[nagdu] Coming home

Fri Dec 28 00:30:37 UTC 2012

Hey Guys, I am going to respond here even though I hope this thread will
keep going. My school recommends 6 to 8 weeks on leash. With my shepherd
she was mainly on longer than that. Shortly after returning home with her,
maybe a couple of weeks, I would lay the leash over her back to give her
some freedom. As long as she was being good, this was fine. If there was a
problem or issue that needed addressing, I was able to easily grab.
Actually when I say good, I mean that she stayed at my side even in this
almost off leash state. I have not done this with Taylor yet other than in
our room. I feel I want her to feel the bedroom is hers as much as mine. I
have done down, stay, recalls and she is wonderful with that. Unless the
cats are playing that is. The cats are the main reason she may be on leash
a little longer. She so badly wants to play with them and they do not share
the desire. I love how this thread is going. Too bad we could not compile
these to share with new comers as they join. I am curious about what other
schools recommend here still. I have a friend that went to another school
and she was shocked at the length I keep them on leash. She felt that the
dog will never feel trusted and that this would affect the bonding
adversely. That right there is why I am curious about what works for
everybody. Thanks all for sharing. Blessed Be. Eve

On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 3:47 PM, Daniel <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net> wrote:

> 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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