[nagdu] an interesting conversation I just had

[Shannon Dyer]

I've often compared someone grabbing my dog's leash to me grabbing hold of the steering wheel of a car while someone was driving. People are usually quite appalled by this suggestion, and most understand the comparison.

Shannon and the Acelet
On Nov 20, 2013, at 11:06 PM, "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:

> 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
> 
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