[nagdu] 2 things in one

[Raven Tolliver]

Hi Daniel,
As far as wearing the booties goes, or anything that a dog is
uncomfortable wearing or reluctant to wear, I would suggest that you
do not dish out the corrections. Instead, try to create a positive
experience for the dog so that she associates good things with the
boots.
Next, some dogs tolerate the boots and others don't. Personally, I
hate the boots that the schools, or my school anyway, gives out. If
the dog hates them too, I would advise using Musher's secret. Keep the
booties on you just in case, but use the wax to avoid dealing with a
stubborn or hesitant dog.


On 12/7/13, Daniel Sweeney <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> In order to not clutter up the list with too many posts, I am putting a
> couple of thoughts in one email.
>
>
>
> The first one came to me yesterday when I was out with Cass in our nasty
> Denver single digit weather. The walks were icy, snow-packed and some had
> snow melt applied and some had sand or salt. When I was preparing to leave
> my house in the morning the temperature was -4F, and Cass refused to walk
> in
> her boots. She just lay on the floor and would not get up for love or money
> - or the best food reward put to her lips. Since I had little time to deal
> with this, I quickly applied my Musher's wax on the paws and got going. I
> was making connections that were short since a friend was picking me up
> close by. At one point during the day I realized CASs was pretty cold so I
> stopped and took my t-shirt off and put it around her so she would have
> some
> protection. It was actually a sweatshirt. I figured I had a coat on and I
> could stand to lose a layer and be fine. That did the trick just fine. Then
> I realized I had forgotten my Musher's and her paws were lifting off the
> ground. I quickly sought a protected area with warmer walks which
> thankfully
> I found pretty quickly. We waited a bit and then I decided to just call a
> cab for the rest of the day. Through all of this ordeal I noticed when I
> put
> the shirt on the girl, she put her head on my shoulder and then licked me
> on
> my face as if to say "thanks, papa", and when I got home and started to get
> us unpacked from the day, she stayed in place and did the same thing
> instead
> of shaking herself off and cruising to the kitchen for her usual drink of
> water and romp around the living room. She just stood there licking me
> while
> I took my boots off and tried to get myself together.  It was as if she
> knew
> I had a rough time of it and she knew I was trying to look out for her. Now
> I know most of you already know I am a crazy guy to begin with, but don't
> you think it might be a possibility? This brings me to my first question
> (officially). If you could ask your guide dog 3 things about your
> relationship, what would they be?
>
> I know it sounds silly, but it IS close to the holiday, and it is on my
> mind
> how our guides perceive their jobs, or if they do at all.
>
>
>
> Secondly, it is the weekend so I can't contact my school about the boot
> thing, but has anyone had a problem with their guide refusing to move with
> them. She wore them last winter about 4 times is all? I know it is not her
> favorite thing in the world, but she never refused to get up. I didn't
> think
> I should pull her up or give her a more harsh correction than I did. I have
> been faulted for not giving harsh enough corrections. I have improved on
> that and Cass has improved completely in the areas I had been having issues
> in the past. This was different. Cass is a "soft" dog, and I did not think
> she deserved more than she got. So, I ask you for your thoughts on the
> matter.
>
> Thanks to all, and to all a good day. Oh, those darn holidays.
>
>
>
> Daniel and Cass
>
>
>
> BTW: Welcome to the newbies. I am Daniel in Lakewood, Colorado with Cass,
> my
> second guide dog from GDB, Oregon. She is a yellow lab. She is everything
> my
> first was not. He got me hit by a truck, but there was no hard feeling,
> only
> sadness to lose him because he was the wrong match.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> While you are proclaiming peace with your lips
>
> Be careful to have it more fully in your heart
>
>
>
> -- sT. fRANCIS OF aSSISI
>
>
>
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-- 
Raven