[nagdu] Ooops! Re: First Time Guide Dog User

Wed Jul 20 04:33:43 UTC 2011

Gloria,

Well, I'm left-handed and so trained my poodle to work on the right. I
know a couple of people with injries that require them to work their
guides on the right, too. Poodles were introduced as guides not that
long ago, I think, in order to accommodate people with allergies or who
needed to consider others intheir family or workplace with allergies.
Since poodles don't shed, having hair not fur, they're hypoallergenic.
They're becoming more common, it seems, since more and more programs
have good poodle lines now and poodle-specific training. /smile/ They're
kinda like Arabian horses that way. You've pretty much got to convince
the poodle she wants to do what you want her to do. This is not always
as easy as it sounds.  /lol/ Very busy and high energy, she is, and that
wonderful poodle brain comes up wip with some surprising twists and
turns. /lol/

Tami

On Tue, 2011-07-19 at 13:15 -0500, Gloria G wrote:
> Hi,
> I was wondering if anyone knows why guides are placed on your left side? I 
> assumed because most people are right handed and placing the guide on your 
> left allowed your domonant hand to be free. I was just taking a whild guess, 
> but what about the people who are left handed? I am sure it is a bit 
> difficult for them. Also is it pretty common for guides not to like sitting 
> under tables or lying next to chairs? I have also heard there are toys that 
> are better for guides than others. Does anyone knowif this is the case and 
> why? I also thought it was neat that some people have poodles for guides. I 
> must say I never pictured a poodle making a good guide. Thanks
> Gloria
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 10:45 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Ooops! Re: First Time Guide Dog User
> 
> 
> > Gary,
> >
> > Sorry for the name change there! Can't type worth beans today, but I'm
> > not sure how I missed that in proofreading.  Apparently, I can't proof
> > read worth beans, either. /smile/
> >
> > Oh, I'd meant to mention that Mitzi is not a big fan of sitting or lying
> > down under tables, either. She started managing to do it without all the
> > fuss from me when she was nearly 4, and now she's pretty good at it when
> > she needs to be. Honestly, though, if I can I arrange to sit in a spot
> > where she can sit or stand without being int he way or disruptive. And,
> > of course, where she can watch what's going on. /smile/ She can lie
> > quietly under a table or beside my chair when the occasion requires it,
> > though, which I was beginning to think would *never* happen. So there is
> > hope for your poodle boy. I should warn you, it takes awhile to remember
> > thow to just eat and talk and enjoy a nice quiet dinner at a
> > restaurant. /lol/
> >
> > Tami
> >
> > Tami
> >
> > On Mon, 2011-07-18 at 18:40 -0700, Tami Kinney wrote:
> >> Gay,
> >>
> >> Yeah, I have really come to value that "screw you" attitude in Mitzi
> >> because when we have an argument, she so often turns out to be right
> >> even when I win. And it shows in really great things in her work that I
> >> appreciate to no end. But I could still cheerfully strangle her I do
> >> like the give and take in our partnership because it gives us so much
> >> flexibility. And that crazy smart mind of hers is working all the time.
> >> We haven't been downtown or doing and really city-type sidewalk and
> >> traffic work forever, but she was pitch perfect. Incredible. I was so
> >> proud of her I could hardly stand it. She worked a fuller day like that
> >> and having to be totally perfect for the first time in way too long, and
> >> DD said he could see her working to remember everything, which she did.
> >> She was pretty zonked out when we got home, but still jumped up to go
> >> out to dinner once we'd given Daisy a potty break. Love that
> >> poodle. /grin/  /
> >>
> >> She's really picky about insisting that I u se the right command for the
> >> occasion, so when I forget commands or use the wrong one, she's just
> >> totally uncooperative. /lol/ Except for left and right, which I don't
> >> seem to have a 50 percent chance of getting right for some reason. Maybe
> >> because I'm a lefty? Anyway, she knows which one I mean, either way, so
> >> we're good there. /lol/
> >>
> >> Tami
> >>
> >> On Mon, 2011-07-18 at 12:29 -0700, GARY STEEVES wrote:
> >> > Hi Gloria:
> >> >
> >> > I am only a year out from getting my first dog. My best advice is try 
> >> > not to get too worked up and nervous. It will go  well. There will be 
> >> > some trying times  but not really that many. I think the key is to stay 
> >> > patient. My dog, a poodle, was really one who tested me and people 
> >> > thought I was extremely patient. I'm sure a few times I felt like 
> >> > throttling Bogart but, of course, I never did. My dogs two things at 
> >> > school was not wanting to sit or lie at the dinner table. It would be 
> >> > one chew, bogart sit down, chew chew, bogart down, chew chew, sit 
> >> > bogart. The other weird thing he did was while on leash in the school, 
> >> > often refuse to walk down the stairs. He would stand on the landing and 
> >> > not move. Although I know now he isn't fond of stairs (will always find 
> >> > the esculator or elevator in the subway rather than the steep stairs) 
> >> > this was just his way of saying screw you, I'm the boss. In reflection 
> >> > it was all pretty funny. He still has a bit of a stubborn streak but is 
> >> > really special, guides well and is a good addition to our family.
> >> >
> >> > Have fun and it will all go wonderfully.
> >> >
> >> > Gary
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: Gloria G <gloria.graves at gmail.com>
> >> > Date: Monday, July 18, 2011 8:20 am
> >> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] First Time Guide Dog User
> >> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> >> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >> >
> >> > > Hi Tommy,
> >> > > Wow, thanks for the weather up date. It is very hot where I am,
> >> > > but the idea of coming to rain is not to exciting, but the
> >> > > excitement of getting a guide and opening a new chapter in my
> >> > > life may be greater than the not so exciting weather forecast. I
> >> > > am nervous because I am sure there is a lot of info to take in
> >> > > and I am worried that I might forget some of the commands. I
> >> > > know it is just first time jittters and things will work
> >> > > themselves out, but that is where I am at this point. Thanks
> >> > > again for the tips.
> >> > > Gloria
> >> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tami Kinney"
> >> > > <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >> > > Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 7:11 PM
> >> > > Subject: Re: [nagdu] First Time Guide Dog User
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > >Gloria,
> >> > > >
> >> > > >Welcome to the list and to the wide world of guide dog users. I
> >> > > always>love hearing from people off for their first dog; it's
> >> > > just so exciting
> >> > > >and I can never wait to hear of their ongoing adventures.
> >> > > >
> >> > > >If you're coming in a couple of weeks, Iw ould advise you to
> >> > > bring your
> >> > > >raincoat. And boots, good wet weather socks, a few sweaters, perhaps
> >> > > >even long johns. If you're looking for a break from summer's
> >> > > heat, you
> >> > > >will be coming to the right place! Or maybe by then we'll be having
> >> > > >summer or sojmething here?
> >> > > >
> >> > > >My name is Tami (Tammy, in case you're using JAWS), annd I live in
> >> > > >Portland, Oregon, not far from GDB's Oregon campus. I am
> >> > > working my
> >> > > >first guide, a 5-year-old owner-trained poodle named Mitzi.
> >> > > We're out in
> >> > > >the burbs these days and don't get into downtown much to do
> >> > > city slicker
> >> > > >work, but you'll be training in some great areas where Mitzi
> >> > > and I also
> >> > > >did some of our more advanced city and other training.
> >> > > Portland's a
> >> > > >great town, except for the part where it's the place where the
> >> > > sun don't
> >> > > >shine. /lol/
> >> > > >
> >> > > >Best wishes for you and your soon to be guide dog!
> >> > > >
> >> > > >Tami
> >> > > >
> >> > > >On Sun, 2011-07-17 at 16:14 -0500, Gloria G wrote:
> >> > > >>Hi,
> >> > > >>My name is Gloria and I live in Iowa. I will be a first time
> >> > > guide dog user once I began training at the Guide Dogs for the
> >> > > Blind school in Organ in a couple of weeks. I am both excited
> >> > > and nervous about this new relationship with a guide dog. I was
> >> > > told by a friend of mine about this list serve and became very
> >> > > interested. I am hoping someone could give me suggestions on how
> >> > > to best prepare for a guide and things I should be aware of that
> >> > > I might not have thought of. I am grateful for any help that can
> >> > > be given.
> >> > > >>Gloria
> >> > > >>_______________________________________________
> >> > > >>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/tamara.8024%40comcast.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/gloria.graves%40gmail.com
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > _______________________________________________
> >> > > 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/rainshadowmusic%40shaw.ca
> >> > >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > 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/tamara.8024%40comcast.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/tamara.8024%40comcast.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/gloria.graves%40gmail.com 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/tamara.8024%40comcast.net