[nagdu] boredom on routine routes

Sat May 28 22:04:39 UTC 2011

Hello all!

I've been fortunate that Gabe is not bored on routes. I try to vary the 
routes I take with him which has happened a lot lately because of 
construction.

I often take him the the same relief area downtown,and he thinks that when 
he's finished, it's time to  go to Starbucks, and when I turn to go in a 
different direction, he sometimes balk sfor a couple of seconds before 
realizing we're changing course.

Liz/Gabe
----- 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 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] boredom on routine routes

> 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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