[nagdu] Adrian retired

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Ioana.
I'm very sorry to hear Adrian had to retire.  It sounds like you did
everything you could, so don't beat yourself up about it.  I bet just
being a pet will help him calm down.  Some dogs find guide work just too
stressful, but they're very happy to just be a pet.
Good luck in class.  May 10 happens to be my birthday!  It's a lovely time
to be out at GDB, too.
Tracy


> Hi all,
>
> Happy 2010.
>
> I have promised you some updates on the issues with Adrian my jumping
> guide
> dog that was apparently randomly jumping on passers by with practically no
> warning signals. I have tried to find any kind of pattern in hopes that I
> could then desensitize him but no luck. In the meantime he was also
> lurching
> towards people passing by our house if we were exactly at that point
> happening to go out. The situation became too stressful for both. I had my
> leash in my hand an rewarded him for just passing people on the street but
> still we would have some kind of pedestrian incident once a week about.
> The
> G L did not give me enough forewarning either.
>
> Finally the trainer came and we did a set-up with him approaching the
> house
> as I came out the door with Adrian. Sure enough he started barking and
> lurching towards the trainer and I could not do anything to refocus him.
> He
> was surprised I worked with him for so long and we decided together
> something I was thinking myself without really admitting it. Adrian is not
> working out to be a guide dog. We will keep him probably and have 2 dogs.
> I
> have a date for gdb in may 10 and am on the list for possible
> cancellations.
> We are still a bit in shock but life goes on and the fact that Adrian is
> still with us makes the transition much easier.
>
> I am trying hard not to thing too much about what I could have done
> different. He was often scared of any knocking noises and I have worked
> with
> lots of desensitizing and treats for being calm around them to the best of
> my abilities. I just have to accept that for whatever reasons we did not
> work out as a team. well he is a great pet and my husband and I love him
> just as much. I hope that not working will make him more relaxed.
>
> Thanks for lending your ear to our story.
>
> All the best,
>
> Ioana and Adrian the pet
>
>
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