[nagdu] bad handlers

[Cala Estes]

I've never had a guide dog, but I'm planning to get one in the future.
Here's where I think the problem of petting in harnis lies. I'm
assuming that the schools train the dogs to know that harnis =
worktime. Out of harnis = freetime. If you let the dog get too much
petting in harnis, that classical conditioning of harnis to work will
get messed up, and the dog may forget that harnis = work time when
they need to be on point and not expecting pets. If they expect pets
in harnis, it may distract them.

I don't think it makes you a bad handler at all if you let the dog
have pets in harnis as long as he or she is obeying your commands to
sit and whatever. However, if the dog is distracted anyway, and isn't
listening, that may not be the best time to allow pets in harnis.

Cala

On 3/16/12, Hannah Chadwick <sparklylicious at gmail.com> wrote:
> Rox,
> I agree with you. I do the same, but not strangers. I let my friends pet
> Princess if she's not doing anything while in harness, but only  sometimes.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of The Pawpower Pack
> Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 8:09 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] bad handlers
>
> I let people pet my dog in harness if she is not busy and if they ask.  I
> never thought this made me a "bad handler."  I think it is not helpful to
> make sweeping judgements about others.
>
> Rox
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 16, 2012, at 9:14 AM, Mariea Harris <mharris1979 at carolina.rr.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I also can't stand people who totally treat their guide like it's a pet
> dog. Letting people pet it in harness and not re-working issues or
> automatically thinking it is the other person's fault if the dog bumped him
> or her into someone. Also, letting others verbally correct their dog instead
> of saying "Buffy is go after a cookie."
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Mariea and Valiant
>>
>>
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