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

Wed Jul 31 21:53:20 UTC 2013

Julie, I know of at least 4 schools that are really concerned about dog 
obesity. Including the one i went to. But, as with people there exists many 
causes of obesity. Some are genetically related, some are exorcise related 
and so forth. I have also heard of instances where the dog has gained 10 
pounds and the student feels threatened by the particular school. I've also 
seen dogs that should have been checked a long time ago because they can 
hardly move! Holly weighs 60 pounds and is 2 feet tall. She is a little 
skinny but she is a dog that doesn't eat that much and works regularly. I 
know of too many students from schools who think when they get the dog home 
they can feed them whatever they can hold and not excerise them too little. 
I feel that we as guide dog users should be the ones monitoring our dogs 
weight and health. If we need help well the school is there but for a few 
pounds you shouldn't have to feel threatened.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "National Association of Guide Dog Users" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 3:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Help for obese dogsRE: Control of Guide Dog Issue


> 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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