[nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

Sat Apr 3 10:05:32 UTC 2010

Hi Julie,

Lol I still get frustrated and swear in front of my dog when I get lost! 
Then I proclaim quite loudly, in a happy tone, "It's ok Troy. I'm angry, but 
not at you! It's ok!" All in a fairly happy tone of course, so he realises 
I'm upset but it's not him and neither is it his fault. If it is, which is 
true occasionally, I do sound more stern, but I swear to myself and just 
give him the commands I want him to follow correctly, praise him then tell 
him that I'm still upset but not at him anymore. Then I pet him so he 
understands my behaviour is consistent with my speech. He's a beautiful dog 
who cares if I communicate it in the correct manner that he understands! 
(Smile) (Frown) I hate using the cane, I've used it all my life and had to 
use it last year when Troy was sick for a couple of weeks, and if it doesn't 
show care, then I really rile at it and myself. I can get over being riled 
quicker in the presence of a dog than in front of a cane. Go figure. (grin 
with slight chuckle))

Michelle
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J" <julielj at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 6:23 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

>I had more thoughts on reasons why it's important to learn to use a cane
> before getting a dog.
>
> When you mess up and get lost, turned around and generally frustrated , 
> the
> cane doesn't also get confused.  the cane doesn't care how you feel.  It
> doesn't care if you swear at it.   You can even make the same mistake
> repeatedly and it won't mess up the cane's training.  Canes are very
> forgiving that way! *smile*
>
> Also if you have never learned to travel independently, you are going to 
> be
> learning that along with trying to learn how to use a guide dog all at 
> once.
> That seems like a lot to take in in a month.
> JMHO
> Julie
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 2:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>
>
>> >From my understanding and this is from GDF when I went, and it does make
>> sense, if your dog is sick and you cannot take you dog some place, or you
>> are waiting for a dog, you need cane skills or other skills to keep you
>> going, they want to know you are a motivated person, and not sitting at
>> home.
>>
>> The dogs are working dogs, guide dogs, not pets, as well all know.
>>
>> So if we aren't out there working then why get a dog.
>>
>> I think for me it was important to learn cane skills, I am very very
>> independent and it goes back to the sighted guide, they don't point
>> everything out.  Also when and still losing my vision I have no depth
>> perception I cannot tell when the whole is coming up or something that I
>> can fall into, so yes I needed good cane skills, go to trust a cane and
>> then trust a dog, now that I am almost total I am glad that I learned 
>> cane
>> skills prior to getting a dog.
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> Independent Travel Consultant
>> http://Echevarriatravel.com
>> 1-866-580-5574
>>
>> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
>> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> CST-1018299-10
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 4:02 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>>
>>
>>> Why is it a requirement for being considered getting a guide dog anyway?
>>> I
>>> would like to understand the rationale. I am not agreeing or disagreeing
>>> just wondering about the reasons. Then too, if cane mobility is so
>>> integral
>>> to independence, why are there some schools of thought on not 
>>> introducing
>>> the cane to toddlers or blind youth as soon as they can hold one?
>>>
>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>> 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."
>>>
>>>
>>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of Tracy Carcione
>>> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 2:33 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>>>
>>> Marion, I don't necessarily agree that good cane skills should be a
>>> prerequisite for getting a guide dog.  It's a nice theory.  It would
>>> certainly be helpful.  But I know too many people who don't have
>>> spectacular cane skills, but do great with a dog.  Some of them are 
>>> older
>>> people, who started getting dogs when cane training was not very
>>> available.  Some of them are from places where services for blind people
>>> are not very good.  Some of them went blind as senior citizens, and 
>>> quite
>>> a few agencies don't serve that population very well, since they won't 
>>> be
>>> employed.  Should we tell these people they have to wait until they can
>>> somehow get cane training?  I don't think so. I've met enough people for
>>> whom the dog was the thing that got them back out, living their lives,
>>> and
>>> I think getting out and living one's life is a great thing. I'm not
>>> willing to stand in someone's way over whether or not their cane skills
>>> measure up to some philosophical mark.
>>>
>>> Should we take good orientation as good enough?  Or should the guide dog
>>> schools offer cane training to prospective applicants who they feel
>>> should
>>> have it? They seem like reasonable approaches to me, and I believe they
>>> are
>>> the ones being carried out. Encouraging good cane skills is fine, but I
>>> wouldn't make it a prerequisite for a guide dog.
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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