[nagdu] feeling a bit discouraged

Sat Sep 8 20:28:25 UTC 2012

Hi, Dar.

I'm on Long Island. It's still fairly warm here. He does relieve. The problem is that he doesn't want to go inside after he has finished.

Shannon and Ace
Shannon Dyer
Alumni Council Member,
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
®  and
America's VetDogs®,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc ®
Providing "Second Sight" ® since 1946
371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047
solsticesinger at gmail.com
To make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
www.guidedog.org 
or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
www.vetdogs.org
Visit us on facebook at: 
www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs

On Sep 8, 2012, at 2:05 PM, d m gina <dmgina at samobile.net> wrote:

> Hi Shannon,
> I don't remember where you live,
> what I do know here, is we are getting down to 44 degrees in the mornings.
> it is plum to cold for me to stand out there, while my dog sits on his but to wag his tail for me to encourage him to go park time.
> What I do is this,
> Bring him in, keeping him close to me, while I eat my breakfast.
> When he growns then I go back out again.
> Buy this time, he is ready to give me a parking ticket.
> I have to talk to him in a happy voice, but as long as I get the ticket that is what matters.
> I am wondering if this will help you as well.
> I try to walk around with him, but like your dog, when they put on the brakes I won't waist my time.
> I just go in and wait.
> I am warm then, and can handle going back out again.
> Don't know what the boy will do when we start getting snow.
> Trust me I pray he will have this down to a science.
> I did the walking thing, but that didn't do the trick for him.
> At least now I don't have to wait until the middle of the afternoon.
> It is around seven, where I take him out around six.
> Trying to stay on a schedule.
> Wishing you the best.
> Original message:
>> You raise some really good points here, Anne. I will definitely try your suggestions. Clear communication is a wonderful thing.
> 
>> Oh yes. I'm very grateful for Ace's unwillingness not to relieve himself indoors. I just wish he'd move after relieving.
> 
>> You may be onto something when you mention a sort of let-down after returning from guide dog class. I shall give this some thought.
> 
>> Shannon and Ace
>> Shannon Dyer
>> Alumni Council Member,
>> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
>> ®  and
>> America's VetDogs®,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc ®
>> Providing "Second Sight" ® since 1946
>> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
>> Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047
>> solsticesinger at gmail.com
>> To make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
>> www.guidedog.org
>> or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
>> www.vetdogs.org
>> Visit us on facebook at:
>> www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs
> 
>> On Sep 8, 2012, at 12:46 PM, "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com> wrote:
> 
>>> Hi, Shannon,
> 
>>> Trying to look at this situation from the dog's point of view, I'm thinking
>>> that when Ace refuses to move when you ask him to go back inside, that
>>> perhaps it is because his intestines are still feeling a bit unsettled and
>>> he is thinking that maybe he still needs to empty some more.  You might try
>>> giving him another chance to relieve, or going for a short walk and then
>>> giving him another chance to relieve before going back inside.  I'm also
>>> thinking that I would be very appreciative of a dog like Ace who seems to be
>>> doing his best to communicate to you when he needs to relieve and to avoid
>>> having relieving accidents indoors.  The way I would approach this sort of
>>> situation would be to reward the dog highly (with exuberant praise and
>>> treats, if your school and your personal philosophy allow) immediately after
>>> he has successfully relieved himself in an appropriate place.  I would also
>>> praise and treat him upon returning indoors after a successful relieving
>>> break.  That might help him understand that he is doing what you want him to
>>> do and that you understand what he is telling you through his behavior.  In
>>> other words, it makes the communication between the two of you clearer, and
>>> it may make him feel more secure and help both of you relax.
> 
>>> Now I am going to throw something out just for your and other people's
>>> consideration--
>>> I think that there might be a phenomenon occurring here that is similar to
>>> the post-partem depression that affects some new mothers shortly after they
>>> come home with their newborn babies.  What I am saying is that I think that
>>> sometimes we fall into a little feeling of letdown after we get home from
>>> the stimulating environment of the guide dog training program, and the
>>> excitement of meeting the new dog has begun to fade into the daily routine
>>> of life with a young and inexperienced guide dog.  We go from a setting
>>> where we have a circle of instructors and staff to support us and interpret
>>> the dog's behavior for us and a class of fellow handlers to share our
>>> concerns and experiences with, to our home communities where we may be the
>>> only guide dog handler and the only person we meet face-to-face with on a
>>> regular basis who understands what guide dog training is and the
>>> relationship we have with our guides.  It's not surprising that we may feel
>>> that we are alone and that we are not understanding what the new dog is
>>> thinking or why he is doing the things he is doing.  Added to that, there is
>>> the fact that the dog is completely in the dark about the process he is
>>> going through.  He doesn't know why he is with this new person; he doesn't
>>> really know why he was trained to do the things he was trained to do; he
>>> doesn't know why you came into his life or why he was taken from the kennel
>>> and his trainer; he doesn't know how to get your attention or how to
>>> communicate his needs to you; he doesn't really know just what you expect of
>>> him or how to please you, but he knows that his ability to do this is
>>> crucial to his future happiness and even survival.  Both handler and dog are
>>> going through a process of mourning for the loss of the known security of
>>> the past and adjustment to the unfamiliar adventure of the future.  This is
>>> one of the reasons why it takes up to a year to build the bond and
>>> relationship between the handler and the working dog.
> 
>>> If this hypothesis rings true at all for you, then take comfort in the
>>> knowledge that the process you are going through with your new dog and the
>>> feelings and doubts you are experiencing are completely normal and natural,
>>> and that it is a process which, in most instances, proceeds to the happy
>>> conclusion of a smoothly-functioning and joyfully-bonded team.  There is
>>> nothing wrong with having and expressing your doubts and concerns, in fact,
>>> it is definitely right to express them both on lists like this and to the
>>> instructors at your school.  While difficulties such as those you are
>>> describing are usually quickly overcome and are soon put behind us as small
>>> bumps in the road which leads to lasting and wonderful partnerships, we all
>>> know that some issues do not find solutions and that a small percentage of
>>> guide teams end in the dog's early retirement or career change.  We must
>>> acknowledge this possibility, even though it is scary and causes us much
>>> anxiety.  This group is here for the express purpose of listening and
>>> supporting you through the rough spots in your team-building, as well as to
>>> rejoice with you in your moments of triumph and success.  Thank you for
>>> giving us the chance to share our experience with you and to support you.
> 
>>> Best,
>>> Ann
> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>>> Of Shannon Dyer
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2012 8:10 AM
>>> To: GDF List
>>> Cc: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
>>> Subject: [nagdu] feeling a bit discouraged
> 
>>> Hi, all.
> 
>>> I've been home with Ace for almost two weeks. He has had an unpredictable
>>> relieving pattern since I got him, but my trainer insists that it will work
>>> itself out as we become more of a team, and Ace gets used to his
>>> surroundings. He hasn't had any accidents in the house, which is good.
> 
>>> While we were on class, Ace would stop walking if he needed to relieve. I
>>> mean he'd just come to a complete stop and refuse to move until he was given
>>> the opportunity to relieve. This happened both inside the building as well
>>> as on route.
> 
>>> Yesterday, he started refusing to take me inside after I took him out to
>>> relieve. He did it twice yesterday and once this morning. I was just
>>> standing there on the sidewalk in front of my house, trying to get him to
>>> move.
> 
>>> I'm just not sure ow this is going to work. I'm feeling really discouraged.
>>> His relieving has become a bit more normal the past few days, but now, he's
>>> refusing to move after he relieves. I really don't know how to handle this.
>>> I know I'll talk to my instructor, but that won't be until at least Monday.
>>> Right now, I just feel like giving up. If I can't get back into my house,
>>> where else is he going to stop working?
> 
>>> I really don't know why I'm writing this. I guess I just needed to get it
>>> off my chest. Thanks for reading, all.
> 
>>> Shannon and Ace
>>> Shannon Dyer
>>> Alumni Council Member,
>>> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
>>> R  and
>>> America's VetDogsR,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc R Providing "Second Sight"
>>> R since 1946
>>> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
>>> Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047 solsticesinger at gmail.com To
>>> make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
>>> www.guidedog.org or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
>>> www.vetdogs.org Visit us on facebook at:
>>> www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs
> 
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> 
> 
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> 
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> 
> -- 
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
> FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
> 
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