[nagdu] questions about having a guide dog

Thu Sep 1 14:14:58 UTC 2011

Shanniest.
I agree with you about crossings and about checking the schools concerning 
the mobility requirements.  Each school has different requirements.  .
I personally am glad that I can use a cane, and  I love to have the choice. 
For example, when I had surgery on my hand this summer, I took my cane 
instead of my dog.  I was getting all doped up on anisthesia and I heard my 
hand surgion ask "where's her dog?"
Melissa and Pj Green
Your mind will never forget what your heart  won't forgive

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shannon Dyer" <solsticesinger at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 3:11 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] questions about having a guide dog

> This could be tricky. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a great cane 
> traveler. However, I am able to orient myself fairly well, and so, I was 
> able to work a dog. I think each school has different ideas on the 
> subject. You might talk to the schools you're looking to attend, and see 
> what they think, or what they're mobility requirements are.
>
> In my personal experience, crossing major intersections is much easier 
> with a dog than without one. There are just some crossings I wouldn't make 
> with just a cane, but that's just me.
>
> Shannon and Caroline
> Are you a fan of women's music? If so, join me each Thursday from noon 
> until three for the Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In Music. 
> Point your media player to:
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> or
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>
> On Aug 30, 2011, at 9:30 PM, Tatyana wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> Thanks to you  all so much for your detailed and informative answers. I 
>> very appreciate  that you take my  questions so closely. I need to 
>> process through all that you've said.  Of cause I'll have  more 
>> questions. My neighborhood is very walkable so I can rich  any place 
>> myself but from other hand if I would have a dog I could expand an area 
>> of my trips. I feel very limited with my mobility skills crossing major 
>> intersections without an audio signal. And  I can't cross an  unfamiliar 
>> intersection
>>
>> Would a having a dog make a difference?
>>
>> I understand,  that I do give a command to a dog not a dog walk me to 
>> other side.
>>
>> Does that mean I need to be  first a great cane user traveler before 
>> getting a dog?
>>
>> If so, what would  be a role of a dog crossing streets if I would be a 
>> great traveler my self? Why I would need it?
>>
>> Thanks again for your time.
>>
>> Tatyana.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 8:30 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] questions about having a guide dog
>>
>>
>>> Tatyana,
>>>
>>> Thanks for joining us on the list!  I'm Julie, one of the moderators. 
>>> Your questions don't have any hard and fast answers, but I'll give you 
>>> my take.
>>>
>>> Can a dog handle a plane ride of 11 hours?
>>> Depends on the dog.  Some dogs could do it.  Don't feed or water before 
>>> going and be sure to give ample opportunity to relieve beforehand.  If 
>>> you can work the trip into an overnight thing so the dog will be 
>>> sleeping that would probably be best.   My older retired guide dog 
>>> frequently goes from 8 pm to 8 am or later without going outside.  She 
>>> has the opportunity, she just chooses not to take it sometimes.
>>>
>>> Can a guide dog go two weeks without working and maintain it's skills?
>>> Yes, absolutely.  Last summer I had an accident and couldn't work Monty 
>>> for a couple of weeks.  He jumped back into guiding like he hadn't 
>>> missed a day.  this summer I broke my foot.  Monty hasn't worked in 5 
>>> weeks and I expect it will be another 8 before he'll be working again. 
>>> He may need a bit of brush up training to get back into tip top 
>>> condition, but I expect the core skills will still be there.
>>>
>>> Now if you are asking about being separated from the dog for two weeks 
>>> that is a bit different.  I do send my guide to the dog sitter sometimes 
>>> when I travel.  He really likes it there.  The longest I've ever left 
>>> him was 10 days.  I think if I had it to do over I'd try to limit the 
>>> separation to a week.  I also don't leave him frequently, maybe once a 
>>> year or less.  all that said, life happens and you do what you have to 
>>> do. If you need to be separated for two weeks or longer it can be worked 
>>> out.
>>>
>>> Do I have access problems frequently?
>>> No.  Actually I've only had one and it was resolved through my 
>>> explaining things to the hotel clerk.  the entire episode lasted only a 
>>> few minutes and was resolved to my complete satisfaction.  I live in the 
>>> U.S. in a rural agricultural based area.  People here are used to dogs 
>>> with jobs.  I don't use taxi's since there aren't any.  Access problems 
>>> and their frequency seem to vary quite a bit depending on location and 
>>> type of places you frequent.  I don't want to sound judgmental, but 
>>> ethnic restaurants are notorious for access issues as are taxi's with 
>>> ethnically diverse drivers.
>>>
>>> I'm glad you're asking questions!  It would be concerning if you had no 
>>> questions about getting a guide dog.  Again, welcome to the list!  If 
>>> you think of anything else ask away!
>>> Julie
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/30/2011 6:35 PM, Tatyana wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I'm not a guide dog user, still can't decide.Many, many questions.
>>>>
>>>> Can a dog stand 11 hours in an airplane before to relief?
>>>>
>>>> If you are not taking a dog with you while you're on leave, can a dog 
>>>> stay without  you for 2 weeks and not lose its shape as a service dog? 
>>>> Wouldn't it be also  a bad psychological impact?
>>>>
>>>> How often do you need to fight for the  right  to bring  a   dog with 
>>>> you in restaurants, pools,  medical offices and other public places? Is 
>>>> it something that you do all the time or you get  mostly normal 
>>>> attitude from employees?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you and all the best
>>>> Tatyana.
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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