[nagdu] a cane and dog discussion

Mon Jun 20 18:11:48 UTC 2011

To me, this is a great discussion. I will try and answer as a former
guide dog user. I stay on the list because I loved having a dog guide,
but I'm not sure if I'm ready for another one. I guess this is because
I have been in some places where I'm not sure if I'd take my dog; and
also I think my pet would be too jealous if I brought another dog into
the house and left out with that dog insteead of her.

Anyway, I had cane skills before I got my dog. I prefer having a dog
if I'm gonna do traveling. I find that I veer a lot and a dog helps me
to walk straight--helpful when crossing the streets. I also find that
a dog gives me greater confidence to do things that I didn't have
before. I remember someone else saying in this discussion that they
have a greater to go on walks and experience the world with a dog than
without a dog; this also is true for me.

I have never liked my cane. In fact, it wasn't until I didn't have my
dog anymore that I truly decided to be proud of my cane and use it
faithfully. I remember getting some updated classes of O&M; my teacher
said that my cane skills had decreased some since I had had a dog--and
believe me, dogs are my preference.

Now, I take my pet dog on walks and she is pretty smart. I use my cane
with her. When I had my dog guides, I have used my canes with him.

My take on the whole thing echoes the thoughts of others. No one way
is better. Do what is best for your own independence and safety.

Sharonda

On 6/20/11, Brittney N. Mejico <brittneymejico at verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I have really enjoyed reading all of your responses.  Cain or Dog a question
> blind people have been talking about for years.  I honestly think we will
> never have an answer to witch is better.  It just depends on the person.
> There are advantages and disadvantages to using  both I'm sure we can all
> agree.  Personally I like using a dog I don't like knowing about all of the
> information my Cain gives me.  I go on walks just for fun, before I got a
> dog I just walked to places I needed to go and that's it.  Personally I hate
> the attention I get now that I have a dog, sometimes I want people to just
> go away.  People are always telling me how cute my dog is or how amazing my
> dog is, or asking me where they can get one of those dogs.  Also correcting
> my dog in public sometimes people come up to me and tell me what a horrible
> person I am and that is kind of inconvenient.  I sometimes wish I had a Cain
> because people left me alone.  I don't mind taking care of a dog the
> grooming and relieving, and feeding are cool. I know some of my friends tell
> me they would not want to deal with the responsibilities of having a dog,
> and to me that's fine.   Now to answer some of the questions Julie asked.
>
> Do you think that guide dog users are just as independent as cane
> users when it comes to travelling?
> Yes of course dog users are independent well I think the majority of them
> are.  I'm sure some dog users go more places than others and the same can be
> said about Cain users. Independence depends more on the person than the
> mobility tool.
>
> Do you think you lose cane skills if  you use a dog the majority of the
> time?
> No I think using a Cain is like riding a bike one never forgets.  Does a
> sighted person forget how to ride a bike when they get a car?  I'm sure
> maybe if you haven't done something for a while it will be aquard for a
> little while.
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Julie McGinnity
> Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2011 11:46 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> 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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-- 
Sharonda Greenlaw
President (Phoenix Chapter)
National Federation of the Blind
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