[nagdu] extremely basic guide dog questions...

[The Pawpower Pack]

Hi Chris,
These are good questions.  Different dogs have different "signals" as  
to when they need to relieve.  Until you can read these "signals" it  
is best to relieve your dog on a set schedule, and to do it while the  
dog is on leash so you can tell when the dog is going.  This  
establishes a pattern.  I do have a little vision which I can use to  
tell if my dog is going.  However, I can also feel through the leash,  
and the feeling of your dog sniffing, where the leash hangs lower to  
the ground, is different than when your dog is doing the deed.  Then  
her head will be higher, and you will feel the dog squatting, it feels  
similar through the leash like your dog is sitting.

I train all of my dogs to accept touching while relieving.  This is  
how I verify that my dog is actually going, and not sitting around  
watching the neighborhood cats.  It also helps me keep trap of the  
results.  I touch her back, and the poop will be in a straight line  
down from where her back is.

If people have a hard time knowing where their dog is going, or if  
they have other disabilities which prevent them picking up the poop,  
you can buy a toileting harness to be used with a bag.  You put the  
harness around the dog's stomach, run the bag between the legs, and  
all of the stuff goes in there, and you just take it off the dog.

As for what a dog can do that a cane can't, that's a good question;  
people's answers will be different because people use dogs for  
different reasons.

I'm Deafblind, so for me a dog can do a lot of things that I couldn't  
do for myself.  Find things, like inside, outside, elevators, benches  
etc.  Deliberately disobey a cue to go forward if the situation isn't  
safe.
There are also a lot of down sides to having a dog; higher cost, time  
and money.  Also the emotional investment which sometimes can make  
this process very heartbreaking.

Good luck; hope that answered your questions.

Rox and the Kitchen Bitches
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD and Laveau guide dog, CGC.
Do not meddle in the affaires of dragons, for you are crunchy and  
taste good with ketchup.
http://pawpower4me.blogspot.com
  pawpower4me at gmail.com
AIM: lillebriss