[nagdu] a cane and dog discussion

[cheryl echevarria]

gm Julie:

My thought on this, and I am still using my first guide dog.

First, I always have my cane with me. I think it is important that we use both, in case, dog is sick, or we are in between dogs. I was also told at my guide dog school, that our dogs become as dependent on us as we are of them.

So, at least once a week, I leave him at home and use my cane, not all day, I don't leave him home for hours.  I want to make sure that god forbid something happens to my dog, or I want to go to a place where I can't bring him, that I keep my cane skills.

It is important, I would hate to wait in the house for months at a time waiting for a dog, when I can be doing something. I love my Maxx.

But let's say we weren't blind and our car broke down, I would have to take a bus or walk. (I know not the same, I used to be sighted my own comparison)

It is important for all of us to have alternatives, plus I don't' like to rely on others to help me to get from point A to point B unless absolutely necessary, I hope this help
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Cheryl Echevarria
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Julie McGinnity<mailto:kaybaycar at gmail.com> 
  To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
  Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 2:46 AM
  Subject: [nagdu] a cane and dog discussion


  Hello everyone.

  It is very late, so I hope I make sense as I pose the following
  discussion to you.  A friend and I are engaged in an interesting
  arguement.  We are talking about guide dog users and how much they use
  their canes and a few other things.  I'd just like to pose a few
  questions.  (Some of them may seem rather basic.)

  Do you think that guide dog users are just as independent as cane
  users when it comes to travelling?

  Do you think you lose cane skills if  you use a dog the majority of the time?


  Do you think that the majority of dog handlers are bad cane users?

  I know these are really general questions, and if you can't answer
  them with direct answers, please, just your observations or
  experiences will suffice.  I'm just very curious about this.  I want
  to know what people think, and I don't really want to seem too
  invested in this or as though I am taking a side.  I'm pretty young
  and a relatively new guide dog user, so I know there are things I
  don't know and haven't seen yet.  I'm more interested in what you guys
  say.

  Thanks.  Sorry if my late night/early morning ramblings make no sense.

  -- 
  Julie McG
   Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
  Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
  Eyes for the Blind

  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
  everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
  life."
  John 3:16

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