[nagdu] Dogs listening

Mon Oct 19 17:28:04 UTC 2009

Stress or distress. Stress is a good positive thing as it keeps us
motivated. Distress is negative and can literally kill a person. 
I'd figure out which you've got and then apply it to managing your
situation whether it's keeping this dog or not. 
I'd also suggest you write down step by step what you need a dog to do.
Then you can use it if you go back to Leader Dogs or to another school.
Often, the more details you give the school staff, the happier you'll be
with the dog you get. 
As for Leader Dogs, I'd suggest you talk with Judy Campbell and/or Phil
Griffin. Both are great folks. Tell them everything you've done with
this dog, and how the person you met with responded. 
As for the loose stools, might it be the water your dog is on? Well
water would produce the same effect on my last dog, as did the water at
my parent's beach house. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lora
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 11:50 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dogs listening

I do have a very busy stressful lifestyle.

On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 8:27 AM, Albert J Rizzi
<albert at myblindspot.org>wrote:

> Well said joy.  I would add that I have been advised  to no longer
refer to
> a service dog as a "seeing eye dog" but to refer to them as guide
dogs.  I
> believe this has to do with the foundation in new jersey which goes
without
> saying. I find that it gives others the impression that all dogs come
from
> the seeing eyes foundation. What is your take on this?  I would also
> suggest
> to you laura, that when confronted by others about your corrections to
your
> guide dog, you might offer them a phone number to the foundation which
> provided  you your guide so that they could take the time to educate
all
> interested parties in the finer aspects  of guide dog handleing  and
> procedures.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one
who is
> doing it."
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Joy Relton
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 10:07 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dogs listening
>
> Laura,
>
> I don't know you well enough to know your intent from your words. From
the
> outside they sound a bit harsh but you may just be stating things as a
fact
> and no further meaning. However, having said that, I take exception to
the
> idea that corrections are to show the dog who is boss. From my point
of
> view
> a correction is to tell the dog that a given behavior is not
appropriate or
> acceptable and to guide the dog to perform in a manner which is
acceptable.
> I was taught in my first class for a Seeing Eye Dog, that you need to
have
> a
> balance of correction, affection and praise. It is not a matter of who
is
> boss it's simply a matter of "no, that's not the way I need you to
show me,
> or do things" and then show them that this is the way you want. Of
course,
> each dog responds to different messages differently and each persons
way of
> expressing their view to their dog and to others varies. The most
important
> points are that you and your dog are a good working team who can
> effectively
> and safely travel together and interact with the public in an
appropriate
> manner. As far as other people's opinions and comments about your
> correction
> of your dog: it's their opinion, and like a behind, everyone has one.
You
> can't let their comments make you fill with anger and become defensive
> because you are the loser not them. How you handle their comments is
up to
> you. If you are one that likes to lighten things with humor, do it. If
you
> are one that needs to do your thing and say nothing, do it. Just
remember
> that your opinion and feelings are the only ones over which you have
> control. Having said that, I will say that sometimes listening to the
> comments may give you some enlightenment as to the public's
perceptions or
> the effectiveness of the technique. Sometimes, the people simply lack
> knowledge and don't want to learn, so you have to simply do your thing
and
> let them be upset or get over it. As Frank Sinatra said "That's Life".
>
> Good luck. I hope that you have found a few friends in your church who
do
> understand about the training. If not, maybe you could talk to the
> pastor/leadership of the church about giving a presentation about the
> training and proper treatment of dog guides. I've had to have signs
posted
> in the church before reminding people that they may not touch, talk to
or
> otherwise distract the dog while it is working. It helped.
>
> Give your four-legged pal a pat and a hug for me.
>
> Joy with Belle who thinks the world is a friend that she hasn't made
yet.
>
>
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-- 
Lora and Trice
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