[nagdu] new

[Linda Gwizdak]

Hi,
I think the schools don't realy use Flat Coats because they are generally a 
too active breed for guide work.  There have been some who did work out 
nicely.  Curley Coats aren't really used in this country either because of 
their long "childhoods". I think England uses more Flat Coats and Curlies 
than we do here.

Linda and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Katrin Andberg" <katrin at maplewooddog.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] new


> Naw not a poodle in disguise, a lot less aloof than any poodle I have ever
> met.  James also tends not to tell me "no" or "Why should I?" like most
> poodles I know do on occasion.  He is a total retriever, just doesn't eat
> strange stuff like a lab, or shed as much as a golden /smile/  I have had 
> 4
> flat coats in my life at various times and they really are my perfect 
> breed.
> I have no high hopes that my next guide will be a flat coat but I would be
> in heaven if it were.  I also have a cardigan welsh corgi who is a hoot. 
> He
> tries to keep those retrievers in line and they all ignore him completely.
> Right now I have 4 dogs, but it will soon be going down to 3 as my CCed
> puppy is most likely going to his new home at the end of the month.
> Hopefully I will still be able to get reports on how Obi is doing in his 
> new
> home as I'll miss him so much, but my home is not the right place for him.
>
>
>
> James is a little over 7yrs old now.  He started working around 16 months
> when xrays showed his growth plates had closed completely.  I started
> training him in obedience, agility and socialization when I got him at
> 12wks, then as he got older and wanted more things to do, would add on 
> more
> difficult tasks or training situations until at about 18months he said 
> "I'm
> READY gosh darnit, stop leaving me home and muddling around out there
> without me!"  When James has something to say he makes it very clear.  The
> reason I'm looking into schools now, is 1 I wasn't sure how long it would
> take or what their time line would be and 2 flat coats have high instances
> of 2 types of cancer that tend to strike dogs at an early age.  Any flat
> coat you have living past age 8 is considered lucky.  I hope James will 
> live
> to 10, 11, 12+ but there is a high chance that he won't.
>
>
>
> When I get to cane training part of O&M I am kind of worried about how I'm
> going to manage the orientation part, but I'm hoping my instructor can 
> give
> me some tips.  I tend to be able to do 1 thing at a time and 1 thing only.
> So I am the epitome of 'can't walk and chew gum'. I can't listen to 
> someone
> talk and still 'see' well enough to walk if I'm without a guide.  I can't
> think about where my feet are going and tell where the telephone poles are
> at the same time.  If I'm focusing on using my eyes, everything else falls
> apart and I get into trouble.  Same thing happens with auditory stuff for
> me.  Some people with sensory processing disorders it just affects 1 
> sense,
> or parts of all senses, or a few senses.  For me it severely effects 
> visual
> and auditory and a part of tactile.  Smell isn't effected, nor really is
> taste.  For example if I'm looking at something I generally want to touch 
> it
> in order to 'see' it better.  Or if I want to hear someone talking to me, 
> I
> have to close my eyes.  Doesn't really make much sense, but it's how my
> brain works.
>
>
>
> Katrin & James
>
>
>
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