[nagdu] guide dog question

[Larry D. Keeler]

Jessica, folks will always tell you what they think you should be doing with 
your dog.  Personally, I've never massaged mine much.  I do rub her neck 
however.  There is no real reason you can't use the chain if you want.  I 
did change collars however.  Sence Holly is part poodle, I didn't like her 
hair getting caught up in the chain.  I first found a chain that had pink 
threads through the links which is less harsh.  Then, I tried a collar from 
I think, Timberwolf.  Well, that last didn't last long!  So, I finally found 
Softline.  This is a flat collar but you put it on like the check chain.  My 
name for the so-called choke chain.  After all, that thing isn't there to 
choke our dogs but to check there behavior.  Anyway, Softline collars come 
in lots of colors and patterns.  They are kind of hard to find but not 
terribly expensive.  You can leave them on and they look like regular 
collars for the most part.  But they work like the chains.  The only thing 
I've noticed from the chains is that the fur around the neck tends to get 
thinner, but not always.  As far as I know, none of the schools use 
Softlines. Probably because they cost about about twice what the chains do. 
One last point, everyone loves to tell you how cruel we are to our dogs, 
what they should eat, when they should drink, how much time they get off and 
any number of things they!! think we should be doing!  Chains, a good and 
regular diet, and consistancy never hurts your dog.  I got yelled at for 
correcting Holly in church once!  She was holding up the line sniffing and 
trying to go about holly buisness in the church doorway.  Folks were eager 
to come in so I corrected Holly and folks were offended.  Well, they did get 
to go in afterwards so it served its purpose.  You have to decide whats 
worth keepping and what's not.  I'm not putting you down or anything because 
folks always tell me what they think I should be doing and sometimes I think 
its worth it and sometimes not.  The collar thing for example was really my 
idea.  I didn't want to have Holly look like any other dog.  And, it took me 
awhile to find those Softline collars!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jessica Pitzer" <rolosgirl at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>; <Pouliot at guidedogs.com>
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 1:55 PM
Subject: [nagdu] guide dog question


> Hello,
> My name is Jessica and I have a guide dog from another school.
> I don't know if you can or will help me seeing as my dog is from
> another school but I thought it can't hurt to ask.
> I recently started talking with laurie stevens from seattle about t
> touch massage and went and had a private session with her.
> we explored many things.
> I learned some t touch massages which my dog loves.
> She also advised me to go away from the traditional chain collar to a
> flat collar. I'm cool with that but I'm so confused, too, because with
> all my dogs i've been to correct correct correct, and my dog does have
> a bit of a dog distraction, so of course my instinct is to give a
> leash correction.
> So if you can help a non grad with a dog from another program, can you
> help me and in what way, can you give me some tips?
> Also we are a new team, I've been working dogs since the end of 2008
> but had some bad matches, and we got matched on oct 22nd, 2012, and
> returned home nov, 2, 2012.
> Thank you, my contact info is below
> my number is 919 584 3522 or 321 735 0045 and
> my address is 4511 manchester dr. rockledge fl 32955
> Thanks
> Jessica
>
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