[nagdu] Breed traits

Sat Dec 22 03:06:13 UTC 2012

Hi Mardie,
That was actually very interesting! I knew the huskies had good
working traits, and were smart, but you know I was just curious about
how they did as guides, and their guiding traits. It's really
interesting for me to learn about the different breeds and what tasks
they excel at etc. Thanks for writing about it all!
Laurel and Stockard

On 12/21/12, Mardi Hadfield <wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Laural, Since I primarily work my dogs from a power wheelchair, I need a
> dog that can keep up with the pace of my chair.That is why I originally
> chose the Siberian Husky.They are bred to work and can pull a sled for many
> hours or days without getting tired.They have plenty of stamina and really
> enjoy working. They are smart and for the most part are fast learners.Some
> can be stubborn.Mine were not.I did try training one that was stubborn and
> she would not have made it as a guide dog.She did however,work out as a
> companion for an autistic child.My first Husky guide was originally trained
> as a service dog.I bought her as a puppy and raised her. Lily's training
> began at 13 weeks of age.She was house broken within the first week I had
> her. She was picking up items at 16 weeks.She could pick up and bring to me
> any thing I asked for.If I asked her to bring me the keys,she brought them
> to me.If I asked for a towel,she would bring it.She could find the TV
> remote for me when It was lost.Lily would pick up a dime and hand it to
> me.I also trained her to open doors and to do many other things.When she
> was older and fully grown,she would pull my manual wheelchair. When I
> started loosing my sight, I trained her to leash lead me.When I became
> legally blind, I worked with a private trainer and trained her to be a
> guide dog. She was a wonderful dog.She was a pure white husky with blue
> eyes.Nala was my second Husky guide.She was dark gray,black and white with
> 1 blue eye and 1 brown. I bought her as a 2 year old from a breeder.With in
> 4 months she was guiding me flawlessly, and passed the blind fold test with
> flying colors.I never got lost with Nala.If I went some place once,Nala new
> how to get me there the next time.I once missed the last bus home from a
> friends house and ended up having to roll it home.I was not sure how to get
> home but Nala got me there.It took her just under an hour to get us
> home,when I had taken 2 buses to get there in the first place. She some how
> knew the way even though she had never been to my friends home before.I was
> sleeping one night and was awakened by Nala jumping on me and pulling on my
> clothing.It took me a while to wake up and realize that in the other
> room,where I had my fish tanks set up,a fire had started due to a short in
> the wire  on one of the filters. I quickly cut off the power and unplugged
> the filter and the fire went out.I got rid of the melted filter and power
> strip and cleaned the black smoke off the wall.That was the extent of the
> damage.It could have been much worse if Nala had not awakened me that
> night.I might not be here now.Nala saved my life.She was truly a very
> special dog. I looked for another Husky to train when I retired Nala but
> could not find the right dog. After a year and a half,I expanded my search
> to other breeds in the hope of finding a guide prospect.During this
> time,Nala just did not want to retire.I found a fawn Belgian Shepherd and
> started his training.Shaman did not learn as fast as my Huskies but he did
> learn.Nala would see me putting the harness on Shaman and would bring her
> harness to me.She wanted to go too.At first I would hook Shaman up with
> Nala and work both dogs.Shaman started learning faster by working with
> Nala. This kept Nala happy.Occasionally I would take Nala to the grocery
> store and leave Shaman home. She was so happy that she was working. I took
> her to the grocery store a week before her death,which was very sudden and
> very unexpected.Huskies are extremely loyal and dedicated to their
> work.Shaman is also very loyal.For a Shepherd,he is very friendly.I think a
> little too friendly at times.At first he was very distracted by everything
> but with time he got a lot better about distractions,One day,I was working
> him and had to scold him for chasing a lizard while going down the
> sidewalk.I was beginning to think that maybe he was not going to make it as
> a guide dog. I proceeded on to the corner of a very busy street and was
> waiting for the light to change so we could cross the street.Shaman began
> to dance around and suddenly backed up so I backed up my wheelchair,just as
> the light changed.A large truck made a right turn on red and the back
> wheels of it's trailer ran over the curb where Shaman and I had been
> seconds before. We could have been injured or killed! It was then I knew
> that Shaman would be a very good guide dog. It's like he has ESP when it
> comes to traffic.He has become a wonderful guide.He is very different from
> Lily or Nala though.I had to get used to his way of working,because he was
> so different from the Huskies.I would definitely consider another Belgian
> when the time comes to retire Shaman.I am currently training a Husky to
> guide me when I am walking.Neechee's training is coming along well and I am
> very pleased with her.Shaman walks too fast for me when I walk as I am very
> slow due to my spinal problems.I don't want to confuse him or possibly ruin
> him for wheelchair guiding so I decided to go with a second dog.This is
> another plus for owner training.I can have 2 guide dogs and they both will
> get enough work to keep them happy and well exercised.I am trying to walk
> as much as possible to avoid Pulmonary Embolism as I have survived this
> condition several times now.Still,there are many times when I know I will
> be out for a long time and still will use my power wheelchair and
> Shaman,because there is not always a place to sit down when I need
> to.Belgian Shepherds are very loyal,some times they get silly,but they do
> enjoy working.Shaman can chase lizards one minute and the next minute he is
> saving me from being squashed under a trucks wheels.He has a happy go lucky
> attitude when working where as my Huskies were very serious when working.
> Now that I have written this book,it's time for me to let the dogs out one
> last time before bed time.Hope this answers your questions.   Mardi and
> Shaman and Neechee,GDIT.
>
> --
> http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
> http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com
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