[nagdu] where I don't take the dog was Lots of Questions
Lyn Gwizdak
linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Fri Aug 31 21:05:43 UTC 2012
Julie and Cindy,
These things show exactly why the schools tell us not to throw away our
canes or us to never use a cane again. We have two mobility aids and we
have the capability to use each one as needed and it's all good!
I don't take Landon if it is way too hot for him and I've left him for some
other things as well. Recently, I left him home when I went to somebody's
tiny bungalow home to make buttons and signs for Pride. There were two
small dogs and a TON of people crammed into that house and tiny patio out
back. I was glad not to have had Landon with me. He literally would have
had NO place to lie down where he wouldn't get stepped on! Literally! LOL!
I was glad to be able to work on our projects without worrying about him
getting stepped on or fed junk by people who didn't know the rules. Landon
stayed home and snoozed and kept my sister company. I didn't bring him to
our CityFest event where I staffed my Democratic club's table. It was
SOOOOOO hot that day! I did see some dogs there but not as many as usual
for that event - and even some of those dogs wore booties! Landon's comfort
was much more important than his entertaining folks who came to our booth.
He does this out of harness. He deals well with visiting and then working
because he is a certified therapy dog as well so he enjoys this alot. I
also leave him home alot when I grocery shop and need to take a cart on the
bus. Much easier with a cane.
Each person and dog need to do as they deem the right thing to do in any
circumstance and people shouldn't criticise each other for our choices.
Landon goes to funerals and he comforts people there - family members or my
friends - at the appropriate time. I had him at my Dad's funeral last week
at their church and later at my parents' house where we gathered afterwards.
We will have another memorial in late October when the rest of our huge
family can get there. Landon will be there as well.
If I ride in private cars or visit private homes where I don't really know
the people, I will ask first before bringing Landon - just courtesy. And
most of the time, they say a resounding YES because most of the people I
know love dogs and animals.
Everyone have a nice Labor Day. Hope those of you in the path of TS Isaac
are safe and OK. these storms can be so devastating!
Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2012 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] where I don't take the dog was Lots of Questions
> There are few places I don't take the dog. Sometimes when with my
> daughter, I don't take him for a ride with us if we go for a drive. I will
> not take him to fireworks displays, and I stopped taking him when I went
> to the gym. However, before I ever got a dog, my husband at the time,
> Chuck Hallenbeck, said to me, "Think of all the places you wouldn't think
> you would use the dog and then use it anyway", or words to that effect.
> And that is what I've always done. It is interesting the differences in
> people's philosophy of where to use/take the dog. When I went to the
> Benedictine Retreat Center I went to in spring, if they had said I
> couldn't bring him, I would have been more amenable to that since I now
> understand that this is within their right.
>
> CL
>
> On Aug 31, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>
>> I am going to the state fair this weekend. the temps are supposed to be
>> in the 90's. We are going to a tractor pull and then a concert. Monty
>> has been to the state fair before, but he's staying home this year.
>> It'll be too hot, too loud and too uncomfortable for him to lay on
>> bleachers for hours and hours. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to
>> remain semi comfortable on those bleachers all afternoon and evening.
>>
>> I do not take my guides to funerals. This has nothing to do with the
>> place of the event, the other people or the dog. It is because I only
>> attend funerals of people who I was very close to and I'm in no frame of
>> mind to be working a guide dog. I typically go sighted guide with a cane
>> just in case.
>>
>> I have not taken any of my guides on a vacation. I consider this on a
>> case by case basis. I recently traveled to Alaska. Monty stayed home
>> because we scheduled a lot of day trips that would have not been
>> appropriate for him and I couldn't figure out what I'd do with him. We
>> went clam digging which is extremely and I mean extremely wet, cold and
>> dirty work. We went kayaking. there was no place in the boat for him.
>> We also went fishing on a small boat. It ended up that he could have
>> probably fit and been comfortable on that boat, but I didn't know that
>> before I arrived. Ditto with the bed and breakfast, it turned out that
>> the owner would have been fine with Monty there, but she was not required
>> to accept service dogs because she lives on the premises and only rents a
>> very small number of rooms.
>>
>> I rarely take my guide into friends homes or cars. The exception is if
>> he is specifically invited or if I am attending some work related
>> function with a coworker.
>>
>> Other places I don't take Monty: car races, fireworks displays and llama
>> farms.
>>
>> I generally run through the following before taking Monty:
>> 1. Is he legally allowed in this place? If no is he invited or will he
>> be accepted without impoliteness?
>> 2. Will his coming along make my life easier, more convenient or improve
>> my options?
>> 3. Will he be comfortable in this place?
>>
>> Of course I don't actually go through those questions verbatim each time,
>> but a lot more so in the beginning when I was still getting the hang of
>> things. And sometimes my choice to take him isn't based on the place at
>> all. I just left him home yesterday when my husband and I ran to the
>> bank. Monty had already been on a long walk in the morning and then a
>> regular day at my office. It was very hot and he was tired. I felt like
>> he needed a break.
>>
>> I've noticed that my list of places and circumstances has changed over
>> the years and with the different personalities of my dogs. What works
>> for Monty may be entirely different from my next dog or if Monty was
>> someone else guide what works for that team combination would likely also
>> be different.
>>
>> JMHO
>> Julie
>>
>>
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>
>
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