[nagdu] The Differences in Dogs and Canes

[Star Gazer]

Raven, 
Since this is such an emotionally charged issue for you, I'd suggest you
read some of the old literature about guide dogs.  I just finished reading
My Eyes Have A Cold Nose.  I was surprised at how masculine the book was.
It stated among other things that dogs were better then canes. 
It's likely some of the people you encounter have picked up on this mindset.
It's also likely your anger comes through when you use a cane. People will
respond to that. 


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:59 PM
To: nagdu
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Differences in Dogs and Canes

Hi,
If I ever said a cane was better than a dog, I wouldn't be using a dog as a
mobility aid. Frankly, the dog is better. I don't have to hit things to find
my way around them. Things like that are important when you use a cane for
landmark information, but as a dog user, I don't need so much of that
anymore. It's great that there's a tree across the sidewalk from the bus
stop I need, and it's awesome that there is a cement flower pot outside that
shop, but those things don't need to be noted now that my dog knows right
where the bus stop and shop are located.
I see constantly hitting things then having to find a way around them as
failure, or an impediment at the very least. Why do I say this?
Because from the sighted perspective, you're still running into things, no
matter if you or your cane hits it. I hate running into things, so I got a
dog. I hate hitting chairs that are pulled out as I walk through a cafe. I
hate walking through the dining hall and hitting people's bags and
backpacks; I hate searching for a line of people or getting through a crowd
of people and having to hit feet.
Maybe other cane users don't mind, or have found some great way to get
around this stuff without using a sighted guide, but I haven't.
Furthermore, I believe the saying "Two heads are better than one." For
instance, let's use the classic traffic check scenario. I walk out of a
store toward a parking lot. My dog puts the breaks on immediately. I tell
him forward, and he continues to stand still. Come to find out, there was a
car backing out several feet in front of us. If I had been a cane user, I
hope I would have figured that out before coming into cruel contact with the
car. With a cane, you can only know what you can find out through your cane,
which is not much, or at least not enough to make decisions ahead of time
about how to react and which way to go. With a dog, you and the dog both
know an abundance of information about your surroundings. Some things, you
and your dog know, some things only you know, such as this street is under
construction, or there's an alleyway if I pass this building, and other
things, your dog knows but hasn't communicated them to you yet, such as the
car blocking the cross walk, or the construction barriers blocking the path,
or the huge pile of snow six feet ahead of you.
I have been in the all-for-canes-and-totally-against-dogs boat. Dogs get
distracted, cost way more time and money, and need far more attention. I
tell everyone this whenever they talk about getting their first dog, or
about how they push so-and-so to get a dog. It is not the same. You have to
learn to trust another being, and work with it when it gets distracted. Some
people couldn't handle it; I get it. But that does not mean the dog isn't
better as a mobility aid. I walk faster, and find myself more comfortable
and confident traveling through certain environments with a dog by my side.
I no longer have problems walking angled sidewalks and crossings, through
deep snow, extremely noisy environments, or through lines and crowds of
people.
With my dog, it doesn't matter if I forgot that a trash can was in a certain
place, or where the bus stop was exactly; he will locate things and get me
around them perfectly. My dog is better than a cane as a mobility aid
because he gets me where I need to go as quickly, safely, and conveniently
as possible. We don't run into things, I don't trip, and I rarely  veer or
get disoriented. The dog is better because I am given the larger part of the
ability to react to my environment similar to the way that, or exactly as a
sighted person would react.
It does not come down to personal preference because that does not determine
which mobility aid is better; it simply speaks for which is more preferable.
Flat out, dogs have far more capabilities than a cane, making them a better
mobility aid.
--
Raven

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