[nagdu] My concerns about getting a guide dog.....

Fri Sep 7 00:32:49 UTC 2012

Thanks buddy, it sounds like trusting the dog is one of the most important
lessons to learn and perhaps one that needs to be revisited from time to
time.  Which also tells me that the training school that I pick will be
used to this type of challenge and will have ways to help me get through
it.  Thanks for your reply!

On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 5:21 PM, Buddy Brannan <buddy at brannan.name> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> doug brings up some excellent points here. I'd hasten to add, however,
> that trust issues aren't exclusive to partials though. Learning to trust
> and not second guess my dog, or do my dog's work for him, was, and is, the
> hardest part of using a guide dog for me, and I'm a total. (Some might ask
> "a total what?", but I will leave that to the imagination of the reader.)
> Each time I've gone in for a new dog, giving up that bit of control to the
> dog, necessary as it is, is very hard for me. Fortunately, as I've said in
> other contexts, dogs are very, amazingly, resilient, and they come out the
> other side with me all right, in one piece, even mostly psychologically
> undamaged.
>
> Oh yes, there are many, many ways to second guess your dog, none of which
> have a thing to do with faulty, changing, fluctuating, or unreliable
> vision. I'm sure I've found many of them, and I'm equally sure I'll find
> lots more.
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> On Sep 6, 2012, at 7:52 PM, Doug Parisian <eggmann at shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> > Seems to me that Pauline express her concerns fairly well and perhaps,
> > though hopefully unintentional, the tone of this message implies some
> form
> > of wilful miss-trust of folks with out of the normal vision issues.  The
> > vision issues are rarely black and white but more like shades of grey,
> and
> > unpredictable too; that really sucks!.
> >
> > Firstly, that mobility destructor should be promptly fired, dismissed,
> > canned, buried, or something!
> >
> > My friend Terry had what he referred to as pinhole vision; he could see
> me
> > almost half a block away, if I just happened to be in his field of
> vision;
> > the closer I got, the less likely he was to see me.  That has to be tough
> > but not as difficult as fluctuating vision.
> >
> > Doug: I'm looking through you, where did you go?
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 6:14 PM
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] My concerns about getting a guide dog.....
> >
> >
> > : You won't want a dog, Paline, to show that you are visually impaired.
> You
> > have to be able to use the dog in ways that show you trust it. The more
> you
> > second guess, or make decisions based on what you see or by second
> guessing
> > the dog, the more it will come to realize that it doesn't have to work.
> You
> > have to be committed to being blind enough to really use a dog. Are you
> > using the cane, or do youjust carry it.
> > :
> > : Cindy Lou
> > :
> > : On Sep 6, 2012, at 4:59 PM, Pauline Berger wrote:
> > :
> > : > Hello everyone,
> > : >
> > : > I just found this list last night and I am hoping to chat with
> someone
> > who
> > : > might be in the same situation that I am in.  I am legally blind but
> > just
> > : > barely.  I have a lot of functional vision left and for the most part
> > : > people around me do not even realize that I have vision problems.
> > : > Especially if I am in a familiar area, my visual handicaps could not
> > even
> > : > be noticed.  Lighting is what makes the difference in me.  Either too
> > much
> > : > or not enough can really blind me.  I have trouble with any printed
> text
> > : > unless it is blown up to about 6 or 7x.
> > : >
> > : > So my concern is this:  I do have enough functional vision that may
> get
> > in
> > : > the way of training a dog to see for me.  Sometimes I do see the
> cracks
> > in
> > : > a sidewalk or sometimes I don't.  I have walked off a set of stairs
> > twice
> > : > in my life that I did not see.  So, my hubby and daughter would like
> me
> > to
> > : > get a dog for my own protection.  It is not just them, I would love
> one
> > : > too.  What I am afraid of is that the people at the guide dog
> training
> > : > place will wonder if I am faking...I know.... you may think this is
> > silly,
> > : > but I do wonder if they will be able to work with me since I do have
> the
> > : > ability to see more than others that need a dog.  I would be able to
> go
> > : > around town on the bus and such with him and to go to my volunteer
> job
> > at
> > : > the hospital with him and not feel vulnerable like I do with my cane
> > which
> > : > advertises to everyone that I am visually impaired.
> > : >
> > : > Any thoughts for me???
> > : >
> > : > Thanks
> > : >
> > : > --
> > : > When you are at the edge of a cliff........*a step back* is progress!
> > : > .....heard at Pacific Coast Camp
> > : >
> > : > *Knowledge* is knowing that a tomato is classified as a fruit....
> > : > *Wisdom* is knowing not to put it into a fruit salad!
> > : > .....author unknown
> > : >
> > : > Two things in life you should never scrimp on.......
> > : > *Mattresses* and *shoes*.......you will spend your lifetime in one or
> > the
> > : > other!
> > : > author unknown
> > : >
> > : > Talk to yourself.......you will be guaranteed at least *ONE*
> listener!
> > : > by Pauline Berger
> > : > _______________________________________________
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> > :
> > :
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>
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-- 
When you are at the edge of a cliff........*a step back* is progress!
.....heard at Pacific Coast Camp

*Knowledge* is knowing that a tomato is classified as a fruit....
*Wisdom* is knowing not to put it into a fruit salad!
.....author unknown

Two things in life you should never scrimp on.......
*Mattresses* and *shoes*.......you will spend your lifetime in one or the
other!
author unknown

Talk to yourself.......you will be guaranteed at least *ONE* listener!
by Pauline Berger