[nagdu] dog adaptability and expectations

[Meghan]

I agree.  You know your dog, and people need to not treat you like an aweful 
person for going to training.  Something tells me she'll still be getting 
more exercise than some working guides who are with their partners 24/7.  As 
long as you remain focused on her when you are working together, you'll be 
just fine.  The two of you will still be together for 2/3 of every day, and 
that's still certainly the majority of both of your time.  It's not like 
you're locking her away into a life of solitude and no interaction for six 
months.  I'm sure there will be an adjustment period for both of you, but 
I'm also certain that you will both adjust.

I fully support your decision.

Meghan
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] dog adaptability and expectations


> Hi Martha,
>
> My name is Cheryl O. and I only just joined this list today.  However,
> I really would like to say a couple of things.  Just think of it as
> food for thought.
>
> First, I really like the answer Rebecca gave you.  Having worked in
> the fields of rehabilitation and technology, my philosophy is "You
> never will know unless you try".  If it doesn't work out, you have the
> opportunity to try another way.
>
> I do not know why you plan to attend that particular establishment,
> but if they will allow you to bring your dog and to take your dog out
> for potty breaks, it appears to me that it wouldn't be a much
> different situation than if you were working or volunteering
> somewhere.
>
> I am working with my third dog and it has been my experience that a
> guide dog adapts to new situations better than we do.  My second dog,
> after living in Arizona for about 5 years, was moved from Bullhead
> Arizona to Ajijic, Mexico.  How's that for change?  My current dog,
> whom I've had since last Decenber, was brought here to Mexico from
> Jersey.  If you think about it, these dogs have been through several
> major changes by the time they get to work with their handler.  They
> are so amazing!
>
>
>
>
>
> On 4/14/10, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
>> Martha,
>> I really don't know. All I can say is that you do what you have to do.
>> If this was the job of your dreams or the guy/girl of your dreams, would
>> you care or would you j ust think "the dog can roll or not roll with it,
>> but I really need to do this".
>> I ask this because when I got my second dog, they asked if I had plans
>> to move in the next six months. I said that I didn't, but that if I got
>> my dream job, I'd take it and wouldn't really much care how the dog
>> responded.
>> Dogs are pretty adaptable really and even if yours doesn't, the only
>> thing worse then retiring a dog is missing an opportunity you could have
>> and should have taken but didn't.
>> Go do your thing and enjoy.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Martha Harris
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 10:11 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nagdu] dog adaptability and expectations
>>
>> Hi Everyone,
>> I have been working with my lab Dee since November of last year, and in
>> May, I will have her for six months. I am going to BLIND Inc. where she
>> will be crated for 7-8 hours per day. However, I will walk as often as I
>> can to the center, which is 1.3 miles or so each way, plus work in the
>> evenings and on weekends. Many guide dog users say I will "ruin the
>> dog," and it is not good to make a dog change routine so drastically
>> because it takes six months to a year to become solid. However, I think
>> learning the discovery method will help us be a more solid team because
>> I will be able to travel with confidence to familiar and unfamiliar
>> places. Is it expectations preached by the guide dog schools because
>> they don't believe blind people can handle sudden change? Is it that
>> some guide dog users have less confidence in themselves and don't
>> believe change is good for them or their dogs, or am I way off base
>> thinking like this?
>>
>> Martha
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>
>
> -- 
> Cheryl in Mexico
> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>
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