[nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
Lyn Gwizdak
linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Tue Apr 19 23:19:16 UTC 2011
Got that right, Marion!
Back in 1990, I went to a California guide dog school. While at the school,
I befriended a man there who was on class with me. this man's brother was
also in the same class and the two brothers did NOT get along with each
other. Why they were put into the same class, I don't know. However they
did. The brother of they guy I hung out with would do stuff to irritate his
brother like come into the room where we were sitting and blow cigarette
smoke at us. I asked the brother to not do this as I never did anything to
him and that we should be adults on class even if the two of them didn't get
along.
Well, after that, the instructor called the three of us - individually -
into his office and proceeded to threaten us with being sent home without
our dogs if the crap didn't stop. Well, I was VERY upset over this
treatment especially since I was doing NOTHING wrong or breaking any of the
house rules or disrespecting any other person there. Fortunately, the crap
stopped and we all went home with our dogs.
Then, when I retired the dog and wanted to return for another one, the
school said I violated the contract by "giving my retired dog to another
person to use as a guide" - which was not true! I gave the dog to the
woman's husband for a PET as my friend already had a guide dog from that
same school. These people moved out of state and she sent her dog back and
then used my retired dog as her guide. They moved back here, a local
busybody saw her with my dog and reported to the school. The trainer came
to talk to us and I told him that I gave the dog to the husband and that I
mailed the harness back. I thought it was all clear and then I got denied
when I applied for a dog with that school six months later. I was denied
service by this school. that was fine - it got me to venture across the
country to go back to TSE for my next dog and I've been with TSE ever since!
WE need to find the schools who respect us and not be paternalistic towards
us and stick with their program! You're right, marion, the schools EXIST
because of the blind people who want guide dogs and they must realize this
and be respectful towards us.
Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 2:32 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
> Brittney,
> I object to the characteristic of the guide dog consumer as a "beggar".
> Guide dog training programs raise millions of dollars each year with the
> assertion that they are doing something beneficial and enhancing for the
> blind. Donors - many of whom are their own consumers - donate these
> millions with the same intent. If it were not for us, those employed by
> the training programs would not be earning their livings.
> The idea that we have no say and must settle for whatever we receive
> with no rights to address abuse or maltreatment is archaic. Most training
> programs obviously view their blind consumers as nothing more than wards
> who are unable to govern their own lives, let alone take care of a dog.
> What other reason would they have for not transferring ownership upon
> completion of the program? I have heard many justifications and
> rationalizations for this paternalistic practice but none of them are
> convincing. It is time for us to discard the notion that we are beholden
> to the training programs and demand to be treated equitably and with the
> dignity many of these programs mistakenly assert they provide.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brittney N. Mejico" <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 7:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>
>
>> Hi,
>> Do we have rights as guide dog users? Most schools give us our dogs for
>> free or they charge a small fee that I think is extremely cheap. Beggers
>> can't be choosers I guess. I think we should be informed of any alergy
>> or behavior problem but sometimes we aren't. I think the schools try
>> there best we can't blame them for things that they may have missed. My
>> guide has alergies, I found this after I brought her home. I contacted
>> the school I got her from, and they helped me find a food that didn't
>> cause her problems. A lot of people I know there guide dogs have
>> alergies, I don't know why, I guess things just happen.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Lyn Gwizdak
>> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 2:43 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>
>> Hi guys,
>> As a side discussion to this, it seems to me that many more dogs are
>> cropping up with one kind or another allergy these days. When I lived
>> back
>> east I never really encountered this problem until I moved to California.
>> Now I hear that the dogs in the east coast have this problem as well -
>> actually dogs all over the US. Is this my imagination or are the dogs
>> coming out of the schools now actually having more allergies? Input
>> anyone?
>>
>> The Bill of Rights thing sounds good to me. I think the schools do what
>> they can to try to make sure that the dogs we get are in good health.
>> But
>> these same dogs go through the hands of puppy raisers who either want
>> their
>> dog to suceed as a guide for a blind person or they want it to fail so
>> they
>> can keep it as a pet (I actually encountered a puppy raiser like this -
>> they
>> got found out and dropped from the program.). I wonder if the only info
>> on
>> a given dog is only that provided by the puppy raiser in their reports to
>> the school. then there are the problems that nobody forsees like
>> regional
>> allergies or other problems that come up after the dog is exposed to
>> something as a ongoing thing after it goes out with a graduate.
>>
>> JUst wondering about these things. And then a dog is a living being and
>> there's no guarentees.
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Lisa Irving" <lirving1234 at cox.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 10:43 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>
>>
>>> Marion, I'm not quite sure what I'm doing here.
>>>
>>> Consumers shall receive verbal and written notification by the school
>>> when a food allergy has been identified by the puppy raiser and or the
>>> assigned veterinarian. With holding such vital information could have
>>> devastating results for the guide dog team.
>>>
>>> Lisa and Bernie
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 AM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Lisa,
>>>> Let me ask you to complete this statement as it pertains to the
>>>> issues you raise. Please keep the statement succinct, about one or two
>>>> sentences. Anyone else who wants to take a stab at it is welcome to do
>>>> so. As a guideline, here is the statement that would precede this one.
>>>>
>>>> a. Consumers shall expect that every effort shall be made to
>>>> provide dogs in excellent health and appropriate temperament
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Now, complete this statement to provide that the program discloses this
>>>> information:
>>>>
>>>> The guide dog training program shall disclose ....
>>>>
>>>> I look forward to your input on our Bill of Rights!
>>>>
>>>> fraternally yours,
>>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Lisa Irving" <lirving1234 at cox.net>
>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 1:16 AM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] when should schools give information about dog guides
>>>> and re issued guides
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I believe the school has an obligation to be up front with the
>>>>> student. I respect that the school doesn't want to set the student or
>>>>> the dog up for frustration and failure. This is what I base my belief
>>>>> on.
>>>>>
>>>>> My first guide dog was a sweet and stubborn Goldie. She was a finicky
>>>>> eater too. The school said nothing about her propensity to not eat.
>>>>> However, the puppy raiser did tell me on the sly. I was told that
>>>>> from the "get-go" my Goldie was a fussy eater. The puppyraisers used
>>>>> unconventional ways to get her to eat. They sprinkled Parmashon cheese
>>>>> on her food. That's all right by me. They also 'fessed up to slipping
>>>>> her people food. I'm glad they told me. It helped me be on the alert.
>>>>>
>>>>> My second dog, Louie, was a ever hungry Labrador. The puppyraisers
>>>>> said something about all of his allergies and how he needed special
>>>>> food. I disregarded what they said because I figured if my dog had
>>>>> various food allergies the school would know and they would tell me.
>>>>> Louie is the dog I returned because I thought he had behavioral
>>>>> issues. No, he had very severe food allergies which explained why he
>>>>> learned to get the bungy cords off the trash cans and feast. He also
>>>>> feasted on animal feces too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bernie, my third guide dog, probably has some food allergies. Not
>>>>> wanting a sad repeat of the previous food related experiences with
>>>>> Louie, I nipped the problem in the bud. That is, Bernie ate two
>>>>> different dog foods that left him with gooey poo. Bernie eats a
>>>>> fresh and whole food quality dog food. The joke is, I can eat the
>>>>> dog's food if I really want a truly healthy and balanced diet.{In
>>>>> Bernie's food is: salmon, barley, beets, carrots and ginger and other
>>>>> items{.
>>>>>
>>>>> Lisa and Bernie , ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 12:05 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second
>>>>> ownerifitdoesn'tworkout with the first owner?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Sarah.
>>>>>> Quite true. Though I'd be happy if the puppy raiser would let me
>>>>>> know if,
>>>>>> say, the dog was a habitual counter surfer. Though they probably
>>>>>> wouldn't, for fear of getting their puppy dropped from training.
>>>>>> I figure knowledge is power, and I'm a big girl who won't go nuts
>>>>>> over
>>>>>> little problems. But you're probably right that no one is going to
>>>>>> tell
>>>>>> me all I'd like to know.
>>>>>> Tracy
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Tracy,
>>>>>>> I was just comparing it to what we know about the guides we receive
>>>>>>> who
>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>> not reissues. They normally don't tell us about those things when
>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>> receive a nonreissue, so I wouldn't really expect them to for a
>>>>>>> reissue
>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>> because it was a reissue.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sarah & Miguel
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
>>>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 11:20 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second
>>>>>>> ownerifitdoesn'tworkout
>>>>>>> with the first owner?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi Sarah.
>>>>>>>> I don't think I buy your argument. There could be plenty of
>>>>>>>> undesirable
>>>>>>>> behaviors I might never think to mention. For example, Ben empties
>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>> route. The best I've managed to do is teach him to pull over
>>>>>>>> first. To
>>>>>>>> me, this is a very undesirable behavior, but it did not occur to me
>>>>>>>> during
>>>>>>>> the matching process to say so, any more than I would think to
>>>>>>>> mention
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> a shoe salesman that I don't want my shoe laces coming untied every
>>>>>>>> 5
>>>>>>>> minutes.
>>>>>>>> Personally, I'd like to at least be made aware of any undesirable
>>>>>>>> behavior
>>>>>>>> the school is aware of, so I could either take immediate steps to
>>>>>>>> correct
>>>>>>>> it, or decide I don't want to deal with it at all. You can bet,
>>>>>>>> next
>>>>>>>> time, I'll say very loudly that I don't want a dog who empties on
>>>>>>>> route.
>>>>>>>> Then they'll probably give me a counter surfer instead. <grimace.>
>>>>>>>> Tracy
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi Peggy,
>>>>>>>>> Thinking about it, you probably don't even really need to know why
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> match
>>>>>>>>> didn't work, if its not something that is going to impact you.
>>>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>>> reason I can think of that a handler would need to know is if the
>>>>>>>>> dog
>>>>>>>>> has
>>>>>>>>> some kind of medical condition where it is going to need
>>>>>>>>> prescription
>>>>>>>>> dog
>>>>>>>>> food, or baths every couple weeks, or something else that is going
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> real hassel and/or cost a lot more money than usual. But then
>>>>>>>>> again,
>>>>>>>>> I'd
>>>>>>>>> think a handler should know this about any dog regardless if its a
>>>>>>>>> reissue
>>>>>>>>> or not.
>>>>>>>>> As long as the reissue matches what the new handler wants, and the
>>>>>>>>> handler
>>>>>>>>> is specific in what they want, there shouldn't be any problems. If
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> previous handler returned the dog because they didn't like
>>>>>>>>> something
>>>>>>>>> such
>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>>> that the dog scavenged a lot or counter surfed, etc, that
>>>>>>>>> shouldn't
>>>>>>>>> matter
>>>>>>>>> too much either because if the new handler specifically doesn't
>>>>>>>>> want to
>>>>>>>>> deal
>>>>>>>>> with a major food distraction issue, they'd want to request a dog
>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>> isn't
>>>>>>>>> too food distracted, or ideally, who doesn't have a food
>>>>>>>>> distraction
>>>>>>>>> problem
>>>>>>>>> at all.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Sarah & Miguel
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>> From: "Peggy" <pshald at neb.rr.com>
>>>>>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>>>>> Users"
>>>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 6:29 AM
>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second
>>>>>>>>> ownerifitdoesn'tworkout
>>>>>>>>> with the first owner?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> That's just it, you have no idea why the match didn't work, I'd
>>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>>> curious
>>>>>>>>>> to find out, but schools don't always provide that information.
>>>>>>>>>> My
>>>>>>>>>> current Seeing Eye dog is a reissued dog and she is one of the
>>>>>>>>>> best
>>>>>>>>>> dogs
>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>> have ever had. As I said I'll always wonder why her previous
>>>>>>>>>> match
>>>>>>>>>> didn't
>>>>>>>>>> work out but she is wonderful ... she was taken back to the
>>>>>>>>>> school,
>>>>>>>>>> re-evaluated and whatever else they have to do. She lived in one
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> instructor's offices for supervision for quite a while. It was
>>>>>>>>>> determined
>>>>>>>>>> that she was still workable and was then matched with me and it's
>>>>>>>>>> turned
>>>>>>>>>> out wonderful.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>>> From: Sarah Clark
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 10:15 PM
>>>>>>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>>>>>> Users
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second owner
>>>>>>>>>> ifitdoesn'tworkout with the first owner?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I don't think you can turn down all reissues, or classify them
>>>>>>>>>> all in
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> same category. True that an occasional dog that is a reissue may
>>>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>>>> been
>>>>>>>>>> sent back for unpleasant reasons like being too hard to handle
>>>>>>>>>> for the
>>>>>>>>>> handler, or certain health conditions that wouldn't stop the dog
>>>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>>>> working but that the handler didn't want to deal with, etc, but
>>>>>>>>>> many
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> them
>>>>>>>>>> are sent back for reasons that are not negative at all. Maybe
>>>>>>>>>> the dog
>>>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>>>> walked too fast for the handler and they got home and realized
>>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> they couldn't slow the dog down (this happened to my husband with
>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>> guide
>>>>>>>>>> many years ago). Maybe it just wasn't a good match. Or maybe
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> person
>>>>>>>>>> lived in a very hot climate and the dog just couldn't handle the
>>>>>>>>>> extreme
>>>>>>>>>> heat (also happened with someone I know).
>>>>>>>>>> I wouldn't think twice about taking a reissue if the school
>>>>>>>>>> thinks the
>>>>>>>>>> dog
>>>>>>>>>> is a good match for me and what I'm looking for. Its also true
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>>>> have the experience under their belt so are often more seasoned
>>>>>>>>>> than
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> younger dogs. Though it is clear that some applicants don't want
>>>>>>>>>> them
>>>>>>>>>> because each school I have applied to has asked during the
>>>>>>>>>> interview
>>>>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>>>>> I'd
>>>>>>>>>> be open to having one.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Sarah & Miguel
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>>> From: "Lyn Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
>>>>>>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>>>>>> Users"
>>>>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 3:01 PM
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second owner if
>>>>>>>>>> itdoesn'tworkout with the first owner?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>I know a guy who had a guide who had been reissued. This dog was
>>>>>>>>>>>with
>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>>guy who got himself arrested and a jail term and the dog was
>>>>>>>>>>>taken
>>>>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>>>>>him and my friend got this same dog. Boy, what stories this dog
>>>>>>>>>>>could
>>>>>>>>>>>have told if he could talk! It was a very nice dog and she
>>>>>>>>>>>worked
>>>>>>>>>>> well
>>>>>>>>>>>for my friend and she had a good long working life.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Lyn and Landon
>>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>>>> From: "Lisa Irving" <lirving1234 at cox.net>
>>>>>>>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>>>>>>> Users"
>>>>>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 1:24 AM
>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second owner if it
>>>>>>>>>>> doesn'tworkout with the first owner?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi there, Tami and Brittney,
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The more I contemplate the re issuance of a guide dog, I keep
>>>>>>>>>>>> thinking
>>>>>>>>>>>> how much it means to me when someone gives me a second chance.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Our
>>>>>>>>>>>> dogs
>>>>>>>>>>>> deserve as many chances as we can give them; first time out, or
>>>>>>>>>>>> re
>>>>>>>>>>>> issued.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Lisa and Bernie
>>>>>>>>>>>> ----- 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: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 10:36 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] should guides be given a second owner if
>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>> doesn'twork out with the first owner?
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brittney,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm glad you asked this question. That's one of those program
>>>>>>>>>>>>> policies
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> ran across while researching for owner-training, and my first
>>>>>>>>>>>>> response
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the notion was very negative.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Since then, I've heard of enough positive experience with dogs
>>>>>>>>>>>>> who
>>>>>>>>>>>>> were
>>>>>>>>>>>>> reissued after being returned to have a more favorable view of
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> practice.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Most of what I've heard is from people who have done well with
>>>>>>>>>>>>> re-issued
>>>>>>>>>>>>> dogs or from people who know people... /smile/ Still, I get
>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>>>>>>> now
>>>>>>>>>>>>> and understand the reasoning others have explained, and it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>>>>>>> seem
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> work
>>>>>>>>>>>>> for the most part. There will certainly be times when it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> doesn't,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>>>>> is true of matches in general.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> As for whether you're over-reacting... As a still pretty new
>>>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>>>>>>> somewhat experienced guide dog handler, also an owner-trainer
>>>>>>>>>>>>> then
>>>>>>>>>>>>> self-taught handler, I've been observing the attitudes and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> ways of
>>>>>>>>>>>>> thinking
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of handlers at or just above my level of experience as closely
>>>>>>>>>>>>> as I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>>>>>>> those of the long-timers. I can watch my peers in that regard
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> give
>>>>>>>>>>>>> myself a reality check as to how I'm coming along not just in
>>>>>>>>>>>>> skill
>>>>>>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>>>> maturity as a handler while I'm learning from those with much
>>>>>>>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>>>>>>> experience.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> So here's my observation, based not just on myself but on a
>>>>>>>>>>>>> generalized
>>>>>>>>>>>>> group of other first time handlers going through or just
>>>>>>>>>>>>> coming
>>>>>>>>>>>>> past
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> team building phase: We over-react. To everything. /lol/
>>>>>>>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>>>>>>> good,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> bad, the mundane... It is all new and exciting and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> frightening and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> wonderful and awful, all beyond belief. We popped out to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> dinner
>>>>>>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>>>>>> evening, and at the restaurant there was just this one little
>>>>>>>>>>>>> thing
>>>>>>>>>>>>> that no
>>>>>>>>>>>>> one would have noticed beyond our table... Outwardly, I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> remained
>>>>>>>>>>>>> calm
>>>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> responded correctly and it was all okay. Inwardly, what did I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> do?
>>>>>>>>>>>>> /lol/
>>>>>>>>>>>>> OMG! How can this be? What can it mean? Oh, no, this is so
>>>>>>>>>>>>> terrible!
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Then I noticed nothing had actually happened that was worth
>>>>>>>>>>>>> all the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> fuss and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> got over it. /smile/ More and more, it's all old hat, but
>>>>>>>>>>>>> apparently
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I can
>>>>>>>>>>>>> still freak out just fine over absolutely nothing.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> As for working through bad habits in your re-issue dog... I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> think
>>>>>>>>>>>>> others
>>>>>>>>>>>>> are right in their observations that during the first year or
>>>>>>>>>>>>> so,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>>>>>>>> always be something that will make you absolutely crazy about
>>>>>>>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>>>>>>>> dog.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> In
>>>>>>>>>>>>> your first dog, these will be far more magnified in your own
>>>>>>>>>>>>> mind
>>>>>>>>>>>>> than
>>>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>>>> those you work with later on as a truly experience dhandler.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>>>>>>> bad
>>>>>>>>>>>>> habits
>>>>>>>>>>>>> need to be dealt with and modified, certainly, but it's not
>>>>>>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>>>>>>> habit for
>>>>>>>>>>>>> you yet to deal with those ups and downs. So you really have
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> think
>>>>>>>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>>>>>>>> way through it and notice every little thing and try to figure
>>>>>>>>>>>>> out
>>>>>>>>>>>>> how
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> counteract and... Well, on and on. It just takes awhile for
>>>>>>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>>>> that to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> become havit and natural. I've only been there for a short
>>>>>>>>>>>>> while
>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>>>> minor blips where I freak out over nothing -- and that sure is
>>>>>>>>>>>>> nice!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Good luck with your dog; sounds like you're coming through the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> tream
>>>>>>>>>>>>> building phase and are starting on the next one -- which is
>>>>>>>>>>>>> where
>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>>>>>>> falls together and you're just you working your guide.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> /smile/
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm
>>>>>>>>>>>>> loving
>>>>>>>>>>>>> that, and trying to hold onto that feeling as I move into the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> taking
>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>>>>>>> for granted phase.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Of Brittney N. Mejico
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 3:20 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>>> To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing
>>>>>>>>>>>>> List
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] should guides be given a second owner if it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> doesn't
>>>>>>>>>>>>> work
>>>>>>>>>>>>> out with the first owner?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> My dog had another handler before me. I don't think that
>>>>>>>>>>>>> guides
>>>>>>>>>>>>> should
>>>>>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>>>>>> given another handlerbecause the dog picksup a lot of bad
>>>>>>>>>>>>> habits
>>>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>>>>>>> are really hard to get rid of. I love my dog very muchand
>>>>>>>>>>>>> harvard
>>>>>>>>>>>>> has
>>>>>>>>>>>>> changed my life, but it took me a year to stop a lot of her
>>>>>>>>>>>>> bad
>>>>>>>>>>>>> habbits, and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> we still have some work to do. What do you guys think? am I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> over
>>>>>>>>>>>>> reacting?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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/lirving1234%40cox.net
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>> 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/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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