[nagdu] Question from anyone who works and has a guide dog
Ann Edie
annedie at nycap.rr.com
Sun Oct 21 18:50:51 UTC 2012
Hi, Matthew,
It sounds as if your dog could use a bone, nylabone, or another toy made for
the purpose of being chewed upon to keep her busy while you are at training.
You might want to use a metal tie-down or a crate to keep her in one
out-of-the-way place while you are otherwise occupied and unable to focus on
what a young dog is doing. If you do have to keep her on leash and attached
to yourself, you might want to take the harness off of her while you are
staying in one place for an extended period of time, as young and restless
dogs can and do sometimes manage to chew through parts of their harnesses.
And harnesses are more expensive and more inconvenient to replace than
leashes if they do get damaged or destroyed. At the Seeing Eye, it was the
martingale strap (the strap that runs from the middle of the chest to the
middle of the girth strap) which was usually chewed through. I don't know
if Pilot's harness even has a martingale strap, but even if it doesn't, I
would imagine there are other straps that an energetic and determined dog
could reach and chew. Although many young dogs go through a period of
chewing on leashes and other inappropriate objects while in the transition
period and later grow out of this phase and never chew another leash or
harness, I wouldn't want my dog to get into the habit of using her leash as
a chew toy or stress-reliever. So I would seriously consider using a metal
leash or tie down or confining her in a crate and giving her something
appropriate and safe to chew until she gets more comfortably adjusted to her
guide dog life.
(If you are using a "choke chain" collar on your dog when working her, then
I would take it off of her and replace it with a flat buckle collar for when
she is on tie down or in a crate. The choke chains can get caught on
protruding objects or the dog can get its jaw under the collar and it can
pose a true strangulation hazard.)
Is your dog used to lying quietly when you are at home and can't pay
attention to her or play with her for a period of time? Do you use any
method to confine her at these times, or does she have free range of your
home? Is it just the high activity level at the training center which is
stimulating her to greater activity, or is she restless and reactive to
everything that happens around the home as well? I think the idea of
getting her enough exercise before she has to lie quietly for a long period
of time to comfortably tire her out is a good one too.
Best of luck,
Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of matthew dyer
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:23 AM
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,
Unfortionnetly, I live clear on the west side of columbus and the trainning
center is clear up on the north side so I really have to take transit, but
I will try taking her for a walk earlyer in the morning and see if that will
help. I do have a cong which I am planing to take with me if need be. I
first have to get her a new leash since she has totally chuewed it appart.
Does anyone who went to pilot remember how much they are from the school?
Thanks again for any help.
Matthew
On Oct 20, 2012, at 7:20 PM, Deanna Lewis wrote:
> 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
> nagdu:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.
>>>> com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----
>>>> No virus found in this message.
>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5341 - Release Date:
>>>> 10/19/12
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
> nagdu:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/ilovecountrymusic
>>> 4
>>> 83%40gmail.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.c
>> o
>> m
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5341 - Release Date:
>> 10/19/12
>>
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/deannakay03%40gmail
> .com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/ilovecountrymusic48
> 3%40gmail.com
_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/annedie%40nycap.rr.com
More information about the NAGDU
mailing list