[nagdu] guide dogs

[Wayne Merritt]

Such is the nature of email communication. Most times it's
instintaneous, but there are times when emails take awhile to be
received or get through the massiveness of the WWW. Once i sent an
email to someone on Saturday and they didn't receive it until the
following Tuesday, and we were using the same email provider. Go
figure.

To answer your question though Jennifer, yes, you will have to use
your cane for the first 2 days at The Seeing Eye. This is so you can
get a lay of the land so to speak, of how things are laid out in "the
house" or the main building where you will be staying. Once you get
your dog, then you can stop using your cane to get around, though you
aren't permitted to work your dog through the building for several
days due to the initial bonding and the stress that the dog is going
through in adjusting to a new master, a new environment, and so forht.
Besides, in the words of instructors, it's too much to ask the dog to
guide in such a confined space when they've just been matched with
you. Probably not saying that right, but I'm sure other Seeing Eye
grads can jump in and help explain it. Though you don't have to use
your cane after you get the dog, I knew at least one person in my last
class that did. If my dog was the type to walk beside me when on leash
or lag behind, then I probably would have as  well, since I don't know
about you, but I feel vulnlerable and a little wary when walking
without my cane in an unfamiliar place. However, since my dog tends to
pull out in front a little, even when on leash, I ended up not using
my cane. I thought of it though early on since I was still a little
unsure of the surroundings and when exactly to make each turn.
However, I soon realized that if i tried to place myself in the middle
of the hall then the dog would pretty much keep me there. Not all dogs
can do this leash guiding, and I don't expect of her when we're
walking. It's just something that she started doing that i've latched
onto. I dont' give commands to her when she is guiding by leash
though, and if she stops to sniff something or veers off course, I
don't correct her like I would if she were "really" guiding and in
harness.

Hth,
Wayne

On 2/20/10, Julie J <julielj at windstream.net> wrote:
> Jennifer,
>
> It is probably nothing to do with your email.  I frequently experience
> delays of a few hours before messages I send appear on the list.  I also
> frequently get messages out of order.  For example I will read 2 or 3
> replies to something before I get the original message.
> I have contacted the list administrator about this issue.  He can find no
> reason or explanation.   All the messages will appear eventually, so I just
> try to be patient.
>
> Julie
> NAGDU list moderator
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jennifer L Finley" <jenniferfinley at embarqmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 12:24 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] guide dogs
>
>
>> Hi this is Jennifer.  Everything is fine with my email.  I don't know what
>>
>> was going on.  In case you did not get my last email with my question, I
>> was just wondering when you go to the seeing eye do you have to use your
>> cane for the first fiew days?  Thanks
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>
>
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