[nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate

Tue Sep 15 02:24:45 UTC 2009

 I think there is a difference between BONDING and hanging out with other peoples guide dogs. I DO NOT think anyone should bond with your dog other than you .... you are the dogs pack leader and there can not be two leaders ... this creates confusion for the dog and he will? most likely favor someone else over you and if thats the case then you have ALLOWED it to happen . I think BOND? is a strong word and maybe your friend didnt understand what you ment ... maybe you ment hang out with .? I am strongly bonded with my guide .... he likes my mom and likes to go with her? at night to the barn to put the horses to bed , he likes to lay on the couch and hang out with my husband when it is a sunday afternoon ... those are 2 people he is close to but he is in no way shape? or form BONDED to them he just LIKES them .when i first got my guide? and he is my first also ... i didnt let anyone pet him while in harness? and no family members got to spend very much time with him but? it is because i needed to BOND with him ( again theres that word LOL ) and after about a year and a haf he knew his job and knew what i wanted we were a great team and were bonded ... I thien let him spend more time with my mom and husband but until then if? it was couch time I was sitting right there even if the husband was petting him etc.? i tihnk and it is just my opinion that no one should bond with your dog , but i feel that after your dog knows who you are and that your his leader that there is nothing wrong with letting other people sit with him? on the floor for a few min to say hello or to pet him . it is a fine line and i think it really depends on the dog but once your bond is formed i dont think there is much you can do to break that except letting others spend toooooo much time with your dog and work him? which your obviously not doing 
cari and denver 

-----Original Message-----
From: Chasity Jackson <chasityvanda at charter.net>
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Sent: Mon, Sep 14, 2009 3:08 pm
Subject: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate

Hey all,

After having a discussion with a friend this afternoon, who is a first time 
guide dog owner, I wanted to ask this question, just for curiosity's sake.

How many of you believe that if you let your dog bond with family and friends, 
that means that you aren't a good guide dog user and owner? This person told me 
that he does not let his family interact with his dog for more than a few 
seconds. Now I totally respect everyone's right to be different, and I respect 
his right to do that, but then he went so far as to say that I don't act like I 
know how to use a guide dog because I said that I see nothing wrong with family 
and friends playing with your dog when they're at your house. Now, I'm not 
talking about when the dog is in harness, or if you're out running errands, etc. 
Of course, I am a stickler for that, when your dog is working, he or she is 
working and should not be bothered. I am talking about if your buddy comes over 
on Sunday afternoon to watch football, and wants to sit on the floor and bond 
with your dog, or maybe throw a ball, etc. I personally don't see anything wrong 
with that after the bonding stages are over, and as long as your dog isn't a 
brand new dog that is still trying to bond with you. Not that anyone's responses 
will change my mind, but I was just curious to see how many people agree with me 
and how many agree with him. Just a topic of discussion here on the list.

Chasity 
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I think 