[nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue

Mon Aug 5 01:32:12 UTC 2013

Not all dogs. Holly doesn't do that niether does my pet. but, some sure do!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2013 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue


>I don't know if this is exactly true, but I think that I heard somewhere
> once that dogs will eat all that you put in front of them, even if it 
> makes
> them sick. It has something to do with their instincts and thinking that
> they do not know when they will get their next meal or how much it will 
> be.
> Actually, if we think about the instincts  of a dog, it kind of explains a
> lot of things.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray
> Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2013 4:35 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue
>
> I may be misremembering this, but one part I know is true. TSE did state
> before when I was in training that they see a high incidence of obese 
> dogs.
> I think they began handing out a cup for people to take home so they could
> get an idea of the amount to feed their dogs, and the students may have an
> opportunity to practice this feeding thing. They said they observed people
> were  using things like soup cans to measure up food. So I may be
> misremembering that. Obesity among dogs isn't so different from that in
> people. People believe that the happy dog is an over stuffed dog just as
> they often believe that a happy person is an over stuffed one. They think
> because the dogs will still snarf down food that means they are hungry. 
> Show
> me a lab who doesn't just eat if it's there, and I'll show you a Lab that 
> is
> under the weather. Anyway, TSE was dealing with the problem not by not
> allowing ownership but, rather, by  teaching correct feeding methods.
>
> CL
>
> On Jul 31, 2013, at 11:49 AM, "National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/dlewis%40clovernook
>> .org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/blind411%40verizon.
>> 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/cindyray%40gmail.co
>> m
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/ntorcolini%40wavecable.co
> m
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/lkeeler%40comcast.net