[nagdu] what is a good guide dog handler?

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Doug,

Are *sure* you don't live in my house and have a 3-legged Tennessee Treeing
Walker Coonhound named Daisy.  /lol/  

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Doug Parisian
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:21 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] what is a good guide dog handler?

Oh Marion, you mean I'm not a bad boy after all?  When I owned a house, all 
of my dogs were allowed to be a dog at home, and yes indeed, all of them 
played in the yard at will, and I trained all of them to come off leash when

called.  And hey, you wanna take your dogs harness off for relieving when 
it's minus 30 Canadian, not including wind chill--be my guest.  I ain't 
doing it!!

And another thing, I in fact trained all my dogs to bark when they wanted 
in, and my present lady abuses all my friends when they walk into my 
apartment--they love it (love me, love my dog!)  I've never had a problem 
with inappropriate barking, even when those little yappers kick up their 
racket when we walk buy.  I once had a friend who called them sandwich 
dogs--just enough meat for a sandwich.

Doug: I'm Gold finger's brother--cold finger.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 4:07 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] what is a good guide dog handler?


> Julie,
>    By many people's definition, I am probably not a "good handler" either!

> I don't mind if my dog gets on the furniture - it's leather and isn't 
> affected by dog hair, nails, and fluids clean up easily. I don't always 
> remove Sarge's harness when I relieve him! I also play tug with him and 
> even let him win sometimes! One of his favorite toys is a tennis ball, a 
> big no-no if you ask a trainer! I encourage Sarge to bark when he feels 
> like it! If someone asks if he bites, I might say "yess", "Maybe", or "I 
> don't know yet"! If I find that any of these practices affect his work, I 
> would change them, but they don't! He is a great working dog! I let him be

> a dog when he is at home, while insisting on a disciplined work ethic! I 
> have no problem admitting these things because I have no fear GDF will 
> take him away from me. After all, I own him and they have no say in the 
> matter any more! Lifewise, if I have a problem with some aspect of his 
> work, I have no concern contacting them and asking for help. I am 
> absolutely certain that they will not interfere in my life and know they 
> realize they have no right to do so! these are the privileges and 
> assurances of ownership!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
> ----- 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: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 12:37 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] what is a good guide dog handler?
>
>
>>I think everyone here knows that sometimes I think too much! *smile*  this

>>mornings ponderings are about just exactly what makes up a *good* guide 
>>dog handler or dog owner in general.
>>
>> I don't know that I have any really great answers.  I know for certain 
>> that we all have our own ideas of what is *good* and what isn't.
>>
>> Sometimes my dogs drink out of the toilet.  Sometimes they eat poop in 
>> the yard.  I let Monty run off leash.  this year I used cedar bug 
>> repellant instead of a more toxic flea treatment from the vet. I only 
>> clean ears maybe twice a year.  I give them baths whenever I feel like 
>> it, not on a regular schedule.  I never use a tie down.  rarely do I use 
>> a crate anymore.  I play rough tug games with the dogs.  I let them 
>> wrestle and chew on each other to their hearts content.  Belle enjoys 
>> eating grasshoppers and I let her. I don't brush my dogs every day. 
>> There's probably more but I'll stop.
>>
>> It feels really cathartic to get all of that off my mind.  I used to get 
>> way more caught up in doing everything the *right* way.  I used to give 
>> the dogs baths every week.   I didn't used to let Monty run off leash.  I

>> used to brush them every day.  I gave it up and decided to do what works 
>> for me.  I think we are all a lot happier with the new arrangement.
>>
>> I no longer buy into what everyone else thinks is good or right or 
>> whatever.  I think we all have to decide individually what works for us, 
>> our particular dog and the situation we are in.  I'm sure that in another

>> 5 years I will have an entirely different set of rules.
>>
>> I still don't know what is good or right.  I only know what works for me.
>>
>> Julie
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t
>
>
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