[nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?

Mon Jun 17 13:41:38 UTC 2013

I've always just put my arm under Holly and gently encouraged her to stand. 
Or, tapped on her backside to have her sit. Now, if I could teach her not to 
mess with me!  She loves to buzz around just outside my reach. She'll nose 
me or wag at me for a couple of minutes and then sit there like she was 
always there! What fun she has!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Deanna Lewis" <DLewis at clovernook.org>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 9:27 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?


> Hi all,
> When I first got Pascal, he would get really excited when he knew we were 
> heading out for a walk or to work. As soon as I put on my shoes or grabbed 
> the keys, he thought he was going. But, as soon as I grabbed his harness, 
> he would back away or go hide. In a hurry, I must have accidentally hit 
> him in the head with the harness.  I was told by my field rep some good 
> tips on how to get the harness on him without bumping his head. You have 
> the dog heel, and sit. Then, you put the harness on in the way that Tracy 
> and Meghan have described. When you have it on, have the dog stand back up 
> so that you can buckle the harness. I am not sure how all the schools 
> teach the dog to stand back up, but at GDB you gently press the dog under 
> his/her stomach, or simply say stand or up. This maneuver has helped 
> tremendously and Pascal hardly ever backs away from the harness.
> Deanna
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Meghan Whalen
> Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 2:25 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?
>
> I was taught to do the same as Tracy. Put my left hand under the dog's 
> chin. I was also taught to fold the straps up and hold them against the 
> back strap while slipping the harness over the dog's head so that the 
> straps won't bump the dog in the nose/face while harnessing up.
> I grew sloppy about holding the straps with one of my dogs and noticed a 
> definite loss in enthusiasm for the harness going on, so I have made a 
> conscious effort since then to always hold the straps back. It doesn't 
> take much longer, and it is only fair to make the process as pleasant as 
> possible for the dog.
>
> Meghan
> On 6/15/2013 8:23 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>> I was taught, many moons ago, to put my hand under the dog's chin
>> while putting on the harness.  This tells me exactly where his head
>> is, so I don't bump him with the harness, and it keeps him from
>> backing up or turning his head and getting banged. I don't know if
>> they still teach this, but it's worked well for me.
>> Tracy
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 8:34 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?
>>
>>
>>> That's the same here, Cass gets so serious. She won't always back up
>>> when I
>>> pull the harness over the head, but about 80% of the time. I have
>>> tried to
>>> start getting real excited like we are going to have a real party and
>>> sometimes that keeps her from backing up, not always.
>>> I guess as long as she does a great job as she always does I won't worry
>>> about it.
>>> It's just when others talk about their pups jumping into their
>>> harness, it
>>> makes me feel like a bad dad,, or like my kid is rebelling against me.
>>> Silly, eh?
>>>
>>> Daniel and Cass
>>> Lakewood, Colorado
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie
>>> McGinnity
>>> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 2:30 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?
>>>
>>> Hi Daniel and all,
>>>
>>> I am the one who started this whole thing.  My dog does not like to
>>> get into her harness.  She still enjoys working, and she never refuses
>>> the harness, but it's like her whole demeanor changes when I put the
>>> harness on.  She loses all her bounce.  The school told me that this
>>> is just how she works.  Apparently, it's rare, but some dogs are just
>>> like that.  But yes, she really hates when I put the harness on.  I
>>> wonder if she has head issues too.  Interesting.
>>>
>>> It's awesome how these dogs have such different personalities.
>>>
>>> On 6/14/13, tina thomas <judotina48kg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Hello everyone all of my dogs couldn't wait to jump into their harness
>>> even
>>>> better yet when they saw me pick my purse up my keys or my shoes
>>>> they were
>>>> ready to go Tina and the girls
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 14, 2013, at 1:03 PM, "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I am not sure how long the posts have been going about dogs being
>>>>> happy
>>>>> to
>>>>> get into their harness when you get ready to go since my email has
>>>>> been
>>>>> messed up but here goes.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I have always had an issue with Cass, with only a few exceptions where
>>>>> she
>>>>> pulls away from me when I put her harness on. After it is on, she
>>>>> works
>>>>> like
>>>>> a champ, and seems perfectly content. She is all work, and extremely
>>>>> focused
>>>>> on her job. She does not want to get the physical praise as much as
>>>>> just
>>>>> verbal praise, and her usual kibble.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> When I brought this up to my field rep, who is no longer with me, she
>>>>> said
>>>>> that Cass was head-shy and that it had nothing to do with not
>>>>> wanting to
>>>>> work.
>>>>>
>>>>> I must admit I am always taken a back a bit when she resists the
>>>>> harness
>>>>> since I feel like she doesn't want to go, but I go with what my rep
>>>>> said.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone else have any similar issue?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Daniel and Cass
>>>>>
>>>>> Lakewood, Colorado
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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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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>>
>>
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>
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