[nagdu] Coming home

Fri Dec 28 01:58:45 UTC 2012

Hello Eve- I brought my girl home on august 16 of this year and she is still
on leash. She does still have freedom, however I can still get of the leash
if I need too. She doesn't have a problem with this and she trusts me just
the same. Handlers need to do what works for them. Also, not all dogs turn
over right away and it is necessary to keep the dog on leash or tie down for
as long as the handler needs to in order to assure the dog behaves. 
Tina and the girls

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 4:31 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Coming home

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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