[nagdu] Coming home

[Daniel]

Hi Buddy,

Daniel from Denver here, and I am agreeing with you more each day.

We got home on December 16th, and I have tried some short spurts the last
few days, only to find that Cass was nowhere in sight. (pardon the pun)

She decides that she does not have to come when she is called. She thinks
that being called is a game, NOT. When I have told her to stay on her bed in
the living room and I have gone into the kitchen for something, I return to
hear someone running to get back on her bed quickly.
So, you are correct, the dog is trying to see exactly what she can get away
with without getting in trouble. Especially with the cold weather and not
getting out as much as I want, this is the best time to work on all of the
obedience training and to reinforce all of the "boot camp" training, for
lack of a better term. I had forgotten the housewarming part of bringing
home a new dog, but agree it is a most important time to lay down the rules
for a long-lasting relationship.

There was also an incident this morning where I had her off leash and
someone came to the door to deliver something. The door was unlocked and the
person opened the door, and Cass just rushed up to the door - NOT GOOD. If
the door had been open all the way, she could have gotten out, and we all
know what that could mean. I was in the same room, or else the door would
not have been open, and my hand was right there so it was a perfect training
session.

Good topic.


Daniel Sweeney
Lakewood, CO
 
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 3:27 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Coming home

Hi Eve,

I think this is really, really important, and it's a good question. 

I'm sure some will disagree and correct me on the finer points, but here
goes, just my thoughts and experiences, your mileage may vary, batteries not
included.

First, when you go home with your dog, remember this. Everything is new to
your dog. The only constant in your dog's life, the minute you leave school,
is you. This is why they tell you at school to ease your dog into your life
as gently as possible or practical, and try not to throw too much at him at
once. 

As for keeping your dog on leash when you get home, with all of my dogs, I
have kept them on leash, full time, and if not on leash, in a crate or tie
down, exclusively, for at least a couple weeks. Yes, I know, it's
inconvenient, it's a pain in the ass, it gets in your way, it cramps your
style, whatever. Deal. This isn't for you, it's for your dog. Because you're
the constant in your dog's life right now, you have to establish all the
rules and boundaries, and your dog will ask, in lots of different ways,
whether the rules still apply. It's up to you to assure him that they do.
The easiest way to do this is to have your dog near to hand, so that when he
gets into mischief, you can stop it quickly and decisively. It's lots easier
to set boundaries in the beginning than it is to go back and undo the damage
later. 

Of course, that's just part of it. Another part is to reinforce the
partnership. If your dog is used to being near you in the beginning, when
everything's new and you are the constant in his world, he'll stay near you
on his own. Being near you means that he's not somewhere else chewing the
legs off of your antique wood chair. 

Having your dog near you also means you get to reinforce all your house
rules. One of our house rules is that dogs shall not be in the kitchen,
unless accompanied directly by one of us, or on their way to going outside
to park. Also, dogs do not go down the basement steps. Easy to teach the
first few weeks home when the dog's on leash at all times. Once they learn
the boundaries, they respect the boundaries. Give 'em an inch though, and
they'll take a mile. 

Mind you, I said I have kept my dogs on leash full time for at least two
weeks. You may lengthen that if you need. You may shorten it if you really
think it's a good idea, but give it some serious thought first. And in any
case, freedo never comes all at once. After that first two weeks, I would
increase the amount of off-leash time and space gradually, until such time
as I feel I can trust the dog completely off leash. This has worked great
for all three of my dogs. They all respect boundaries and house rules. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Dec 27, 2012, at 4:55 PM, Eve Sanchez <celticyaya at gmail.com> wrote:

> Okay, so this is the post I was planning. It may show relation to other
> thread, but I am hoping to get a little deeper here. I know that the
> different schools have different policies on coming home and how to work
> with the dog in the first months, but still, putting that aside, people do
> not always go by what is recommended and instead do their own things.
> Mostly I am wondering from the experienced people. Do you keep your dogs
on
> leash for a certain amount of time at home? If so how long? And how does
> this work out with the other animals? I know dogs and cats always want to
> get a little friendlier than they should, they do even at school, so how
is
> this handled? Do you all go by recommendations or what?How does it work
for
> you and not only in regards to the other animals in the house. Blessed Be.
> Eve
> _______________________________________________
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