[nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate

Tracy Carcione carcione at access.net
Tue Sep 15 17:31:38 UTC 2009


Hi Gary.
Yes, that's right.  You need to be the person feeding, grooming, and
relieving the dog, especially at the beginning.  And your girlfriend
should not violate any of the rules you decide to make for your dog.  She
especially must not feed the dog tidbits, which is a common problem with
family members.  And, if you say for example, no dogs on the bed, then she
shouldn't invite the dog on the bed.
But otherwise, you and she can both enjoy the dog as a dog.  Maybe at the
beginning, when the dog is still learning that you are its person, she
should ignore it a bit.  I ask my husband not to play with the dog a lot
at first, to let me do the playing for a month or so until the dog knows
I'm his.  But now Jerry can play with Ben any time they both feel like it.
HTH.
Tracy


> Hello Everyone:
>
> This topic comes at a good time for me. I am applying for a guide dog as
> we speak. My girlfriend has expressed concerns about how things will work
> with the new guide dog. She is very much a dog person and doesn't want to
> be left out of the loop when it comes to enjoying a dog in the family.
>
> My understanding is that when the dog is not in harness it is a pet dog.
> As long as my girlfriend reinforces  what I am doing with regards to
> commands and rules everything should be fine (taking into consideration
> what people have said previously about the dogs personality itself). Is
> this correct? I want us to be enjoy having a dog in the family as much as
> I want me to benefit from it's special skills.
>
> Thanks
> Gary
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 8:57 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>
>> Chastity,
>>
>> Oh, I totally agree with you.  I think it is much, much
>> better for the dog
>> to play and socialize in its off duty time.  And that a
>> happier, more
>> mentally healthy dog witll make a better guide.  I was
>> pretty picky about
>> how people played with Mitzi whenshe was young, and now I just expect
>> general civility -- no teasing or undo rough housing.  But
>> I'm always
>> thrilled when she's playing with people.  I have yet to see
>> that it affects
>> her bond with me in the slightest.
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf
>> Of Chasity Jackson
>> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:08 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> 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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