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

Fri Aug 2 16:44:38 UTC 2013

I give my girls baby carrots every night before bed, about three or four. of
course that's in lieu of some kibble in their meals, but they like the
treat. I was advised to do this by a number of different trainers and a
former field manager. I don't give them any other kind of treats, and they
only get the carrots at home.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Larry D. Keeler
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 10:03 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] keeping weight in check - was - Help forobese
dogs:Control of Guide Dog Issue

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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