[nagdu] keeping weight in check - was - Help forobese dogs:Control of Guide Dog Issue

Fri Aug 2 16:32:18 UTC 2013

Grapes? ... I thought they're poisonous to dogs?

On 8/2/13, Larry D. Keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net> wrote:
> At Pilot, we were discouraged as well. If you are going to though, I use my
>
> own judgement. For example, not often and something that's good for them.
> Once a month or so, I give my dogs an egg or two. I cook them without any
> spices or anything. Carrots, grapes, or other small snacks are occassionally
>
> given as well. Maybe a handfull of popcorn every couple of months. But, this
>
> isn't often enough to cause any difficulty, I don't feel. My dogs aren't
> obese and Holly still behaves great in public! Not that she doesn't try to
> scrounge, but its no more often than normal and she will still stop when I
> catch her!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Darla Rogers" <djrogers0628 at gmail.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 11:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] keeping weight in check - was - Help forobese
> dogs:Control of Guide Dog Issue
>
>
>> Hi Melissa,
>> At GDA, we were strongly discouraged from giving our dogs any people
>> food--maybe talking more about food we would put on a plate--but I'm not
>> doing bananas or carrots even, but that isn't saying you are wrong.
>> In my experience, vets are so used to seeing obese dogs, they often
>> think ours are too thin; my vet didn't say anything about the dog I
>> discussed earlier.
>> Darla & Huck
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of melissa R
>> green
>> Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 9:16 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] keeping weight in check - was - Help for obese
>> dogs:Control of Guide Dog Issue
>>
>> Wow, my girl gets treats and she also gets carrots and bananas as a
>> treat.
>> the vet says those are good things to give her.
>> She loves the treats that she gets as well.
>> I know I spoil her.
>> But she is healthy and happy.
>> That is all I care about.
>>
>> Blessings,
>> Melissa Green and PJ
>> Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot
>> drive out hate; only love can do that.--Martin Luther King, Jr.
>> facebook Melissa R Green
>> twitter: melissa5674
>> Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/melissagreen5674
>> skype: lissa5674
>> Goodreads Melissa Green
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 3:29 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] keeping weight in check - was - Help for obese
>> dogs:Control
>> of Guide Dog Issue
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have had Cass for a little over 7 months now. When I came home from GDB
>> she weighed 54lbs. When we went to the vet in May for our check-up she
>> weighed 58lbs. The vet said she looked terrific. I was already concerned
>> since the school bored into me the importance of keeping her at her
>> target
>> weight. They also told me a variance of about 3lbs either way would be
>> acceptable.
>> At the end of May I noticed that I had to let out the buckle on the strap
>>
>> of
>> the harness since it was too tight. It is on the last notch. When my
>> field
>> rep was here recently I asked her about the position of the harness - as
>> to
>> whether it was adequately loose/tight, being on the last notch. She said
>> it
>> was just right, but if Cass were to gain any more weight she would have
>> to
>> get another larger harness, but she would advise against that and just
>> keep
>> her weight where it is.
>> I assumed she was filling out. Her chest was filling out, getting deeper
>> with that hour glass waist (which makes me jealous).
>> She was just shy of 2 years when I got her, and to me I felt, and so did
>> my
>> vet that 60lbs would not be out of the question for her as she matured to
>>
>> 3
>> years.
>> I guess what I am saying is her harness will dictate her weight. I
>> apparently will not get another larger harness, so I will need to
>> maintain
>> her weight at 56 lbs and no more than that.
>> She receives 1 cup of food in the morning, 1 and a half in the evening at
>> the present time. She never gets any kind of treat, only kibble from the
>> pouch I carry. If we work more and her harness starts to get looser, she
>> can
>> get more food, and the opposite if the harness tightens up.
>> No mention was made to me that I was doing anything wrong, in fact my
>> field
>> rep said that Cass looked terrific too. I assume that if she had been
>> busting out of the harness there might have been an issue. It is amazing
>> how
>> quickly that a lab can put weight on even without any treats or human
>> food.
>>
>> Daniel and Cass
>> Lakewood, Colorado
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie
>> McGinnity
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 3:42 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue
>>
>> Yes, I agree with you Marion.  I believe that obesity in dogs is a
>> problem, but it would be necessary to investigate and find out whether
>> or not it is a big enough problem to consider denying ownership.  I
>> don't think it would be, and I do think there are other methods the
>> school can use to help  their guide dog users keep their dog's weight
>> under control.
>>
>> I also think that sometimes things happen.  People get sick, have a
>> hard time for a while, but they get things back on track with their
>> dogs.  Sometimes the dog can get food from a child or somewhere else,
>> and it takes a while for the handeler to notice.  We are human; these
>> things will happen occasionally.  I think the school should be there
>> to help us keep our dogs on the right track.  They should support us.
>>
>> On 7/31/13, Ann Edie <annedie at nycap.rr.com> wrote:
>>> Hi, Dar,
>>>
>>> Seeing Eye has always provided the service of finding a retirement home
>> for
>>> their graduate dogs if the handler wants them to do that.  The fact that
>>> you
>>> own the dog does not make any difference with regard to this service.
>>> TSE
>>> always has a long list of people who would like to provide a home for a
>>> retired guide as well as those who want the young dogs who don't make
>>> the
>>> grade as guides.  I have also known of situations where TSE has taken a
>>> guide dog back to the school for a few weeks or months while a handler
>>> was
>>> in the hospital or in poor health but where it was expected that the
>> person
>>> would regain function and again be able to care for and use the dog as a
>>> guide.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Ann
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of d m gina
>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 11:32 AM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue
>>>
>>> Original message:
>>>> Hello,
>>> I remember when this happened with the gentleman who kicked his dog to
>>> death.
>>> At no time was it discussed on behalf of the dog being over fed and
>>> quite
>>> heavy.
>>> It seems to me each time that this question is asked on behalf of
>>> leader,
>>> they come up with different excuses.
>>> I know it has been said to me, where folks don't want to go back to
>>> leader
>>> because of the stand.
>>> I must say for leader now that I am a diabetic, if my dog was from this
>>> school, it would be nice to know when my health gets bad my dog would
>>> have
>>> a
>>> place to go to.
>>> I never did ask seeing eye this question.
>>> Could I send my dog back to the school if my health gets worse.
>>> Then the family wouldn't have to try to place the dog in a home.
>>> My husband wouldn't know where to start.
>>> So this is an interesting question.
>>> Did any other school share what they would do if a problem as a health
>>> issue
>>> would set person be able to send dog back to school.
>>> Dear All,
>>>>         At our annual meeting during the guide dog training programs
>>>> comments about the Bill of Rights, Leader asserted that the reason for
>>>> their two-year probationary period was the prevalendce of obesity
>>>> among guide dogs. I found this interesting, especially since Mr.
>>>> Haneline himself told me that the two-year probationary period was the
>>>> result of the handler who kicked his dog to death! Now I wonder which
>>>> it really is! In any case, I questioned him about the obesity issue and
>>> was told it is really a problem.
>>>> It would be interesting to know some statistics on this. As a
>>>> counselor, I practice what is referred to as "Evidence Based
>>>> Treatment" (EBT). This means that the treatment is founded on evidence
>>>> of success, not merely the belief that it works or anecdotal
>>>> information. I am of the opinion that, if this were really such a
>>>> problem other training programs would observe similar issue
>>>> (replication) and modify their practices to prevent it. Without
>>>> evidence that it is an issue, I am unconvinced of the problem and leery
>>>> of
>>> the its justification to deny ownership based upon a mythical problem!
>>>
>>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deanna
>>>> Lewis
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 10:00 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue
>>>
>>>> I do think overweight and obese dogs are more common nowadays, just
>>>> like people! My dog has always been a big boy, and was a bit
>>>> overweight, but now he has lost 7 pounds and looks fantastic. He looks
>>>> great at 77 pounds. He gained his weight due to not working for a few
>>>> weeks on and off, due to me having 8 eye surgeries in less than a
>>>> year. But, as soon as we started to work every day, and cut his food a
>>> bit, he slimmed down pretty quickly.
>>>> I know this one person, who has a black lab that is severely obese. He
>>>> is about 20-22 inches at the shoulders, and weighs at least 115. The
>>>> poor thing gets out of breath just from walking a block or two. The
>>>> handler goes overboard in feeding this dog. He gives him treats
>>>> constantly and I am sure that he eats people food a lot at home. He is
>>>> also very misbehaved.  The handler will not listen to people when they
>>>> kindly make suggestions about the dog's weight. I know that the school
>>>> took him away a few years back, and got some of the weight off. But,
>>>> as soon as they came back home, he went back to his old habits. I wish
>>>> there were something more I could do to help in this situation. Have
>>>> any of you witnessed this type of issue. How could you help out the dog
>>> and handler?
>>>> Deanna and Pascal
>>>
>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jimmy
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 6:21 PM
>>>> To: National Association of Guide Dog Users Gwizdala
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Control of Guide Dog Issue
>>>
>>>> Greetings friends,
>>>>         Hope everyone is well. I did not mean to have the topic get
>>>> off of handlers controling their dogs and being accountable in
>>>> pertaining to one of the dogs that was involved in my situation being
>>>> a pit. I know many are very passionate about taht breed and feel they
>>>> are misconceived. I have other feelings on the matter. However, I
>>>> agree totally taht no matter what the breed the dog it- whether lab or
>>>> shepherd- that dog can become aggressiveand if not controled or
>>>> appropriate steps taken, can have unfortunate consequences. Here is a
>>>> topic I am curious about your input on. This subject was brought up at
>>>> our convention- that is the issue with obesity of our service animals.
>>>> What arey your thoughts? This was a new issue  I was unaware of, if it
>>>> is really an issue. Did anyone notice an over weight issue among
>>>> service
>>> dogs  at the convention , those who have some vision?
>>>> Thanks
>>>
>>>
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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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>>
>>
>> --
>> Julie McG
>> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
>> Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
>> Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
>> and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>> life."
>> John 3:16
>>
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-- 
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence