[nagdu] Coming home

Fri Dec 28 01:04:20 UTC 2012

Hi Eve,

I don't think your friends is right on this at all. The thing is, dogs aren't people and don't think like people. Your dog will feel trusted and secure if he gets consistency, consistent rules with consistent consequences and consistent outcomes. Not to mention, being praised for a job well done. A dog knowing its place in the family/pack structure is what he wants, and even needs. So the thing is, your dog needs to learn what you expect of it, and the on-leash time helps reinforce that. 

While six weeks seems like a long time to me, and it's true that some programs say less time (I think when I went to Guide Dogs back in 1996 it was four weeks, and Seeing Eye says two, or so my memory tells me), I think there's some truth to the notion that some may err on the side of caution, knowing that 1) people and dogs are individuals and there will be some variation, and 2) people won't always do what they're taught and will "bend" the recommendations some. I expect some of that six weeks is accounted for by the "Oh, it doesn't need to really be that long", so they built in lots more wiggle room. I don't know. Still, I think some time on leash is a good idea.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

On Dec 27, 2012, at 7:30 PM, Eve Sanchez <celticyaya at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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>> 
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