[nagdu] is this normal?

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Yeah, Stephanie, you're normal! LOL!

You are reacting just like one reacts to anything new in their lives and 
getting a dog is no different.

With a guide dog, you will still want to keep up the cane skills.  You may 
want to occassionaly go to a place where the dog is not so appropriate like 
a real loud concert, a bar, etc.  I don't bring Landon when I very 
occassionally go to a bar for some fundraiser.  Bars are usually dark, 
crowded, and noisy - at least the gay ones are.  A restaurant with a bar is 
fine because they are more like any other restaurant.

There will be times when you might like to put a telescoping cane - like the 
NFB ones - in your back pack to take out to check out a new area.  So, you 
see, we don't automaticly throw away our canes when we get a guide dog.

Your life style will change not that unlike having a kid.  You'll have to 
think about bringing dog food if you will be out overnight or late.  We use 
dry food so that is very easy to pack into a Ziploc bag and stow in a purse 
of back pack.  You will need poop bags - I use one gallon sized food storage 
bags with twist ties.  You'll have to remember to give the dog water and 
relief times reguarly.  Yes, bring a collapsable water bowl.

These are things you will learn to do without thinking after a while.  At 
school, you will learn everything you need to know to work well with the dog 
and how to take care of him/her.

At school, be sure to talk to your instructor if you have ANY concerns at 
all NO MATTER HOW SILLY YOU THINK IT IS!  No question or concern is stupid 
or silly.  The same goes for when you go home with the dog.  At school you 
will have lectures dealing with everything from traffic checks to dog care 
and vets to how to deal with your friends, family, and the public who may 
interfere with your work with the dog.  They aren't being mean, just they 
think they are helping.  You will need to be able to stand your ground if 
needed.

Now, if you get to school and find that having a dog just isn't for you, 
well then don't beat yourself up over that either.  Dogs aren't for everyone 
but do give it a good fair shot - you may be blown away with how wonderful 
it is when you pick up that harness handle and sail down the sidewalk!

I am on my eighth dog and I got my first one back in 1973 and I still love 
traveling with a dog.  I am working with Landon from TSE and have had him 
for five years now.  Landon is also certified to be a Therapy Dog with our 
Humane Society which we have been doing for the last four years.  I did this 
with my previous dog, Jake in another program at a military hospital.

So, relax and enjoy your new adventure!

Lyn and Landon
"Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 7:09 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] is this normal?


> Hi, Steph,
>
> I thought a lot about it. Of course my husband at the time was using a 
> dog, so I was very much familiar with the use of one. I was excited, but I 
> found myself thinking a lot about how to pack, what would happen on trips 
> where I had to take dog food, and thins like that, and thought of the 
> differences in how I would do things. I did not grieve it, I had a few 
> doubts. I had used a cane for 25 years and was a fairly competent cane 
> user, but I was having problems with my arm and hand and feared I would 
> lose my ability to work on the computer and play the organ, so I switched. 
> I wonder why you did.
>
> If you want to write off list, I am
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
> CL
>
> On Jan 26, 2013, at 8:46 PM, Stephanie Mitchell wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> I just need to know if what I'm feeling is normal? I go for training in 
>> just under a month, and last night it really seemed to hit that soon, I 
>> won't be using my cane much and that I will have a dog.  And I found 
>> myself getting quite emotional about it all...
>> I mean, I'd used a cane for 30 years, and am wondering how I'm meant to 
>> suddenly trust a dog and know where I'm going with no land marks etc? I 
>> know it'll be fine but somehow I almost feel like I'm going through some 
>> sort of strange grieving process.  And I'd never had a dog before, and 
>> even though I know they will teach me all I need to know, I just find 
>> myself wondering if I'm going to be cut out for the job at hand.
>> Anyway, I guess I just need reassurance that I'm not going crazy.
>> Steph
>>
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>
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