[nagdu] Question from anyone who works and has a guide dog

Sat Oct 20 23:37:31 UTC 2012

Hi Matt,
Like others have said on this list, I am not clear as to what the dog does
and what you do in turn. I know that my attitude as a handler can either
feed or reduce hyperness in my dog. If possible, the dog should have a
comfortable place to lay, a blanket or bed, and should be under something.
If the dog is just laying in the floor next to your chair with nothing
around her, she might feel insecure. As others have said, try to create a
place for her on something soft and under a desk or table. When you give her
the down command, do it with hand signals (if your school teaches these) and
calmly and firmly. Sit on the leash and put your foot on it fairly near the
collar so that she can't stand up easily. Another option is to push her
under your chair and keep her between your feet, also sitting on the leash.
What I said about my attitude and a hyper dog is very important. If I get
very worried when my dog stands up and I act like I don't know what to do, I
will be telling her that there is no one in charge to take care of things
and she will try to fill the vacant space by doing more of what she wants.
If I decide to stay calm and in charge, using physical restraints like the
foot on the leash and sitting on the leash as well, I am telling her that I
am the boss and that I know what I am doing and that all is well.

I am writing this in terms of myself because I can't speak for how you feel
or what you do. However, I know that I was a lot more hyper with my first
dog low these nearly 40 years ago, and that firm, kind calmness gets a lot
more cooperation than worry.

Also do try to make a den or nest for her so that she has a place to be that
is comfortable and out of the foot traffic.

I hope some of this is helpful. Be sure to talk with your school. Keep us
posted.
Best,
Terrie Terlau

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deanna Lewis
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 7:20 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question from anyone who works and has a guide dog

Hi Matt,
I agree with Julie here. I think that taking Izzy for a long walk before the
training, or on lunch break will help make her tired, so she will want to
lay down and rest afterwards. 
Is the training facility you are at in your home area? If it is relatively
close to you, you may consider riding a city bus there and walking some of
the way. That way you both get some exercise.
My guide, Pascal used to always want to stand during meetings, at
restaurants, etc. But, I found that when we had a good workout before the
meeting, about a mile walk or so, that he would settle a lot easier. He
would plop right down and fall asleep. If I went out and rode to my
destination in a car  or on Para Transit, he would get bored quickly and not
want to lay down. There are still times when he doesn't want to lay down,
especially if he is in the aisle of wherever we are at. So, I always try to
encourage him to lay under the desk or table. If he can't get underneath,
then I just have to be firm and make him lie down.
I am still not very clear on what she is actually doing here... Does she
just not want to lie down? Does she get bored? Does she not mind you?
If it is boredom, I would suggest you bring her a nylabone to chew on while
you are training. 
Good luck in your training!
Hope this helps. 
Deanna and Pascal

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 5:58 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question from anyone who works and has a guide dog

Exercise is always a good thing.  Do you have a place like a hallway or
something where you could throw a toy for her to fetch?  A long walk is also
a good idea so she is tired and will settle more easily.  Are you working
her on the days you don't go to this training?  Guide dogs need consistent
work on a nearly daily basis.  They won't forget the commands, but they will
get bored, restless and start finding other creative ways to use their
intelligence.  I'd also start practicing long down stays at home before you
go back to this training.

Julie

On 10/19/2012 2:35 PM, matthew Dyer wrote:
> Hi Jully.
>
> Rite now I am going through job trainning and am hopping to get into a
customersurvice work.  I have been doing a lot of trainning and really want
to start the dlupmeent prosses, but am having trouble getting her tostay
down for very long periods.  I think the next time I go  back up there I am
going to try and walk her before hand which will require me to get up much
earlyer, but it is worth a shot.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> matthew Dyer
>
>
> matthew Dyer
>
> Sent from my mac mini.
>   e-mail/msn: ilovecountrymusic483 at gmail.com
> Skype: graduater 2004
> Follow me on  twitter at mdyer1.
> Facebook: ilovecountrymusic483 at gmail.com Find me on zello  at 
> graduater2004.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Oct 19, 2012, at 1:35 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>
>> Matthew,
>>
>> I'm not sure what sort of work you are doing, which might make a
difference in how you manage your dog.  when I'm in my office Monty lays on
his rug under my desk.  Generally he will stay calm and quiet for 2 to 3
hours.  Then he gets a bit fidgety and will put his chin on my leg.  This
tells me that he needs to stretch and walk around a bit.  since I have my
own office with a door and he is well behaved, I will let him up to walk
around my office for a couple of minutes.  Then he goes back under until I
am done.  Generally speaking though I will have to get up and move around to
another office or something before he needs to stretch.
>>
>> When I'm out of my office at meetings or doing a presentation, Monty goes
with me.  He will lie under the table in front of me or beside my chair or
wherever seems out of the way and appropriate.  If I'm moving around the
room teaching a class I generally have him lie next to the wall at the front
of the classroom.  He can see me, but is out of the way.
>>
>> He has been going with me to work for three years now.  the first couple
of weeks did require some  reminders and gentle encouragement to stay put.
I prepared him by practicing long down stays at home.  TV is a good time to
do this because you are generally sitting and not moving around.  also TV
comes in convenient 30 and 60 minute time slots so you can easily keep track
of how you are progressing.
>>
>> HTH
>> Julie
>> On 10/19/2012 12:15 PM, matthew Dyer wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I am looking for any ideas on how to handle Izzy while oon the job.
This past week I went to  the trainning service here and took Izzy with
me and for some reason I could not keep Izzy com.  I ended up getting time
off the trainning because of this.  What do people do  before hand?  I do
make it a point to do obideanse with her, but she still seems hiper.  Any
idea on how to rectify this problem?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>> matthew Dyer
>>>
>>>
>>> matthew Dyer
>>>
>>> Sent from my mac mini.
>>>   e-mail/msn: ilovecountrymusic483 at gmail.com
>>> Skype: graduater 2004
>>> Follow me on  twitter at mdyer1.
>>> Facebook: ilovecountrymusic483 at gmail.com Find me on zello  at 
>>> graduater2004.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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