[nagdu] Thinking of getting a guide dog

[Margo and Arrow]

Matt, I travel all over the country and most of the time, it's to places that are unfamiliar to me. I go exploring with my dog using the commands he knows. I also have taught him more commands than the school teaches but, for a brand-new dog and x're brand-new to it, I'd stick to what the school teaches for a while. You can always ask people for directions, or, ask where you are to validate where you are. When I'm walking outside, I sometimes use a GPS unit but sometimes I don't. There have been a couple of times when it was difficult to explain to my dog what I wanted to do and so I used a cane, heeled my dog, did some exploring using the cane and then was able to gi"e more productive commands. Do you go to unfamiliar places using a cane? The skills one uses to ooient oneself with a cane can very often be used in some fashion with a dog guide. 

There a lot of helpfulness about one's own self-confidence as well. And, you always want to show the dog you're confident even when you're lost. And, to emember, getting lost can be a great thing because you can learn about things you didn't know existed. I've found wonderful restaurants and shops that way, for example. 

If you need to hone your orientation and cane ikills, do that because that will enhance your dog guide handling skills.

Margo and Arrow

----- Original Message -----
,f3 ,re9h>d ,/ebn] <raydar11011 at yahoo.com>
,to3 8',,nagdu ,mail+ ,li/1 ! ,n,nal ,associ,n ( ,guide ,dog ,us]s'0 <nagdu at nfbnet.org>,
Date: Saturday, Aug 18, 2012 11:03:07 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Thinking of getting a guide dog

>
>
> Also, how do you use a dog in an area where one has never been before and
> you do not know the rout? How do you figure out where everything is?
> 
@> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Matt Gilman
> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM
@> ,to3 nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] Thinking of getting a guide dog
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I am new to this list and I have been considering getting a guide dog for
> some time now.  I know I have questions but I really don't know what they
> are.  I have a feeling once i start getting some  replies
> I might start figuring these questions out.
> 
> I am not sure how guide dogs really work in the sense of feeling edges. For
> example with my cane I can feel the curb coming up and know where the edge
> is but with a dog how does this work?  Also the same goes for steps.How will
> I know if they go up or down with a dog?  With a cane I can feel them and
> know instantly.  this is just one example of my thinking.
> 
> I am totally a dog person and have been for a very long time.  My wife is
> also a vet tech.  If this doesn't say that we are dog people I don't know
> what does.  I heard that you shouldn't have a guide dog while  you have
> other dogs in the house?  I currently have 2 dogs as pets.  Is this and
> issue?
> 
> Thanks for all the help.
> 
> Matt.
> 
> Matt gilman
@> www.blindbiketrials.com
@> Matt at blindbiketrials.com
> 443-650-8441
> 
> Matt Gilman
@> Www.blindbiketrials.com
> 443-650-8441
> Sent from my talking iPhone. Siri probably wrote this email.
> 
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