[nagdu] Too much petting from roommates

Sat Nov 20 23:03:32 UTC 2010

Caroline is half lab and half golden, but her personality is almost 
completely that of a golden retriever. Needless to say, she can get very 
silly at times, even when working, if she encounters someone she especially 
likes. So, for her and for me, it's best if she doesn't get a ton of 
petting. The people I share a house with do give her a certain amount of 
attention, but not without asking first. These are the people who plan to 
adopt her when she retires, so it's good that she likes them. I just have to 
be careful that she doesn't turn into a nutcase if she sees one of them 
while she's working.

Shannon and Caroline
Are you a fan of women's music? If so, join me, each Wednesday evening from 
7-10 eastern, for The Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In Music. 
Point your media player to:
http://mojoradio.us:9090
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Too much petting from roommates

> Shannon,
>
> My original plan with Mitzi was to go that route, since it makes the most
> sense.  Only she is so reserved and so naturally a one-woman dog, I ended 
> up
> having to train her to let other people pet her -- in a controlled way --
> just to keep her from freaking out or melting down from drive-by petters.
> Now she will accept being touched by others in a controlled greet, but 
> only
> if it's reserved, unobtrusive petting.  Every now and then at the dog 
> park,
> I will catch her letting someone pet her and love on her briefly.  Then 
> the
> next day, she might be back into hands off mode.
>
> When I moved in with DD, I stressed a strong non-intervention policy, and
> Mitzi took a long time to warm up enough to let him pet her.  Now, petting
> from the dad is mandatory!  /lol/  They have quite the little ritual
> happening.
>
> With her, I've noticed that she still won't mind him at all, which is
> something I reward her for.  She will sometimes go out to potty for him if
> I'm asleep, but still sometimes I will have to get up to go open the door
> for her.  I can, at need, hand him the leash, so long as I'm in sight and
> sticking around.  Every now and then, he slips up and grabs her handle 
> while
> I'm getting out of the truck (it's new, so I still have days when the long
> way to the ground discombobulates me), and she will start dancing around 
> in
> circles.  Which I reward her for.  /smile/  As I reward her for ignoring 
> him
> when she's working.  So it works for us, even though we get pretty silly
> around here when it comes to the dogs.
>
> Funny thing is that Daisy, who has become very mellow and sweet and
> responsive under operant conditioning, has taken to ignoring me the same 
> way
> when he is home.  Nope!  Dad is the boss of me.  It's very funny.
> Aggravating, but funny.
>
> Heaven help me if my next dog is super-friendly!  I won't know how to 
> cope.
> Although I plan to follow the hands off policy during socialization and
> training, then into the team building phase.  Once the dog is mature and
> experienced, then we'll see.  /smile/  I can't imagine life without Mitzi,
> but I can't help planning how I want to do things with my next dog.
> Realistic, I guess, but kinda odd sometimes.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of solsticesinger
> Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 9:07 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Too much petting from roommates
>
> I have found that, with certain dogs, too much attention from and bonding
> with other people, especially in the beginning, can cause some problems. I
> have a pretty strict hands-off policy when it comes to my dogs, but that's
> just me.
>
> Shannon and Caroline
> Are you a fan of women's music? If so, join me, each Wednesday evening 
> from
> 7-10 eastern, for The Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In 
> Music.
> Point your media player to:
> http://mojoradio.us:9090
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lora" <blindhistory at gmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 4:49 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Too much petting from roommates
>
>
>> Hello
>> Has anyone found that their dog doesn't work for them as well if
>> people pet the dog alot outside of harness? My dog isn't walking as
>> fast and doesn't seem to respond to guide commands as quickly. Any
>> thoughts would be appreciated.
>>
>> I'm also wondering if he isn't just getting bored with the routine.
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Lora
>>
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>
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