[nagdu] Guide work and hiking

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Lora,

Now *that* is what it's all about!  /smile/  Then they learn how to do all
that tricky hiking terrain stuff, and you learn how to follow them, and
that's when you start to have *real* fun.  /smile/

I love hiking with my girl, too.  I also love the fact that she has
somewhere along the line turned into a young lady who go out in the wood and
get down and dirty, then tidy up a bit for an evening of downtown elegance
with her fine etiquette and comportment.  /smile/  I spent a long, long time
wondering if she would ever settle down enough to have the manners she would
need to be a fully realized guide dog...  And now I can eat an entire
restaurant meal -- *and* dessert -- without suddenly panicky when I realize
nothing is pulling on the leash tied around my leg.  /lol/  In fact, last
time I noticed and paused, my first thought was that, of course, she was
just resting while I ate and chatted.  So I gave her a pat of praise,
because sure enough that's what she was doing.  It took awhile to get over
the habit of thinking frantically, "OMG!  Where has she gone, and what is
she doing?"  /lol/  She never did do any of the crimes I would imagine in my
worst fear, or even just wander off in a restaurant or grocery store or...
She sure wan't a big fan of lying quietly without trying to stick her nose
in stuff, though.  /grin/

See?  They do learn and grow up!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lora
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 9:13 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Guide work and hiking

Hello everyone
I wanted to share something positive about Kori so you didn't think
that my whole guide dog experience is bad. :) I went hiking yesterday
in a conplex terrain area. There were lots of rocks and sticks etc.
Kori did amazingly. If there wasn't a way he could get around the
rocks he would stop and then proceed slowly. There was one section
where he couldn't go around all the rocks. He stopped and after a
little encouragement procedded very slowly stopping at larger rocks.
We curved alot back and forth on the path created by other animals and
humans (ie not paved) and he took the path of least resistance. It was
alot ot ask for since there wasn't really a clear path and we've only
been home for two months. I am very proud of my boy. :)
-- 
Lora

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