[nagdu] Where your dog sleeps at night, etc.

[Jennifer L Finley]

That is so cool.  When I told my mom about the tie downs she was like oh, 
that is so crool.  Then I had to explain to her what it was.  She was like, 
if I see that dog tied up, I am going to take the dog home with me.  After 
that, I did not know what to say.  I think that it is crazy what the public 
thinks about how guide dogs work.  They just don't understand.
----- 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: Sunday, February 21, 2010 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Where your dog sleeps at night, etc.


> Personally, I've kept up the tie down routine at night, or whenever I
> want my dog to stay in her place so to speak, such as when I'm eating
> or cooking something in the kitchen. I've gradually been giving her
> more freedom when I'm making things in the kitchen, but more often
> than not she's on the tie down during that time. I don't think she
> views it in a negative light like I've heard some family members
> express. It's just her place and she knows that that's where she's
> supposed to be whenever food is out, or whenever I go and stand by the
> couch. It's funny, I can just walk up and stan dby the couch's end and
> not say anything, and she will trot over to it and sit right down very
> contently, as if she's saying, "Okay, I'm here.".
>
> Wayne
>
> On 2/21/10, Jennifer L Finley <jenniferfinley at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>> ya, I understand what you are saying.  I gues that I thought that you had 
>> to
>> keep them tied down at night at home because that's what they do at the
>> seeing eye.  I am so glad that I got on this email list.  Everyone seems 
>> to
>> be very nice and helpful.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 6:49 AM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Where your dog sleeps at night, etc.
>>
>>
>>> Hi, Jennifer.
>>>
>>> Not necessarily is my answer.
>>> You are told at guide dog school while there to keep your dog on 
>>> tie-down
>>> at
>>> night.
>>> It is recommended for you to do that at home for a certain amount of 
>>> time,
>>> but you can gradually start giving your dog freedom as he or she earns 
>>> the
>>> privilege.
>>> My dogs, fortunately, have never really misbehaved at night and I let 
>>> them
>>> choose where they want to be, I mean they're trustworthy just settling
>>> down
>>> wherever. My dog now will eventually come in to my room as I leave my 
>>> door
>>> open and settle down with me.
>>> I think it's good for a dog to be able to move around.  Pretty much a
>>> guide
>>> dog is a pet at home with certain rules.
>>> Saying the dog roams at might makes it sound like the dog's constantly
>>> wandering around, prowling and getting in to trouble--smile.
>>>
>>> I've actually found that the dog's getting in to more mischief during 
>>> the
>>> day if he's bored or something--smile.
>>> For example, a lot of dogs will get in to garbage or pick up and chew
>>> things, so you might want to say, keep doors of rooms with a lot of
>>> tempting
>>> stuff closed or put the temptations up somewhere high.
>>>
>>> When I first got a dog I was nervous about what I should be doing with 
>>> the
>>> dog every moment of every day and whenever the dog moved around--smile.
>>> After about six months I realized that, to quote Marion, "don't sweat 
>>> the
>>> small stuff".
>>> A dog will fit in to your routine and you'll gradually incorporate it in
>>> to
>>> your life, or the dog will incorporate itself--smile.
>>>
>>> Now, having said that I know there are guide dog owners who choose to be
>>> more restrictive with their dogs at night and I'm not trying to 
>>> disrespect
>>> them, just telling you what I do.
>>>
>>> A guide dog isn't a robot, you learn to work with them and understand
>>> them.
>>> I say that because in one message you mentioned cat litter and asked
>>> "can't
>>> you just tell the dog to leave it".
>>> I'm not criticizing you, just pointing out something a lot of people 
>>> don't
>>> understand, it's not like a button you can press and the dog acts. 
>>> You'll
>>> learn at school training methods and ways of teaching your dog to do
>>> things
>>> or not do things, it won't be automatic--smile.
>>>
>>> We look forward to hearing from you and of your success with your 
>>> training
>>> when it happens.
>>>
>>> Dan W. and Carter
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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/jenniferfinley%40embarqmail.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/wcmerritt%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Follow me on Twitter at:
> www.twitter.com/wcmerritt
> My blog:
> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
> My websites:
> www.wayneism.com
> www.whitecaneday.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/jenniferfinley%40embarqmail.com