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

Wed Jul 31 19:33:58 UTC 2013

Julie,
	I am not saying it isn't a problem; I am also not saying it is! What
I say is, if you are going to make decisions based upon this, it should be
based upon real statistics, not upon conjecture!

Marion

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 1:15 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue

Hi Marion and all,

I think it's a real problem.  I have known it to happen, and Guiding Eyes
also works hard to make students understand the obesity problems.
 We had multiple lectures that dealt with the subject, and when we fill out
the annual reports, it asks for the dog's weight.

I would like to see if other schools are concerned about this as well, and I
think it might be something to look into.  I don't think that the
possibility of obesity is a reason to deny ownership, but I understand the
worry that they have.

On 7/31/13, 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
>
>
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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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