[nagdu] New job, Cagney can't be with me

[Ann Edie]

Hi, Debbie,

I just wanted to add to the suggestion that Dailyah gave you.  In addition
to using a pad to allow the dog to relieve itself without leaving the duty
room, you could train the dog to relieve using the relieving harness.  That
would provide easy clean-up when the dog needs a relief break during the
work shift.  But I agree with others who have said that most dogs can easily
wait the length of a work shift between relief breaks, since they do go
overnight without relief breaks most of the time, as long as they aren't
eating and drinking during this time.

Hope you get it worked out to your and your dog's satisfaction.  And
whatever solution you choose, know that you are doing the best for your
family and for your dog that you possibly can at the present time, and you
have my complete support.

Best,
Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Dailyah Patt
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 12:47 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] New job, Cagney can't be with me

Hi Debbie,

You're certainly not a bad person!!!  I know of someone with a SD (sighted)
who worked in a prison guard tower...another long shift where they certainly
weren't able to just stroll off on break.  Like your situation, there was a
toilet that allowed them to still have sight of the yard, access to the
phones and all that stuff.  Employers can deny a dog by saying its presence
would fundamentally alter the nature of the business and for a few other
reasons, but since nobody else has suggested this - I'll tell you what the
prison guard did.  Usually the dog was able to hold it for an entire shift,
but sometimes not...and really, holding it all in for that long isn't all
that healthy if the dog does actually need to go - so they taught the dog to
go on those puppy wee pads and then kept some up in the tower.  It didn't
distract from duties particularly to toss down a pad, let the dog go and
then pick it up and toss it.  IIRC, the person also took a  little can of
air freshener in case it was a #2, just because there wasn't much air flow
and the poo couldn't be truly thrown away until they went off shift - but it
might be a work around that could work for you and you might consider
suggesting it to the employer.  Personally, training to go on all surfaces
includes wee pads in my case.  On some international flights, that's been
our ONLY option.  I've not yet had a dog who could hold it for 15 hours
unless I'd withheld food and water, so I finally decided that while wee pads
aren't exactly wonderful, they're better than nothing!!!

Dailyah
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