[nagdu] guide dogs in UK / update on Shaman's training.

[Mardi Hadfield]

Hi every one,  Sean, Thanks for sharing this bit of interesting information.
I wish more schools would train for wheelchair users. There are at least 4
other legally blind wheelchair users in Tucson AZ, where I live.Only one ,
other than my self has a guide dog.Hers was also trained by my private
trainer.It is not any harder to train a dog to work from a wheelchair than ,
than to train one to work for a person who walks. There are some things
different, but most of the training is the same.I am just talking about  the
guide training here.     Shaman has done well riding the bus and going to
the Mall. Yesterday, Nick and I took him to the street fair. For the most
part he was good. The crowds did not bother him,and he seemed to watch Nala
for clues on how to navigate around the people,and baby carriages,and
balloons ect. He watched as I held a magnificent ,large, green Iguana. I
have always wanted an Iguana. Now I know I have to have one,but not at this
time. Shaman did bark at some dogs but not others.He was not aggressive at
all. He wanted to go and play with them. He is still young and has not
realized than he is working when we are out in public. We will have to work
on the barking issue. More trips to the dog park.  Have a great day, Mardi
and Nala,semi-retired and Shaman,gdit