[nagdu] a couple questions

Thu Dec 9 08:14:21 UTC 2010

Yeah.  So far, I've only had one person do goo goo with my dog while we were
crossing a busy intersection during high traffic hours.  I'd heard that
people do such things, but still could not believe it!  Mitzi was still
pretty young and got a little distracted by it, but seemed to notice her
suddenly freaked out handler and just whipped back into her straight line to
the sidewalk.  Good dog!

Train platform and busy downtown bus stops and transit centers are also
special places to have your dog interfered with.  With more experience now
-- for both me and Mitzi -- it's not so scary crazy disorienting, and we're
more likely to just whip around and by the distractor without noticing.

But I do wish people would remember to get a brain and insert in their skull
before leaving the house in the morning.  Do I *look* like I want to fall
off a train platform just because you think my dog is cute?  Puh-lease!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 11:55 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

Dan, I am with you here. My hound deserves praise from any and all who are
willing to give it. just so long as it is not while I am crossing an
intersection or on a train platform. What are people thinking when they
obviously see a guide dog working when they make that god awful sound with
their lips to call the dog as if to say hey dog, come play with me I am more
important than your handler. Weird.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
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 Dan Weiner
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:05 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

Oh, well, takes all kinds, right?
I'm actually much more liberal about petting than most of our friends on the
list.
Still, there are times to do it and times not to...I was once on a subway
platform and had this silly discussion with a lady who felt I was
unreasonable for telling her please not to pet the dog. I was actually very
polite, but she wanted to argue.
I want my hounds paying attention when we're walking a narrow double-edged
platform, and she sort of walked away mumbling to herself "I never heard of
such a thing, hummmmpf, hummpf, the dog's working...hmmmmpf."
Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jordan Gallacher
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 12:59 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

I had someone do that about a month ago.  I was running late for class, and
the dog pulled her usual stunt and decided to put the brakes on and wouldn't
go anywhere.  I put on my drill sergeant routine, along with a little
physical action, knowing that would work, and someone wanted to argue with
me about it.  Well, she wouldn't listent o me, so I finally said Mind your
own business, and she still was being a problem.  Then I just walked off now
even later.  Fortunately, someone had obviously witnessed it, and was
explaining things to her a few hours later.
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Dan Weiner
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 11:49 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

People are interesting, a aren't they?

I'm wondering if they'd  say  the same thing if they saw you discipline your
kids or whatever?
I've often wondered,  whether these people think the dog is more important
than we are.
And this is someone, yours truly, who loves dogs and would hate to see
abuse.
I also really enjoy having a dog and have been in situations where I've had
to be firm with my dog based on the situation.   .

I suppose the only thing to remember is that these folks aren't blind and
don't have to depend on the dog's work for the team to be a success,
obviously.

When their safety depends on whether a dog is distracted or not, then I'll
worry about their opinion.  Having said that though, it still isn't easy to
deal with. You don't know when someone's watching and plus you may be in a
situation where the ignoramus might be a colleague, friend, family member,
or someone you have to deal with.
My only solution is this: I've found that if I don't let myself get upset,
don't overreact, just act calmly when dealing with these bozos, it usually
goes away.
Now, should we have to be saintly and patient all the time? No, absolutely
not.
Let's see, when I had my first dog I had to be very strict about
distractions...actually this is happening with my present pup.
With my first dog I did get people saying "Why are you beating that dog".
I would:

1. just ignore them
2. Explain calmly
3. If they didn't get it go on my way or say something like "I'm sorry you
feel that way, have a wonderful day". In Dan's parlance, when I say that in
a certain tone it really means "Go fornicate with yourself".--smile

Dan

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