[nagdu] extremely basic guide dog questions...

Wed Jul 27 02:00:53 UTC 2011

Gary,

Mitzi has assurred me on many occasions that the behavior you describe
is most definitively a poodle thing.  /lol/ I've just adapted to the way
she is and do not find it a big deal, really. Although I've learned not
to go around admitting to such adjustments, since the notion that I
haven't trained my dog to eat exactly the same amount at exactly the
same time every day -- and to relieve on the same exact schedule, too
--is the sort of thing some people seem to find  quite shocking. Well,
for the most part, other guide dog users and even some professional
guide dog trainers will amit that with some dogs you just have to make
adjustments. Labby users do seem puzzled often by the fact I couldn't
manage to train my dog to eat on schedule. /lol/ Not that I blame them.
Still, I just had to finally decide that if the dog wasn't going to eat
breakfast just because I gave it to her, I would have to deal with that.
Now, with two dogs int he house, I have given up even trying to tell
which one has eaten out of which bowl. If I don't specifically see Mitzi
eat breakfast in the morning before we set off for a long day away from
home, I just grab a handful or two of kibble in a baggie and stick it in
my purse in case we need it later. /lol/ And I certainly *never* go
anywher without a baggy for the used kibble that may need disposing of,
either. /grin/

Around home, having a back yartd has made my life much easier because I
don't have to take her out and wander around waiting for something to
happen only to have it not happen... Then wake up to acold nose in my
face letting me know I need to get upt and get out the door ASAP.  She's
better now that she's a grown up, but even after we moved out here where
there was a yard, she would insist that DD get me up to take her out at
5 in the morning... Now she will generally go out for him, but not
always. At least he doesn't get up for work at 4:30 anymore. I do still
get the cold nose as a middle of the night wake up call, with a bossy
little woof if I don't wake up fast enough, but not all that often.
Whew! .

It did used to worry me that I wasn't getting the information about her
health you mentioned from picking it up myself, but DD keeps a good eye
on that for both dogs while he's shoveling the stuff from the backyard,
so I don't fret anymore. 

I have found that a good bag is key to safe and sane pick up, as I think
someone else mentioned. You do want a bag that will stay on your hand as
you feel, and won't turn out to have a hole in it or anything like that.
Also, one that will be easy to just tie into a knot in case you have to
carry it around for awhile untilyou find a dumpster or some such...
Mitzi now is very good at finding the trash, althouogh she does make a
distinction with "dumpster" so it's helpful if I know which to ask her
to look for. Funny girl. Sometimes she does generalize, whichever word I
use and takes me to the nearest trash receptacle of some sort. Thus, I
suspect that when she gets picky about my semantics, she's just using it
as an excuse to get in some extra walking or, on a good day, especially
on leash walks, sniffing. /grin/
Poodles! /lol/

On Tue, 2011-07-26 at 14:14 -0700, GARY STEEVES wrote: 
> Hi Gloria:
> 
> Personally, I'd ask if you really need a toiletting  harness. I can see it's usefulness but also it is another piece of  equipment that you'd have to carry around with you and it would make scheduling with your dog more rigid in my opinion. I know when I was heading off to the school the last thing I ever wanted to do was pick up my dogs little gifts as I call them. My school doesn't push people  to doing this either. So by week three of the program I was starting to worry about knowing how to do it before I went home. Bogart, who is ever helpful and smart, took an opportunity on an outing with both of my trainers around to make his move so they could show me how to find his poop and pick it up. Afgter our subway training, back in the same park, Bogart made sure I understood the concept by going to the washroom yet again. To be totally truthful it isn't a big deal. You not only get used to it but learn to read meaning into what you are picking up. For example I just switched Bogart to a new food which is lamb, duck and trout. I've noticed that his poops are much firmer and easier to pick up. I am also making the assumption that the food is agreeing with him more from that. You will develop styles based on how your dog is but don't sweat it nothing is as bad in real life as it is in our imagination. Also, it sounds like labs are much better at going on command than my snarky poodle is. Also, labs eat on a more regular schedule so the times they will most liekly need relieved are probably more consistent. Poodles, well mine anyways, are finicky  eaters so Bogart eats his supper when we do and then, just before I go to bed, I give him another serving which he eats around 4 or 5am. This way I know he has energy  for his work day. However, this means random times for picking up. this is why I work on teaching him to find the garbage and memorize every garbage can I fine. <big smile>
> 
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
> Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 11:31 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] extremely basic guide dog questions...
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> 
> > Gloria, 
> > If you want a toileting harness, nothing is stopping you from 
> > getting and using one. 
> > GDB may approve, they may not, but either way, it's your call. 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> > On Behalf Of The Pawpower Pack
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 1:44 PM
> > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] extremely basic guide dog questions...
> > 
> > Sherry and all,
> > 
> > A toileting harness isn't always used because the dog needs 
> > it.  Many  
> > handlers with disabilities in addition to blindness, find this 
> > tool  
> > useful because a harness like this allows them to pick up after 
> > their  
> > dog independently.
> > Also sometimes if a handler lives in a very snowy environment, 
> > or a  
> > place with a great deal of debris on the ground, they may find 
> > a  
> > toileting harness useful in keeping the dog's poop in one 
> > spot.   
> > Sometimes environments like this make it very hard to thoroughly 
> > clean  
> > up after a dog.  I have taught the dogs to use the harness 
> > and it has  
> > been very easy.
> > 
> > 
> > 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
> > 
> > 
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