[nagdu] EXTERNAL:Re: Italian greyhound guide dog?

[Jewel S.]

Huh? I'm a bit confused. Perhaps it is because I didn't read the
original article. I couldn't find it. Please explain?

On 9/8/10, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
> Jewel, I worry about that adorable lab having to work so hard leading
> that blind persn around. I trust him but what if the dog stepped on
> something? He wouldn't be able to seek treatment because then the dog
> couldn't guide him to the vet with that sore paw.
> Why not just trust the guy to know what he's doing? The story isn't
> about animal abuse, it is about assault. The dog only happened to be
> there.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jewel S.
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:02 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: EXTERNAL:Re: [nagdu] Italian greyhound guide dog?
>
> It is a myth that small dogs don't need as much exercise. This is so
> not true. My boyfriend owns a miniature poodle. He thinks he 's a
> lapdog, but at 25 pounds, he's not sitting on *my* lap. However, this
> poodle needs just as much exercise, if not more than, a standard
> poodle. He is very hyper and loves to run and goes for a walk at least
> five times a day to keep him from going stir-crazy. I am very glad
> that I am not in college while my boyfriend is for this reason,
> because I take the pup for walks while my b/f is at school.
>
> I think Rusty, the 25-pound miniature poodle could make a good guide
> dog. He's large enough to bear weight, but not quite as big as many
> guide dogs. He is extremely smart and very gentle. his biggest problem
> is that when he sees a girl or young woman, he *must* visit with them.
> He has three girlfriends in the neighbourhood already...it's quite
> hilarious, but it also is irritating when I ant to take a quick potty
> break and that's all.
>
> I still don't see how an IG could be a good guide dog, though. They
> simply aren't fair weather dogs, and they are so fragile. People who
> know how to care for the breed have trouble with them, and while I
> will give the man the benefit of the doubt on his knowledge of the
> breed, I still worry about the dog's well-being walking in all weather
> and all.
>
> A small dog wouldn't be the right guide dog for me, since I also need
> balance support, but I could see someone like a few friends of mine
> having miniature poodles (yes, I think poodles make good guides *hugs
> to Mitzi, whom I haven't met, but I am sure she does her breed
> justice*) or another calmer small dog. I so couldn't se snappy,
> talkative cocker spaniels doing th e work, nor ankle-biting
> chihuahuas, but there are some brees that might do the job. How about
> a bulldog? *grin*
>
> ~Jewel
>
> On 9/8/10, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>>
>> I wonder if some of the smaller breeds might be a good solution for
> those
>> who don't take long walks, the folks who go from car to building and
> back
>> to car.  Or for elderly people who don't walk very fast and are using
>> their dogs for short errands, going to church, visiting friends, etc.
>> Instead of trying to breed slow, non-energetic labs, the schools could
> be
>> using a wider variety of breeds for the variety of people they serve.
>>
>> Not that I expect any of the big schools to try anything like that.
> They
>> tend to stick with the old methods.  Which is OK, but a little
> inovation
>> could be interesting.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> ~Jewel
> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com