[nagdu] Wagging and Harnessing RE: Guide Dog Age and Retirement

Fri Jun 14 03:50:24 UTC 2013

Oh yes... Lexia runs for the harness. Most of the time, if I pick up
anything that is indicative  of us going somewhere (purse, jacket, leash,
harness), she jumps up. If I am going to move one of those objects, but not
actually go anywhere, I usually tell her stay first, or else she runs over.
She will also help me put on her harness and either collar.

Lexia does not wag constantly, but she does wag a lot, especially if she is
pleased with herself for getting somewhere or doing something.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 9:47 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Age and Retirement

Hi Gary and all,

My dog Brie never ran into her harness.  In fat, it was a struggle to get
her out of bed in the morning to go to class.  I talked to the trainers at
my school, and one of them helped me with that issue.
When I told her that Brie never got excited to see the harness, she said
that some dogs are like that.  They want to work, but they don't get excited
about it.

Brie is a Labrador, but she is more stubbern than most labs.  I wish she was
more excited to do her job.  It kind of worries me that she doesn't wag her
tail while in harness unless I praise her or give her a treat.  Most the
dogs I see at convention seem to continuously wag their tails.  :)

On 6/13/13, GARY STEEVES <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca> wrote:
> Hi Tracy:
>
> Thanks for your note. Yes, I have always thought it bizarre this whole 
> thing of the dog putting his own head into the harness for me. Maybe 
> part of my school's paternalistic approach. I just recalled reading on 
> here before I got Bogart about those who have dogs that run for the 
> door as soon as you grab their harness. You know how it can be, we all 
> think our dog is different and everyone eles's is normal. :)
>
> Appreciate your  thoughts.
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:21:00 -0600 (MDT)
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Age and Retirement
>
> Hi Gary.
> Just FYI, I've been to 2 schools, and neither of them expected the dog 
> to jump into his harness.  The emphasis your school puts on it 
> surprises and amuses me.
> Ben has always had to be badgered to get up and go to work.  He too 
> needs to
>
> "make his point".  Sometimes, we sing him that old song "Charlie Brown".
> "He walks in the classroom, cool and slow.  Who calls the English 
> teacher Daddy-o?  Charlie Brown, he's a clown ..."
>
> Slowing down means working slower--going from working at a trot to 
> working at a stroll. There's a limit for me of how much I can slow my 
> pace and still
>
> be comfortable.  Also, in The City, there's a general pace of 
> pedestrian traffic, and I don't like being the old lady holding things 
> up, with people
>
> always pushing past me.  So, when Ben's pace slows too much for me, 
> and he can no longer take the length of walk I like to take, I'll 
> apply for a young, vigorous dog, and Benny can retire to the life of 
> ease.  At least, I
>
> hope that's how it will go, and that our time together won't be cut 
> short by
>
> illness.
> Tracy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 3:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Age and Retirement
>
>
>> Hello all:
>>
>> This is a topic I'm keenly interested now that I have my dog and he 
>> is aging. Bogart is still young at 5 but, being that he is my first 
>> guide dog, I'm trying to learn more about what the end of his career 
>> will look like. A term I keep hearing here is "slowing down". What do 
>> people mean by
>>
>> that.Bogart is a dog who likes to work but he doesn't excitedly run 
>> for his harness. In fact, when I put it in front of him and say in my 
>> happiest
>>
>> voice "harness bogart, harness" he often turns his head as far away 
>> from the darn thing as he can. I have a 30 second time line where I 
>> keep happily coaxing him to put his harness on before I just put it on
for him.
>>
>> He usually comes around after he has felt that he has made his point. 
>> :) Remember, he is a poodle. So I'm curious of what signs to look for 
>> when he
>>
>> gets older. Bogart works in a city but also gets a lot of exercise 
>> enjoying the foothills on our frequent walks/hikes.
>>
>> I guess I'm looking for clues to help him be able to work as long as 
>> possible by how he lives his life now.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Gary
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Darla Rogers <djrogers0628 at gmail.com>
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:01:33 -0600 (MDT)
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Age and Retirement
>>
>> Dear Ava,
>>
>> It may be getting close to retirement for your dear Coco, but there 
>> are no real answers to this; different dogs slow down at different 
>> rates, and I have been told by a couple of schools, dogs who work in 
>> very confusing usually urban environments tend not to work quite as 
>> long.
>> I would try not to worry too much unless you know you want another 
>> dog as soon as you retire Coco; if this is the case, ask the schools 
>> you apply to how long they will hold on to your application 
>> materials; this could be a great way to get a tasks out of the way 
>> when you are thinking more clearly; you're not retiring her right 
>> now; you are merely putting yourself in a movable position to get another
dog.
>> Ultimately it is your choice, but if you have any real medical 
>> concerns, I would have her musculoskeletal system checked thoroughly 
>> and her eyes and ears.
>> Darla & Precious Roxy
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>> avapup.7 at gmail.com
>> Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 5:42 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dog Age and Retirement
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a question I hate to ask, but I guess my curiosity overrides 
>> my not wanting to know.
>>
>> How old were others' guide dogs when they first began to slow down a 
>> bit, and how old were your dogs when you retired them? Does anyone 
>> have a guide dog who is still working (or has been in the past) at 9 
>> years or older?
>>
>> My Lab guide Cocoa is 9 years old, and I know she is slowing down a bit.
>> Though she still loves to work, her energy level is slowly dropping, 
>> and I am nearly certain she will retire perhaps by the end of this 
>> year, maybe early in 2014.
>>
>> My first dog retired at 6, but from a minor medical condition that 
>> didn't affect her quality of life a bit, just meant guiding wouldn't 
>> be the best idea.
>>
>> Is 9 young for a Lab to begin slowing down? Is 9 or 10 young for a 
>> Lab to retire? I will do what is best for Cocoa, and when retired, 
>> she will still stay with me at home, though I may wait to apply 
>> anywhere for a successor dog until (a long time from now) when she 
>> passes on, I'm not sure.
>>
>> I just don't know -- 9 sounds so young, yet so scarily old, for a big 
>> dog.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Ava and Cocoa
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
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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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