[nagdu] boredom on routine routes

Tamara Smith-Kinney tamara.8024 at comcast.net
Sat May 28 21:42:56 UTC 2011


Er...  That's our own special game in which I kick around a jSqueak ball
which I have named the "Shadow Ball" after Mitzi's friend Shadow, from whom
she stole the first one.  /smile/  It's good for playing indoors because it
holds up to wear -- even from the coonhound! -- pretty well, it makes enough
sound that I can pretty much keep track of it, and it doesn't seem to break
things whne it hits them.  We use the Shadow Ball for soccer at the dog
park, too, and she can also use it to "squeak guide" when we're walking or
jogging around. /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of John Doering
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 8:43 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] boredom on routine routes

What is shadow ball soccer?

Thanks,
JD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] boredom on routine routes


> Hm...  My first thought is to give him some sort of reward when you get to
> work that makes it fun for him to go there.  With Mitzi, who slows down 
> when
> we're going home, I used soccer in the yard or shadow ball soccer in the
> house to motivate her.  Not sure how that would work in the halls at the
> office.  /grin/  Is it possible for you to give him little play or sniff
> breaks during the day?  That might make it less boring for him, too.
>
> Or maybe just working on speeding him up with the clicker would do?  I've
> had mixed results with that with Mitzi for the going-home foot dragging.
>
> Her latest thing is that she refuses to find the truck.  We do too much
> riding in the truck here and there, then going into stores or banks or
> whatever, and that is not her style!  She wants to get out and go!  So do 
> I,
> frankly.  /smile/  I'm still tearing out my hair trying to figure out a 
> way
> to get to places to just get out and go as a team.  Coming up with left 
> over
> cash for a bus pass so I can travel to safe areas to gallivant around with
> my poodle is just not happening for me.  Sigh.  Three years with no pay
> raise while prices go up has not been helpful.  With a proposed move back 
> to
> La Grande, I'm not looking for a job, but I am hoping a new computer will
> allow me to use my time productively at home so I can maybe generate some
> income?  I sure hope so!  /smile/
>
> Anyway, good luck.  I'll be interested to see what you come up with.  I 
> love
> Mitzi's go, but when she decides she wants to drag her feet, that is just
> maddening.  Goober poodle!  /smile/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J
> Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 6:13 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] boredom on routine routes
>
> Hello all!
>
> Monty has developed a new habit of going incredibly slow on our route to
> work.  It started several months ago, but I didn't think too much about 
> his
> being a bit slower in the morning.  Now my schedule has changed and he's
> slow no matter what time of day I go to work.   His pace has gradually
> decreased from his usual really fast, to fast, to typical pedestrian, to
> slow.
>
> There is road construction  which means that my route to work has changed 
> a
> few times in the past few weeks.  The first time we go the new way he's at
> his usual fast pace, but as soon as he figures out where we are going, 
> it's
> back to dragging his feet.
>
> My son had to run an errand downtown earlier this week, so he walked to 
> work
> with me one afternoon.  This is highly unusual.  I always walk to work
> alone, but my son and I do frequently walk in the evenings for leisure.
> When my son was along, Monty was absolutely perfect with his brisk pace. 
> I
> think he thought we were going someplace fun.
>
> The places I go on a weekly or less frequent basis, Monty is fine.  I 
> teach
> a class one evening a week, go to the middle school one day a week and
> attend various meetings and run errands at various locations.  Monty has 
> his
> regular pace to all of these places. Some of them are close to where I 
> work,
> but he must have figured out where we are going because he doesn't slow.
>
> I have a fairly quiet office job.  Monty has a rug under my desk, where he
> generally sleeps.  He shows no signs of stress or fear while at work.
>
> I'm thinking he's bored with going to work with me.  This is unfortunate
> because I haven't won the lottery and plan on continuing going to work for
> the foreseeable future.   I don't see boredom as a reason to not work 
> Monty.
>
> I would welcome all ideas, suggestions or things you have done in a 
> similar
> situation.  I'm also happy to answer any questions or provide more
> information.
>
> thanks!
> Julie
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