Me at gmail.com
MSN only: Brisomania at hotmail.com
AIM, Brissysgirl Yahoo, lillebriss

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