[nagdu] Letting Someone Else Work Your Dog

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi,

I expect most of us have, at one time or another, test driven someone else's dog for one reason or another. Though, certainly, whether and who depends a lot on the dog, the person, and lots of things that really don't apply to car ownership. I do agree, though, that this decision, like so many others, rests with the guide dog owner. Which is to say, I think it's perfectly acceptable for us to be empowered to make bad decisions, too, although I of course never make that kind. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Apr 23, 2011, at 8:21 AM, Cindy Ray wrote:

> Ouch, Marion, sorry to hear of your accident. As for working a dog, I wouldn't most of the time myself, though I might let someone try it as you did. But I did once work my ex-husband's dog. I had had a dog for a while but she didn't work out. His dog was very fond of me, and I was suffering from wondering if I ought to go back and try for another dog. My husband thought I should test drive his dog. He said he wasn't really concerned about any fall out from it. I said, should I take him around the block? And he said, heck just go anywhere with him, you're a good user. We did walk, and the dog quickly matched my strie (Chuck is tall and I am short) and we had a marvelous walk around downtown Lawrence. I no longer questioned whether I ought to go back and get another dog.
> 
> Cindy
> 
> On Apr 23, 2011, at 6:20 AM, Marion Gwizdala wrote:
> 
>> Dear All,
>>   I wanted to comment on the provision that many training programs have in their agreements concerning allowing someone else to work your dog. I frequently compare owning a guide dog to owning a vehicle, including the right to own the harness just as car owners own their keys. Similarly, if someone owns a vehicle and allows another to use it, that is fully within their rights, provided that person is a licensed driver and is either covered by the insurance policy or is somehow otherwise insured. Here are my thoughts on allowing another to work my dog.
>>   When I went to convention in years past with one of my previous dogs, I would allow someone who had never worked a dog "test drive" one of mine. I had no fear that the training program from which I received my dog would interfere with this, as I have ownership. Through this experience, I have introduced many people to the joy of working a guide dog. Now, I would probably not let a novice work my current guide dog, as he is a lot to handle.
>>   On Thursday, I fell and fractured my tibia; I am non-weight bearing for the next two months. My dog was going stir crazy, so my wife took him out and worked him. She will also be taking him to school with her on Monday. Merry is a seasoned guide dog handler and is very competent to work Sarge. In addition, Sarge needs to work. In fact, he is insisting on it! (grin) Merry will be working him regularly while I recover, keeping his skills up and giving him much needed exercise. I have absolutely no fear posting this message to a public list because I know GDF will not interfere with my choices. This is not true of other programs who seem to be looking for reasons to take a dog away just to reinforce their ability to do so and keep their consumers in line through fear and intimidation.
>> 
>> fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala
>> 
>> 
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