[nagdu] guide dogs

Sun Feb 21 04:41:47 UTC 2010

I have had some people tell me that a guide dog does not do good in a rural 
area, do you know about that?  I just want to be able to work my dog enough. 
I don't want it to loose it's training.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wayne Merritt" <wcmerritt at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dogs


>I can understand why they might tell you that, but then again, if
> you're really concerned, you could always ask to leave a message with
> whatever training supervisor is there during the time you call, and
> they will definitely call you back. Don't worry too much about it
> though since they're right. You will get all your questions answered
> while in training. You can always request a home visit within the
> first few months if you would like for them to check up on how you're
> doing. I think that this is already done by design anyway for new dog
> users. This is one thing that has changed since I got my first dog. I
> was fortunate enough to have an instructor come out to see me within
> the first 2 weeks of me returning home the last time since I had
> specific worries about my work environment and how my dog might adjust
> to that, as well as other concerns of being able to use a dog after
> not having used one for over 10 years.
>
> Remember though, an dhtis goes for anyone going for their first dog or
> considering a dog: the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. So
> ask away, both when you get into training and here on this list.
>
> Wayne
>
>
> On 2/20/10, Jennifer L Finley <jenniferfinley at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>> Ya I was just wondering, because some times when I call the seeing eye, 
>> they
>> do not answer my questions.  I had asked them about what you would do 
>> about
>> the cat's litter box sence I have a cat, and they told me to wait until 
>> my
>> instructor came to visit me.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Wayne Merritt" <wcmerritt at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:44 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dogs
>>
>>
>>> 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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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Follow me on Twitter at:
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>>> My blog:
>>> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
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>>> www.wayneism.com
>>> www.whitecaneday.org
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>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> Follow me on Twitter at:
> www.twitter.com/wcmerritt
> My blog:
> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
> My websites:
> www.wayneism.com
> www.whitecaneday.org
>
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