[nagdu] new reader, passive dogs and ooh, the cold weather!

[Eve Sanchez]

Hello Daniel. That makes two Daniels right? haha   Oh falls scare me. I am
good at them, well not the landing part. I just moved here this last summer
from Eastern Idaho so I understand the weather you speak of. That was one
of the reasons I moved. I need to be able to get around and I do not handle
the cold well. Please be careful. I like the idea of a long lead for play
time. I do play with Taylor in the house and she always gets carried away.
Otherwise she is very calm. I do need to get out for walks whenever I feel
her getting slightly restless and that helps. It is not as warm here as I
expected Arizona to be, but I cannot complain coming from Idaho. I just
have to put on a sweater over my tank top rather than parka, snowboots, and
Carharts. Well, I am trying to put people into my mind to remember them
all. Maybe with such a story as yours I might be able to recall Daniel and
Cass. ;) Blessed Be. Eve

On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 2:28 PM, Daniel <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
>
>
> Hello to Eve, Daniel from Denver here. I have the new dog, Cass from GDB in
> Portland. Welcome and congratulations on your new baby too!
>
> Yes, it is the fit that counts.
>
> So far, so good in the work department since we have returned. The little
> tests have begun, and are being dealt with accordingly.
>
> As usual the weather in Denver is as unpredictable as always. Cold and snow
> and ice seems to be the order of the day now. Not the best working
> conditions for a new guide dog, who has not been exposed to the snow and
> ice
> in her 2 short years.
>
> It doesn't help that her papa is a klutz. I decided to take a fall with
> Cass
> by the curb while we were working the other day. I am not blaming her for
> this incident, as it was my fault for being too close to the curb. She was
> in the correct position, I was not. To make a long story short, it was
> quite
> a fall on the ice, and I believe it shook her up quite a bit.
>
> She continued to walk at an extremely slow pace, which was very
> appreciated,
> but now it seems she is a bit wary of going out on the snow and ice covered
> walks at all.
>
>
>
> I have talked to my trainer and she said this is fine for now, as it is
> better not to force her right now, and I certainly agree. We just want to
> make sure she gets her exercise and learns that snow is fun <NOT>. We have
> gone out in the back common area on a long lead and run around a bit, and
> played around on the floor.
>
>
>
> She is not a real play hound either, like some others have said - rather
> passive. She will lay by me while I am sitting, or walking on the computer,
> or doing something in the kitchen. The thing is we are also in the
> "breaking-in" phase, where I still have her on the leash while we get used
> to the new surroundings. Whew, what complications!
>
>
>
> I worry about her getting bored, or me making some kind of mistake during
> this precious period of acclamation. It is so easy for me to give those
> human attributes to the dog, that I put all of her comfort and welfare
> above
> my peaceful state of mind. I call it my "nervous new papa syndrome", and
> just want this experience to go well.
>
>
>
> It is several blocks, more like 7, to the bus stop. If these can be managed
> to get to safely, I think we would be able to get to some mall work either
> this weekend, or next week. The new volunteer work should be starting up
> about mid-January.  It's just getting through these rough few days.
>
>
>
> Oh well, Happy New Year to all, ain't it grand to have a partner
>
>
>
>
>
> Daniel Sweeney
>
> Lakewood, CO
>
>
>
>
>
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