[nagdu] Understanding of Guiding was re ownership

Sat Nov 16 02:04:47 UTC 2013

Lexia will leash lead both in and out of harness. She tends to do it more
out of harness, but, if she is in harness, and I am walking her on the
leash, she will still throw in her two cents by pulling sharply to the left
or something if she sees that I am about to bump into something. She will
walk at my side nicely when I tell her to.
I have a slightly different technique for the leash leading. I hold the
leash in both hands with one hand at the far end and one hand near her
collar. I can feel her pull different directions better that way.
Yes, Lexia does not like it when I go places without her. For medical
reasons, she had to take a little time off this summer. When I would pick up
my backpack to go to work, she would come running.

Nicole and Lexia who loves her job 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of minh ha
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 6:37 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Understanding of Guiding was re ownership

When I was training with Viva, one of the biggest things my trainer had us
work on was her heeling. No matter how much we practiced, she always wanted
to pull ahead of me and lead the way. She just has that independent, I know
better than you so listen to me attitude. I don't force her to heel next to
me anymore but just have her walk a little bit in front of me; she will
naturally stop at curbs and walk me around things. I can remember the first
time I was actually conscious of the fact that she was guiding me with her
leash. It was the first day of classes and I was taking her out before
leaving and she tried to take me around a bike someone has left on the
ground. I thought I knew better and kept pulling her straight ahead. ... My
banged up knees know otherwise. I just listen to her now because clearly,
she knows better than I do. Sometimes I try to reinforce her leash guiding
by giving her treats and praising just as if she was in harness.
Minh

On 11/15/13, Larry D. Keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net> wrote:
> Some dogs will still guide when out of harrness. Holly does but not as 
> well
>
> as in. They just will naturally do what they do.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stephanie" <naturelovingmom at gmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 2:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Understanding of Guiding was re ownership
>
>
>> Tell me more about the leash guiding. I'm curious to know more.
>> Gypsy you try and pull out in front a little if I'm with some one and 
>> have
>>
>> her harness on but using the leash.
>> Steph
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Nicole Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>> To: "'Nagdu Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: Friday, November 15, 2013 1:22 pm
>> Subject: [nagdu] Understanding of Guiding was RE:  re ownership
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I firmly believe that our dogs understand that we are blind or at 
>>> least that we need them to guide us. I am not quite sure how it 
>>> happened, but Lexia kind of taught herself how to guide using just 
>>> the leash. I don't have any formal commands for it, and I don't use 
>>> it unless it is somewhere that I
>>>
>>> am
>>> comfortable going without a mobility aid of some sort. I can explain 
>>> more about how I do it if people are interested. Even when she is in 
>>> harness and I am not holding the harness handle, she insists on 
>>> helping out.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 6:03 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] re ownership
>>>
>>> I am now 3 months into my private guide dog training plan.  Of 
>>> course I own Jetta and consequently choose how she will be trained, 
>>> how that training will proceed, who will do the training and every 
>>> other detail of Jetta's life.  Perhaps this level of control over 
>>> the dog selection, raising, training, care, etc. is more than most 
>>> people are interested in, but for
>>>
>>> me
>>> this has been absolutely the right decision.  It hasn't been easy.
>>> Finding
>>> a breeder was a very long and stressful process.  I also miss Jetta 
>>> a lot.
>>> and of course, it's expensive.  For me though, those are easy 
>>> sacrifices
>>>
>>> to
>>> make because I know the things that are most important to 
>>> me...ownership, positive training methods, my breed choice and even 
>>> most things that are somewhat important I also get...frequent 
>>> updates, my questions answered anytime, premium food, and the 
>>> ability to go visit Jetta when I want.  I suppose everyone has to 
>>> weigh the costs and benifits to their choices I am very pleased with 
>>> how well the choice to have Jetta privately trained is going.
>>>
>>> For those who are interested, Jetta is 5 months old now.  she's 
>>> finished
>>>
>>> her
>>> first puppy class and is doing great in level two.  She can hold a 
>>> stay for over 20 minutes.  she has a very nice loose leash walk.  
>>> She is beginning
>>>
>>> to
>>> show an understanding of guiding, although she has not been taught 
>>> this skill, and she is taking the initiative to guide.
>>>
>>> Anyway there's been a lot of talk about ownership and all that goes 
>>> with
>>>
>>> it,
>>> so I just wanted to toss out another perspective.
>>>
>>> JulieSent from my iPad
>>>
>>> > On Nov 14, 2013, at 11:36 AM, Doug Parisian <eggmann at mymts.net> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > I also don't care much about whether or not I actually "own" any 
>>> > of my dogs, but rather the ethics of the school which supplies my 
>>> > most awesome
>>> freedom.
>>> > As it happens, I've gotten my five dogs (at different times, 
>>> > smirk) from The Seeing Eye where we of course "own" our dogs 
>>> > outright.  Hey, I live in an apartment and pay rent so I obviously 
>>> > don't own it and, if I break the rules of the landlord, I'm out 
>>> > the door.  Wonder how many folks would be so strong on ownership 
>>> > were they obliged to actually purchase to own, about the price 
>>> > sighted folks might pay for a
>>> quality car, give or take a few thousand.
>>> >
>>> > Doug: where's the nearest barking lot?
>>> >
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: <craig.heaps at comcast.net>
>>> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> > Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 12:24 PM
>>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] re ownership
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > :I am one of those who really doesn't care. My guide, Chase, is 
>>> > great and we have a wonderful bond. But that's not changed by who owns
him.
>>> > At Guide Dogs for the Blind, I can apply for ownership after a year.
>>> > I've had Chase four months now, and I'm not sure I'll apply in 
>>> > eight months from now. I'm really not concerned they are going to 
>>> > take Chase away from me. That is not to say I don't understand and 
>>> > respect the opinions of those who want ownership of their guides.
>>> > :
>>> > : ----- Original Message -----
>>> > :
>>> > : From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
>>> > : To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
>>> > Users"
>>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> > : Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 10:05:28 AM
>>> > : Subject: Re: [nagdu] re ownership
>>> > :
>>> > : Aggreed! Although I'm in favor of ownership, I know some who 
>>> > just don't
>>> > : care! I do strongly recomend that folks should look at the 
>>> > school contracts
>>> > : before they sign so as to know as much as possible and avoid 
>>> > unpleasant
>>> > : surprises! The contracts should be lookede at and us as 
>>> > consumers should
>>>
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--
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their
dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence

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