[nagdu] an interesting conversation I just had

[Nicole Torcolini]

You did the right thing, and you might consider doing more. Did you have
your cane with you? Could you have gotten to class using your cane and
walking Dallas? Is this person your friend or just someone whom you know? I
would recommend telling the person that you received training on how to work
with Dallas and that, if the school had thought  that you were going to
abusive, they would have taken him away. Also, the school does not issue
equipment without making sure that the trainees know how to use it properly.
Tell him that, if he has problems with what you are doing or what the school
teaches, then he should take it up with the school. However, before doing
this, I would recommend calling the school to let them know what is going on
so that they don't inadvertently get the wrong impression if he calls them.
You might tell him that, regardless if someone is near by, a guide dog is
supposed to work when he/she is in harness and the harness handle is in your
hand. You might tell him more forcefully not to take Dallas's leash ever
again. This is not quite a direct comparison, but that would be like if you
dropped your cell phone and someone else grabbed it and refused to give it
back. If he argues that that is a material possession and not a live animal,
you could tell him that that is irrelevant as the point is not about
inanimate versus live but rather taking things that do not belong to you.
You might considering reporting him to someone if this continues. Finally,
you might tell him that he does not have the right to make assertions about
the health and behavior of you and Dallas. Dallas was eating leaves only
because he was holding the leash instead of you.

On a related note, I have a few more suggestions on the whole relieving
problem if you want to hear them.

Nicole and Lexia

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha Dudley
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 12:03 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] an interesting conversation I just had

Hello all,
  My main point of this message is to see what you all thought of a
situation that just came up.
  I was walking with someone, on my way from my genetics class to
statistics. The minute we walked out the door of the biological sciences
building, I knew Dallas was not at all focused. He was pulling left, nearly
ran me into a pole, and being very sniffy. I gave a verbal correction, a
"hup-up" and we made it to the mid-block crossing I had to use, which wasn't
very far from  the building, We got across the street OK. Dallas veered a
bit, but the "straight"
command had him positioned beautifully for the up curb.
  After going up the curb, Dallas seemed very distracted, so I stopped, gave
a sharp correction, and tried to move on. The individual walking with me
said "Hey, don't do that! I'm right here!" I promptly and rather sharply
said: "If you weren't here, he's got to focus. I could've just gotten hit by
a car because he was not focused at all."
I got a grudging "OK" and we moved on.
  Not ten feet later, Dallas pulled off like he had to park. He didn't have
a regular stool this morning, so I let him go. Unfortunately, I dropped the
leash accidentally and my walking companion grabbed it and would not give it
back. All Dallas did was sniff, eat leaves, and chew on nuts, so, when I
heard he had a nut in his mouth, I took the leash, grabbed the nut out of
Dallas's mouth, and threw it away. Dallas never did park, so I tried to move
on. My companion asked me if I had fed Dallas this morning, then went on to
suggest that Dallas had intestinal issues because he was trying to eat grass
and leaves. I told him that Dallas was just being stubborn and that he
needed to understand that I would not take this garbage from him. This
person
said: "Well, right where you're correcting him is right on his jugular, and
you don't want to mess that up." I attempted to explain the strength of the
neck muscles, but this person just wouldn't stop.
Meanwhile, Dallas wouldn't go anywhere, so I chose to take the person's arm
and walk with Dallas at heel because I didn't have much time and it was
evident that all Dallas wanted to do was eat. I tried to explain to this
person that Dallas is a hard-headed dog and needs a good "tail-kicking."
This person said "well, don't hurt him!" I cannot believe the ignorance of
this individual. But was I right in what I did? Shis person left me with a
nasty comment of "well take care of him." Like I don't love and deeply care
for my dog. Oh, what a mess!
Aleeha and the insolent Dallas

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.co
m