[nagdu] guide dogs and meeting

[Larry D. Keeler]

That thing at Pilot was pretty great!  Holly jumped right up and wagged all 
over!  I had to correct her but you know, my heart really wasn't in it!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Criminal Justice Major" <orleans24 at comcast.net>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 9:02 PM
Subject: [nagdu] guide dogs and meeting


> Hi, all,
> When I trained with Orleans at GEB, the instructors would have us meet in 
> the coffee and snack lounge to wait for them to bring the dog in.
> The dog then would be taken off the instructor's leash and allowed to run 
> around to smell the environment upon checking it out.
> After that, new dog and user would go back to their bedroom to spend time 
> with the dog and begin bonding.
> At Pilot Dogs when I trained with Freedom, the instructors would bring the 
> dogs into the bedroom and my roommate and I would each sit with our dogs 
> to do the same.
> After twenty minutes of bonding time, instructors would come to get us 
> upon having us go outtside to walk with the dogs around the block.
> Bathing occured as part of the bonding process after the walk around the 
> block.
> I liked that part as it gave me a chance to refresh my memory of being 
> able to bathe my partner at home if I couldn't afford to take him to the 
> groomers.
> I'll admit that Freedom David Berry won the most dirtiest dog award during 
> the beginning.
> When it came to Odie, Mike Tessmer had me wait in the front lobby while he 
> went to get my partner from the kennels.
> When Mike brought Odie into the building, my crazy labra wolf choked 
> himself, trying to get to me immediately.
> After hangin out in the lobby for twenty minutes, walk around the block 
> took place and bathing again like before.
> Out of all my guides, Odie gave me a run for my money during class.
> He had a bad chewing habbit and was also picky when it came to the 
> relieving area.
> He would relieve in harness on route.
> After a while, it took Mike Tessmer and steve Hoyt to make Odie go to the 
> bathroom in the student relieving area.
> They had to litterally go into the bathroom part by making him run around 
> to stemulate him. Upon arriving home, there was some dificulty with 
> getting him to go potty before we'd leave from home to the bus.
> Odie did learn eventually that the rule was for him to take care of 
> business before we'd leave home and getting on the city buses.
> Yes, I still made sure to give him extra parking opportunities while we 
> were out and about.
> Due to him aging more though, I park him more frequently and he does have 
> to be taken out in the middle of the night at times.
> Truth here is I'd rather take him out in the middle of the night versus 
> waking up to finding a lovely unpleasant surprise in our apartment.
> Regardless of him being a brat during his days when me in training, Odie 
> prooved that he was a great guide dog and the best out of all of them.
> as for my next guide, I might consider home training due to medical and 
> having to use oxygen at times.
> Just my thoughts for sharing.
> Bibi, husband Dale and son Odie
> the happy spirited bounty labra wolf
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