[nagdu] getting along with other guide dogs

[Larry D. Keeler]

I only let them see other dogs in harness.  I still show them who's boss! 
I'm finding that if she sees another dog in harness, she still gets 
distracted but less so than if we find a pet.  I also am noting that if she 
sees another dog working she mellows out quicker.  But, when the harness 
comes off, all bets are off!
----- 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: Friday, April 27, 2012 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] getting along with other guide dogs


>I find this whole meet and greet thing while in harness thing very 
>interesting. Maybe because Monty was so dog distracted for so long I 
>absolutely couldn't allow it and now it's just become habit.  I don't know. 
>When I attended a meeting with the other service dog handler in town, she 
>wanted to have a socialization plan in place before the dogs met.  I had no 
>idea what she was talking about or why this was an issue, but whatever.  I 
>tried to explain that I'd have Monty beside my chair or under the table and 
>that he would leave her dog alone.  I didn't get why the dogs needed a 
>greeting plan since in my mind they wouldn't be visiting.   To me it didn't 
>matter if the dogs liked each other or got along, because they would both 
>be working and would be conducting themselves appropriately no matter how 
>they felt about each other.
>
> Anyhow I got Monty installed under the table and she allowed her dog to 
> stretch himself out under the table so he could sniff Monty.  I was mildly 
> annoyed with this.  If I was going to allow a sniff and a greeting, it 
> would most certainly not be in harness, in a restaurant, under the table, 
> during a professional meeting.    I think I completely misunderstood her 
> approach to this though.  I assumed that dogs working do not fraternize 
> with each other.  this is apparently not how all folks operate.  To her it 
> did matter that the dogs liked each other and got along well.  To me it 
> made no difference as long as they behaved.
>
> There's always new things to learn.
> Julie
>
>
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