[nagdu] Nowhere to go?

Vanessa Lowery vlowery at dhr.state.md.us
Tue Sep 18 18:27:03 UTC 2012 

Yes, getting a dog is not only hard work in class, but is equally hard work when at home.  A person deciding to get a guide dog needs to get it because he/she wants to, not because family is pushing you to do so.  Granted, as you self-reported, you talked about getting a guide dog since young childhood, but what is your current take on getting a guide dog.  Are you doing so for you or to satisfay the family?  

No one is discouraging you from getting a guide dog, Sarah, and being located in a rural living arrangement is not insurmountable wht a guide dog.  But you would ahve to take the initiative to find ways to go places where the dog could be worked.  One person I know lives wiht her husband in a rural setting, but she is able to take walks in the neighborhood wiht her dog.  Additionally, the dog gets some work where my friend is employed, and she and her husband go into town so the dog can get work in stores.  They also visit flea markets where the dog gets work.  In your case, you may need to explore if you can do some walking in your immediate area.  And you need to explore if there is a transportation resource you can use to get you into town.  I have concerns that your family thinks that a guide dog is a well-trained pet.  If that is their perception, I have some real concerns.



Vanessa Lowery, LGSW
Adult and Community Services Division
Adult Services Screening Unit
410-853-3550
VLowery at dhr.state.md.us


>>> Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> 9/18/2012 2:12 PM >>>
If you are getting the dog for the family, then you should really change your mind, I think, and get a pet. Is there any possibility of your moving? Hou said you were in an independenbt living program for six months, but now you aren't. You are twenty; the world is your future, but you have to help make it happen. Fear holds us back so we have to just push through it, getting the help we need along the way.

CL

On Sep 18, 2012, at 1:08 PM, Sarah wrote:

> I want to just get a pet but sty family all want me to have a guide dog because I've been talking about it since I was 7.  But now that I'm 20, I just feel too tired and I don't have that get up and go like I used to.  I kind of just feel like sleeping all day because I live so far away from Magic Mountain.  I've been everywhere up in this desert lots of times and we only go shopping once a week.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:04:27 -0400
> Subject: [nagdu] Nowhere to go?
> 
> Hi Sarah.
> I wonder why you want a dog, if you feel you have nowhere to go?
> 
> I am old enough to see the glimmer of retirement in my future--not soon,
> but not impossibly far off, either.  But I think that even after I retire,
> I'll have places to go.  I'll still have the usual trips around town--the
> grocery, diner, pharmacy, shopping...though those won't be every day.  I
> hope to do a bit of travelling.  And to get out and walk, preferably every
> day, just to keep myself fit.  I've had 6 guide dogs now, and every one of
> them has done best when they've gotten regular work.  Ben, my current dog,
> doesn't require miles and miles a day, and can take one day off a week
> with no problem, but he still gets squirrely if I don't work him for any
> length of time.
> I think my dogs will still get enough work, once I'm retired, but it does
> concern me a bit.  If I felt I really had nowhere to go, or no desire to go
> anywhere, I'd just get myself a pet.  But, being somewhat prone to cabin
> fever, I don't see that happening any time soon.
> 
> Tracy
> 
> Dang it now I'm worried.  I really have no desire to go anywhere.
> I just fel too tired
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:51:55 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Downtime in class
> 
> No, I don't do that.  I should, but because I am currently not
> going much of anywhere, I've gotten out of the habit.  I kind of
> wish I did, and maybe I'll start.  That's probably one of the
> reasons I won't get any dogs after this one.  I don't think he's
> getting a fair shake.  I hope I don't change my mind.
> 
> CL
> 
> On Sep 18, 2012, at 11:47 AM, Sarah wrote:
> 
> Cool thanks.  How often do you walk your dog? Do
> you walk 3-5 miles every day?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:27:39 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Downtime in class
> 
> Ah, you'll be fine.  It is always exciting before you go for the
> dog.  I think you are going to have a fine time of it.
> 
> Cindy
> 
> On Sep 17, 2012, at 11:10 PM, Sarah wrote:
> 
> That's exciting! I'm still kind of worried, but I'll do it.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:45:16 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Downtime in class
> 
> His name is Fisher.  Let's see.  I think they brought him to my
> room.  We walked around the room a lot.  He sniffed me and we
> cuddled.  At our school, they had us go out on their leisure path
> with the harness and an instructor attched to him, too, with the
> leash.  Then later we took them out to relieve and have dinner.
> He mostly tried to keep him close and see what toys he liked,
> though I went slow with this.  Some dogs, when you first get
> them, whine a lot because they hear familiar voices as others are
> being given dogs by the same instructor.  Some are restless the
> first night or so when they are with you; I've never had a lot of
> trouble with that with any of the dogs.
> 
> CL
> 
> On Sep 17, 2012, at 6:39 PM, Sarah wrote:
> 
> What's his name? What was it like when you first met him?
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:20:17 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Downtime in class
> 
> I think they can sense  your moods.  I think they definitely
> know the difference between stressed and calm.  I have a lab and
> golden cross.  He is six.
> 
> CL
> 
> On Sep 17, 2012, at 6:17 PM, Sarah wrote:
> 
> that's awesome! I am so excited to have a dog.  Can dogs sense
> how you are feel, can they sense your moods? What kind of dog do
> you have?
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:12:22 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Downtime in class
> 
> \Hi, Sarah, I am Cindy.  You know, it depends on the dog.  I am
> a firm believer in spending a lot of time in the process of
> bonding with my dog, especially the first few days.  If the
> person who trained you is your trainer, they will look to that
> person for a while, but you will start to see a switch over in a
> few days.  When you take that dog home, I think the bonding
> increases because now it has left all it knows behind except you,
> so it trusts you.  You will have work to do to become a solid
> team, but your dog and you will have already begun a strong
> bonding that will only get stronger.  I think the key is a lot of
> attention, especially at first and mostly from you, corrections
> when you have to, and lots of praise when the dog does something
> right and well.
> 
> CL
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/coastergirl92% 
> 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/cindyray%40gma 
> il.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/coastergirl92% 
> 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/cindyray%40gma 
> il.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/coastergirl92% 
> 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/cindyray%40gma 
> il.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/coastergirl92% 
> 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/cindyray%40gma 
> il.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/coastergirl92% 
> 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/carcione%40acc 
> ess.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/coastergirl92% 
> 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/cindyray%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/vlowery%40dhr.state.md.us

***************************************************************************************************
This Email message and any attachment may contain information that is proprietary, legally privileged and/or confidential. This Email is intended solely for the use of the person(s) to which it is addressed. If you are not an 
intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivery of this Email to the intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this Email is strictly prohibited. If you have received 
this message in error, please immediately notify the sender and permanently delete this Email and any copies. 
***************************************************************************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed...
Name: Vanessa Lowery1.vcf
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nagdu_nfbnet.org/attachments/20120918/0a4b024f/attachment.ksh>

More information about the NAGDU mailing list