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

Tracy Carcione carcione at access.net
Fri Dec 28 15:31:18 UTC 2012


Hi Eve.
A Flexileash works well for outside play, if you don't have a fenced area to 
play in.  If you haven't seen one, it has a big handle, which holds a strong 
line that snaps to the dog's collar.  The line retracts and extends as the 
dog moves about.  They're a little expensive, but mine has lasted for years. 
Although I did mess one up taking it to the beach and getting sand in it.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eve Sanchez" <celticyaya at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 7:12 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] new reader, passive dogs and ooh, the cold weather!


> 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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