[nagdu] Gary's future dog

Tamara Smith-Kinney tamara.8024 at comcast.net
Fri Sep 18 19:09:40 UTC 2009


Gary,

You're right about that poodle energy.  I used to see labs as the
hyperactive clowns of the dog world.  Now even pet lab pups seem so mellow
and low-key. /lol/

For your elderly residents, the poodle love of eye contact could be a real
plus, too, so long as the come-hither eyes and resulting attention doesn't
interfere with its work.  I used to walk by a senior center and nearby
senior residence on the way to our old park when Mitzi was young, and had to
be careful if a bunch of people were coming out to load up for a road trip
because Mitzi was such a show stopper.  When I started actual guide
training, we didn't go that way as often because of the distraction. /smile/
One of our dog park friends manages the living facility, and we did an
accessibility assessment in there, so Mitzi got to make lots of new friends
and be gushed over in a big way.  She was still pretty young and definitely
unfinished in her training, but she really spread big happiness in her wake.

I think we have a balance now, so long as I keep the rest of her life
balanced and make sure she gets plenty of attention at home.  Since she
shares with Ms. Daisy, who is pathologically needy, she sometimes has to
share too much of her own people.  Then we go out on a quick errand and the
next thing I know total strangers are gathering around like bees to honey,
just gushing for all they're worth.  Sigh.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of GARY STEEVES
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:37 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Gary's future dog

Hi Ted:
 
Oh no, please don't think that I'm getting a poodle because I think they are
a quieter dog. From what I've read I'd have to say they might even be more
energitic than other breeds used for guides. Basically it is due to both
personal allergies as well as the fact that I work in an extended care
facility for seniors as a social worker and am there for interacting with
many people, both residents and family members, and want to minimize
potential allergic reactions of these people.
 
It has been interesting learning about poodles and, of courese, I hope that
I will end up with a good match for me. :)
 
Gary
 
 

----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Shelly <tshelly at optonline.net>
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:13 pm
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Gary's future dog
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> Gary,
> 
> I had also thought about a poodle because we had a standard 
> poodle when I
> was a kid and he was a great dog, very intelligent and 
> loyal.  He could be
> just as lively as any Lab, so I wouldn't pick a poodle just to 
> have a
> quieter dog.
> 
> I brought my new Lab guide dog home from Oregon to Connecticut a 
> couple of
> months ago now and he had no problem at all that I could observe 
> with the
> time change.  He showed some signs of stress from the new 
> environment for a
> few days, like chewing on his rug, but he settled down very 
> nicely. We're
> getting on great now.  I just need to work on his habit of 
> picking up random
> objects off the sidewalks, like seed pods and even rocks that I 
> have to fish
> out of his mouth.
> 
> Anyway, don't let me dissuade you from the poodle if that is 
> your choice.
> 
> Ted
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf
> Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 8:40 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Gary's future dog
> 
> Hi Gary.
> I live in New Jersey, and until recently got my dogs in 
> California.  None of
> them seemed to have a big problem with the time difference when 
> we got home.
> Dogs are almost always ready to eat something, whenever it's 
> presented to
> them.
> For that matter, I changed Ben's schedule from the one we had in 
> class to
> one that suited my routine better.  Dogs are very adaptable.
> 
> And labs are not a hurricane waiting to happen! <smile>
> 
> Good luck with your applications.
> Tracy
> 
> > Hello Tamara:
> >
> > Thanks for the nice comments. Yes, I am a person who likes 
> to  
> > invision how things are going to go to try and make big 
> changes less 
> > dramatic. Of course, nothing is ever totally like I think it 
> will be 
> > but the preplanning usually helps deal with these moments as well.
> >
> > Yes, I am still getting a poodle. I think I am now leaning 
> more 
> > towards a poodle rather than a lab-poodle cross. I have 
> applied at 
> > guide dogs of the desert and am just sending inthe last bits 
> and 
> > pieces to guide dog foundation. I also just learned that 
> canine vision 
> > canada uses poodles as well and will have some  ready for 
> placing as 
> > early as next winter so I think I will apply to them too.
> >
> > The one downside with guide dogs of the desert is that 
> apparently 
> > their finances are still a bit low meaning that the student 
> has to pay 
> > for the expense of getting to them and home again. I  
> speculate that 
> > raising this money shouldn't be too hard but it is the one 
> negative about
> that school.
> > The thing I like about them though is that they are in the 
> same time 
> > zone as I am. I keep hearing about how it is importatn to keep 
> the 
> > dogs routine from school days when you return home. This will 
> be 
> > pretty hard considerint two of the schools I am applying to 
> are in the 
> > eastern time zone, 3 hours ahead of me.
> >
> >>From talking with people and reading comments from people like 
> you 
> >>with a  poodle, they seem like pretty neat dogs. I live 
> in an 
> >>apartment so I also  think a poodle will be more suited 
> to that sort 
> >>of space. More on the  delicate side than the romping 
> into a room, 
> >>with destruction at hand  which often follow labs. <chuckle>
> >
> > So I will keep asking questions, reading and learning and hope 
> that I 
> > will be ready when the big day comes.
> >
> > Gary
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> > Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:11 pm
> > 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>
> >
> >> Gary,
> >>
> >> Sounds to me like you've both got it!  I'm sure your new 
> dog won't 
> >> mind having an extra dose of attention and adoration at all. /grin/
> >>
> >> Are you still looking for poodle or poodle cross?  I 
> hear the wait is 
> >> still long, but you will find yourself with a whole lot of 
> >> non-shedding, hypoallergenic energy and fun.  
> Er...  And a good 
> >> worker, too, of course.
> >> /grin/  It's really great that you worked things out a 
> home before 
> >> bringing the dog in.  Poodles do tend to be sensitive to 
> mood and 
> >> atmosphere, so getting any cause for tension at home out of 
> the way 
> >> is important.  I really lucked out to find a roommate 
> who is so 
> >> even-tempered, low drama, likes peace and quiet around the 
> house as 
> >> much as I do.  A couple of weeks ago, our attempt to 
> help an old 
> >> friend of his get back on his feet resulted in some heavy, 
> albeit 
> >> brief, tension, and Mitzi had a total meltdown.  She 
> collapsed on her 
> >> bed and didn't move until I noticed she was 
> practicallycatatonic.  
> >> Yikes!  I had to snuggle her for about an hour, then I 
> called a 
> >> friend that Mitzi loves whom I knew would be awake and put 
> her on 
> >> speaker while we talked and laughed until Mitzi perked up and 
> begin 
> >> obnoxiouslydemanding that I play ball with her.
> >> /lol/  Podle cured!  Needless to say, the person 
> who created all the 
> >> fuss and bother has been unfriended.  Sad, but necessary.
> >>
> >> Anyway, I commend your and your girlfriend's ability to work 
> things 
> >> out and respect each other's wishes and happiness.  Best 
> of luck!
> >>
> >> Tami Smith-Kinney
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-
> bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> >> Behalf Of GARY STEEVES
> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:43 AM
> >> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate
> >>
> >> 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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