[nagdu] Just heard on news12 last night that Congresswoman Gabby Giffords has a dog from GDF continued

Thu Feb 14 20:13:56 UTC 2013

Thanks, Jenine! That's fascinating information. Most of what I know of 
what some cross-trained guide/service dogs do is from blind 
owner-trainers with multiple disabilities who customize their own dogs. 
A lot of them seem to have gotten into the do-it-yourself gig because it 
has been so difficult to get a cross-trained dog when one of the 
training areas you need is for guiding for blindness. So I'm glad to see 
a professional level cross over!

Neat stuff!

Tami

On 02/14/2013 09:13 AM, Jenine Stanley wrote:
> To answer both Tammy and Rebecca and give some more info:
>
> First, I can't elaborate on Ms. Giffords' particular dog and his specific
> training as that's confidential, as it is for all of our graduates.
>
> I can explain though how guide tasks are taught to our service dogs and
> under what circumstances. All dogs taught guiding tasks are taught
> intelligent disobedience and stopping at any change in elevation. This means
> stopping at curbs. Yes, totally flat curbs are problematic, but they are for
> all guide dog handlers.
>
> Some of the guiding tasks we use for our handlers who are not legally blind
> include:
>
> The follow command for those people who need assistance navigating
> complicated places like airports. This involves people whose senses may shut
> down in complex environments due to over stimulation.
>
> "Let's Go" which is equivalent to the guide dog command "Outside" and is
> used to direct a dog to take the person outside and away from a distressing
> situation safely.
>
> This command is really important for people with Post Traumatic Stress
> Disorder who experience panic attacks and can sometimes become either
> immobile or run and tend to not be able to pay attention to their
> surroundings. They can give the dog the "Let's Go" command and the dog can
> smoothly guide them outside, say from a store, mall or public event.
>
> One handler told me that this has really changed his life. Before he applied
> to get a dog, he had stopped going into some local businesses because when
> he had a PTSD episode, he had rushed out, knocking over displays or people,
> or he had ended up prone on the floor unable to move. It was profoundly
> embarrassing. With his dog, he can simply issue the command, even close his
> eyes if he wants, and follow the dog outside. It's elegant.
>
> The other type of work that resembles guide work in that it utilizes the
> dog's pull is called counter balancing. This is when the dog walks slightly
> ahead of the person to maintain positive tension on the harness handle. For
> someone like Ms. Giffords who has difficulty standing straight up, having
> the dog pull forward as she walks with him does help her to stand straight.
> For other people, this helps them from falling to one side or the other and
> helps them move up or down stairs.
>
> Hope that helps everyone to understand the guiding tasks. The key factors
> though in any of these tasks are that the dog avoid obstacles and exercise
> intelligent disobedience no matter what the disability or degree of vision
> loss or difficulty.
>
> Jenine Stanley
> jeninems at wowway.com
> http://www.twitter.com/jeninems
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tami Jarvis
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 11:12 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Just heard on news12 last night that Congresswoman
> Gabby Giffords has a dog from GDF continued
>
> Jenine,
>
> Thanks for the clarification. Is America's VetDogs affiliated with GDF?
> Or is this a joint effort between two separate programs?
>
> Either way, it is great to see that an individual can get a dog with both
> types of training without having to go the do-it-yourself route for one or
> both. /smile/
>
> Tami
>
>
>
> On 02/14/2013 06:40 AM, Jenine Stanley wrote:
>> Actually, though Ms. Giffords is not totally blind, her vision was
>> severely affected by the shooting and her dog does do some guiding
>> tasks along with balance and other tasks.
>>
>> He is a combination of our two types of training, what both programs,
>> Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs have strived to do since
>> their beginning, serve people who need trained dogs to further their
> independence.
>>
>>
>> Jenine Stanley
>> jeninems at wowway.com
>> http://www.twitter.com/jeninems
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl
>> echevarria
>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 8:56 AM
>> To: nagdu
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Just heard on news12 last night that
>> Congresswoman Gabby Giffords has a dog from GDF continued
>>
>> Well since Congresswoman Giffords is not blind, but disabled it will
>> be a service dog, it may have also been at the time that her husband
>> did reach out, which he did, because he may have connections through
>> NASA since he is an Astronaut, to go to GDF and ask questions.
>> She may not have been 100 percent mentally when they first reached out
>> to the school, she did receive a gun shot to the head.
>>
>>
>> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State Leading the Way in
>> Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!Cheryl
>> Echevarria,
>> Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarri
>> atrave
>> l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise
>> Line University Advisory Board Member.
>> Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
>> #1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National
>> Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for
>> the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources.
>> Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013
>> and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of
>> my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for
>> couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00
>> per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a
>> member of the NFB.org, just book through us.
>>
>>
>>> From: REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:50:26 +0000
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Just heard on news12 last night that
>> Congresswoman	Gabby Giffords has a dog from GDF continued
>>>
>>> The line about her caretakers struck me. Sounds like this dog will be
>>> more
>> of a service dog then a guide dog.
>>> Also sounds like her husband reached out to GDF, not her which is
>> interesting.
>>> I did like the press release, it provided good information and also
>> mentioned that sometimes it isn't appropriate for a dog to always be
>> with its person. That was good to see that.
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray
>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 8:39 AM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Just heard on news12 last night that
>>> Congresswoman Gabby Giffords has a dog from GDF continued
>>>
>>> I think this is interesting about Gabby Giffords. I had heard on a
>> newscast on the day she spoke to Congress that she is blind. Of course
>> a service dog for her would be far more than a guide at this point. I
>> think this was a wonderful piece, and it points up just how well she is
> doing.
>> That is just so amazing to me.
>>>
>>> CL
>>>
>>>
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