[nagdu] questions about having a guide dog

Thu Sep 1 15:43:34 UTC 2011

Hey Melissa- where and when did you get your dog. 
On another note, it's looking like allot of students who have gone to our
NFB centers are getting guide dogs. 
Tina and  D.   

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Melissa Green
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 7:15 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] questions about having a guide dog

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:
> http://mojoradio.us/listen
> or
> www.mintfm.net
>
> 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.
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.com
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>> nagdu:
>>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/tagriru%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/solsticesinger%40gmai
l.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/graduate56%40juno.com
>
> 

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne
t