[nagdu] Mobility and dogs

[Tami Kinney]

Creative problem solving at it's finest! /lol/ I did not know you were
another who ended up getting some bare basics with the cane then had to
learn to use it yourself. I'm hearing more stories from others who have
done the same in recent years. Yet everyone still seems to assume that
one can just go get cane training by simply asking for it. Hm... Well, I
find it really trouble ling, but I have no idea what to do about it at
the present. One of these days, I will need to find out what others who
know more and are more in a position to do more than be troubled are
doing.

At the dog park the other day, as I was leaving a large dog with the
most amazing tail came in. I can't see the dogs as well as I used to,
but the sun was shining enough that I was able to make out the form of
the dog and start to get some clues as to its markings... Finally, I
couldn't stand it anymore, so I broke down and asked. It was a
husky/belgian shepherd mix. My first thought was that Mardi would *love*
that dog. /lol/ The tail was something else, truly, with more gleaming
white under coat showing through the shorter hairs than any seven golden
retrievers. It was like watching small angelic being wafting along just
over the back of that dog. 

Tami

On Mon, 2011-08-22 at 20:58 -0700, Mardi Hadfield wrote: 
> Jeff, Rox'e and Dan are right.There are many reasons that some of us do not
> have good cane skills.My first experience with a cane was 30 minutes of O&M
> training.I already had a dog.When I became legally blind, I trained my then
> service dog,Lily,to guide me with the help of a private trainer.I use a
> wheelchair and believe me, it's a lot easier to to use a guide dog from a
> wheelchair than it is to use a cane. I have broken many a cane from using it
> from my chair.It gets caught in every crack and crevice and it comes back
> and hits me in the stomach or in the chin.I am also deaf in one ear and I
> can hear sound but I can't tell where the sound is coming from.I also miss
> hearing some sounds.I feel much more safe with my dog than a cane.I did get
> more O&M training, but I can't say that my cane skills are much better than
> they were.I do occasionally use a cane but I really prefer the dog.Of
> course, if I were to owner train my next guide dog,in about 7 or 8more
> years,when Shaman is ready to retire.........I would name my dog Kane and
> then I would be a Kane user and a dog user all in one and that would work
> out perfectly!     Mardi and Shaman and Wanagi,GDIT.
>