[nagdu] a couple questions

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Cindy,

Yeah.  I've had people tell me about how others are too harsh with their
dogs...  Since I wasn't there, I don't know and tend to say that.

I've also had people get after me for not correcting my dog properly or
often enough.  /lol/  As an applied operant conditioning trainer, my
communication with her involves more positive reinforcement of wanted
behaviors than negative reinforcement of unwanted ones...  When I do express
disapproval because Mitzi's just pushing the boundaries too far in a
rebellious snot monster way (she almost never does, but she does have her
days), that communication is very, very subtle.  She understands it, and
that's all that counts.  Then I can reward her when she decides she pushed
the envelope far enough and can just get back to work now.  /grin/  She also
communicates disapproval to me if I'm having a rotten handler day, then
rewards me when I shape up in very much the ways I do with her.  Funny dog.

Anyway, those communications are between us.  I don't feel a need to impress
anybody else with how correctly I discipline my dog.  Honestly, I don't want
to spend the energy, anyway.  Others do things differently, and that's okay,
too.  Appropriately given leash corrections for a dog that was trained that
way are not injurious, and keeping the dog on tracks keeps you both safe.
Crueler to let the dog with away with too much (for that dog) and get hit by
a car, don't you think?

I finally did point out that to someone who was horrified when I did give
Mitzi a harness bump.  That means I just give a slight correction using the
harness handle to remind her to stay on track.  I almost never have to, but
there are days the usual reminders and clicks don't do the trick because she
just would rather sniff than work.  /smile/  So she'll get obstinate and
glue her nose to the groun, and will give her a slight lift with the
harness, which was designed to take that weight without harming her when she
guides...  Anyway, someone saw this horrible abuse while we were by a busy
street that demanded both Mitzi and I pay full attention to our work, not
the grass.  So I pointed out the outcome I was trying to prevent:  Crazy
idiot driver she doesn't notice and pull us out of the way of because she's
busy sniffing.

Don't what the person thought, but I didn't hear any more about it.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Cindy Ray
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:34 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

Well, let me say something on this issue. I have been told I ought to b 
beaten like I was beating my dog when I was doing  leash correction. I try 
to be careful that I don't lean down because it can look different from what

it is, but I also know there are those who believethat you are cruel to a 
dog if you are using it as a guide, another sort of service animal, if you 
are crating it, whatever, so one really has to be careful about making rash 
judgments no matter what that person has seen, heard, learned, etc.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jordan Gallacher" <jgallacher1987 at gmail.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions


Frontline has that problem for some reason.  My first dog, I had two
different flea medications I had to use because of how bad things were.  I
have no problems with what you are doing, but when it comes to animals, I've
seen quite a bit, and have heard quite a bit being that my aunt used to do
rescue work. She now works for a vet.
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of The Pawpower Pack
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:23 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

Jordan, but the phrase "taken care of" is a very subjective one.
The ASPCA may define caring for a dog as giving it food, clean water,
and shelter.
So if I buy a dog house, stick it out in the yard, give the dog water
and buy it ole roy or another no name kibble, it is considered to be
"taken care of."
I feed my dogs a prey model raw diet; vaccinate my dogs on a lower
vaccine schedule except for those required by law, and let her run off
leash in un-fenced areas when appropriate.
Some people would classify this as "not taking care of my dog."
It's all subjective.
Like you, I live in Louisiana and my dog has gotten fleas about two
years ago.  I use flea preventive monthly, but the Frontline stopped
working.  Does this mean that I don't take care of my dog because
she's gotten fleas before?

There are many assistance dog users who don't do things the way I
would do them.  One of the reasons I do not attend a program for my
dog is because I want a dog who is fed a different diet and given a
different vaccine schedule and who is clicker trained from the ground
up.
Just because people and programs do things differently than I do
doesn't make them bad, or not worthy, or unfit.  People are different.
I would wager that if people were honest, many people on this list
would admit that their dog has had fleas, or heart-worms, or some
other disease.
The truth is that poop happens.  Accidents happens, life gets in the
way and we may not give the flea/heart worm preventive on the exact day.
I'll admit that this has happened to me before.
I guess I'm trying to say that blanket statements are rarely
constructive and are rarely accurate.

Rox and the Herbal HenchHounds:
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide Dog, CGC.
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm
not sure about the universe."-Albert Einstein
http://www.pawpowercreations.com
pawpower4me at gmail.com
AIM: Brissysgirl

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jgallacher1987%40gmai
l.com


_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com 




_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comcast
.net