[nagdu] Lack of speed

[barbandzoe at comcast.net]

I didn't say guide dog owners don't care for their dogs, I found that in an article while I was doing research on getting a guide dog for my self.  I would think People would care a lot for the dogs because they need their dog to help them in their daily activities.  

I think the article was why the guide dog school don't use German shepherd dogs as much, because blind people don't exercise them enough. 

But I have seen a few fat dogs those dogs are with people who get door to door busing in never  walk to the bus stop.  


Barb 

Barb 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com> 
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 2:34:22 PM 
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lack of speed 

Barb, 

Ummm...so you are saying that guide dog handlers don't work our dogs enough to keep them at a healthy weight?  It seems that you are also asserting that guide dogs don't get opportunities to be dogs and do dog things.  Is that about right? 

If I'm getting that, I'd gently suggest that you spend some more time around some more guide dog handlers.  sure there are lazy folks with guides, but I don't see that very often.  I am pretty well connected in the blindness community and I have seen a lot of guide dogs.  Overall I think guide dog handers are more active than the general blindness opulation.  This is probably because the programs tend not to place dogs with people who don't go anywhere.   

I can tell you that I took Monty to the dog park just yesterday.  He got to run around, pee on things, sniff and visit with two other dogs.  It's too bad that both of the other dogs lacked good manners, which is the main reason most guide dog handlers avoid the dog park.  I think most do find friends/family with well behaved dogs for their guides to visit.  Also quite a few of us have other dogs at home. 

I don't want you to misunderstand what it's like to have a guide dog from a small number of experiences. 
Julie 


Sent from my iPad 

> On Nov 19, 2013, at 1:57 PM, barbandzoe at comcast.net wrote: 
> 
> I was thinking about why would the dog be doing what they are doing and not their job.  Well maybe he needs a bit of down time.  Once or twice a week have someone walk the dog like a dog and not a guide, this way the dog can sniff and pee on  trees and even sniff a butt or two.  Can you do that with a guide dog, have someone else walk him on just a leash like a nonworking dog?  Or maybe he needs a play date with some dog friends a few times a month.  that way he can run off steam and play like a dog. 
> I saw a fat lab guide dog yesterday and I felt so sorry for him, he didn't look very happy siting on the floor with his gentle leader on.  I was reading something that said blind people don't work the dogs enough to keep them at a healthy weight, and from what I see up here I almost believe them. 
>   
>   
> barb 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
> From: "Tami Jarvis" <tami at poodlemutt.com> 
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 1:10:15 PM 
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lack of speed 
> 
> Barb, 
> 
> I've used a similar technique with Mitzi at times, although her usual 
> problem is being too much of a speed demon. /smile/ It can be done with 
> a guide dog, supposing the blind handler can deal with the ground and 
> stay oriented. I also tried doing tight circles with her, like I might 
> with a fractious horse, which is also not the best idea for a blind 
> woman. So I phased out both techniques, excpet for special occasions 
> where the poodle is being super obnoxious and I know the ground and area 
> well enough to use them safely. 
> 
> The trick with her is to bore her, which is what the turning back and 
> forth accomplished with her. Once I figured that out, I started just 
> stopping her when she would slow down, then standing there in place. 
> It's counterintuitive, but does work with her because that is boring. So 
> she will give in and graciously take me where I want to go at a decent 
> speed. 
> 
> With her, it's coming home when she still wants to gallivant that slows 
> her down. So I can play her little game and jolly her along without 
> missing appointments. If schedule were more of a factor, I guess I could 
> plan extra travel time... I don't know how practical that would be for 
> Jewel's si 

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