[nagdu] Doors

Tue Sep 13 17:59:56 UTC 2011

I've sometimes grabbed Ben's harness with my right hand for a few steps. 
It didn't bother him, though it felt dashed odd to me.  I don't remember
doing it when there were real clearances for him to work, though.  It was
more like a half-step up from leash guiding.
Tracy

> Yup, I'm so with you.  Before the foot incident I was hesitant about
> moving without harness in hand, especially around doorways and stairs.
> Now after the foot episode just the thought of moving without cane or
> harness handle causes me to break out in a cold sweat.   I suppose it's
> worsened because I can't use either cane or dog right now.  Crutches
> require both hands.  I think in time I will get better, but while I have
> the time to ponder such things, I want to figure out a way to go through
> doors that I feel safe with and Monty won't get squished.
>
> I wonder if I could have him move to the right side and guide from that
> side for a few steps until we cleared the door.  Then I could stop and
> have him switch back?   I've never had him work on the right side.  I
> think it could be doable though.
>
> Julie
>
>
> On 9/13/2011 12:02 PM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>> I notice, now that I pay a little attention, that sometimes I drop the
>> harness and hold the door, and either bring Ben around behind me to my
>> right, or leave him on my left, and let him walk through the door ahead
>> of
>> me.  He is not trained to leash guide, but he can do it a bit, and I can
>> feel if he stops or moves to avoid something as he goes through the
>> door.
>> I guess I've just had too many mishaps when moving around in public
>> without using my dog or cane that I am real leery of doing it.  I had a
>> spectacular incident once when my dog stopped, and I thought he'd
>> stopped
>> for a door, so I stepped up to open it and fell down a flight of stairs
>> at
>> the Empire State Building.  My dog stood at the top, and his leash
>> stopped
>> my slide.  I'm sure he was thinking what an idiot I was, and he was
>> right.
>> So, after enough such stupidities, I try not to step in front of my dog,
>> and to keep hold of the harness as much as possible.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> That spin thing is what I've been doing for the past few years, but I
>>> really don't like it.  I used to do the reach across to hold the door
>>> open maneuver.  I was always afraid about getting the dog's paws caught
>>> in the bottom of the door, but I'm also not comfortable letting go of
>>> the harness handle when working through doors.  I'm going to have to
>>> think more about this.  Perhaps when I'm walking again this is
>>> something
>>> I can experiment with in the house.   Keep the ideas coming!  It helps
>>> me to think through all the options.
>>>
>>> Julie
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/13/2011 9:01 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>>>> That is what I call the pirouette. I learned it in class, and promptly
>>>> forgot it.  It doesn't work for me, but obviously it works for others.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Archie and I do that too. When we come to a door. I'll turn around,
>>>>> And
>>>>> go
>>>>> threw back first so the door don't hit hem.
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Natalie"<nrorrell at qwest.net>
>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 11:53 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doors
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Tracy, et al,
>>>>>> When working Liam through a door that opens on the left, I pivot, so
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> have my back to the door then heel him through.  I've been doing
>>>>>> this
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> all my guides.  Probably my explanation sounds as clear as mud; I'd
>>>>>> have
>>>>>> to physically show you to make sure the words are coming out right,
>>>>>> lol.
>>>>>> I've been doing it so long it's natural, and it works for Liam and
>>>>>> me.
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> Nat and Liam Joshua
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Tracy Carcione"<carcione at access.net>
>>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 12:23 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doors
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Catching up on old email...
>>>>>>> Like Catherine, I reach across my body to hold open doors with
>>>>>>> hinges
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> the left.
>>>>>>> If I'm opening a door towards me, I try to angle my foot a bit so
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> shoe
>>>>>>> is between the dog's paws and the door.
>>>>>>> It's hard to explain, since I'm so used to it I don't think about
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> anymore much.
>>>>>>> Tracy
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tracy,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'd love to be able to work Monty through doors.  Like you I don't
>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>> to step into something unknown on the other side.  I also know of
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> couple of places where there are steps immediate to the door,
>>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>>> make
>>>>>>>> working the dog a much less nerve racking experience! *smile*
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My question is for doors that open on the right, hinges on the
>>>>>>>> left,
>>>>>>>> how
>>>>>>>> do you keep the door open wide enough so that it doesn't whack the
>>>>>>>> dog
>>>>>>>> who is between you and the door?  There's no problem say on the
>>>>>>>> door
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> my home that stays in place when I open it, but what about the
>>>>>>>> doors
>>>>>>>> that automatically close when they aren't being held?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I used to work right opening doors as you describe with Tia, but
>>>>>>>> caught
>>>>>>>> her feet on several occasions.  Fortunately never bad enough to do
>>>>>>>> damage, but still something I don't want to take chances on.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Do I just have short arms or something? *smile*  Seriously though
>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>> would like to know how you do this.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Julie
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 8/30/2011 10:53 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>>>>>>>>> I just went out to get lunch, and I see that I almost always work
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> dog
>>>>>>>>> through doors.  I don't even think about it anymore.
>>>>>>>>> Tracy
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
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