[nagdu] Balance without a guide dog

[Julie J.]

Dogs in most working capacities work on the left because most people are 
right handed.   There's no training specific reason why a dog can't work on 
the right.  You just have to train them to do it, no different than training 
to work on your left.  You have to of course take into consideration spacing 
because it will be the opposite of what you are used to.

Julie


-----Original Message----- 
From: Marsha Drenth
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 10:05 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Balance without a guide dog

Karyn,
The only thing I meant was that if a person needs to use a guide dog on the 
right side, because of the use of a support cane, and that dog comes from a 
program, most likely that dog will need to be specially trained. Its of 
course possible to use that dog on the right side. But as my dog is from a 
program, she will have nothing to do with my right side. If your a owner 
trainer, this might be easier to resolve. It would be great to get from a 
program dog, the ability to use that dog on either side.

does anyone, or can anyone explain why the left side for guide dogs? Why not 
on the right? Or why not on both sides? Very curiously,

Marsha drenth
Sent with my IPhone
Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As 
such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. 
Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary.

> On Apr 18, 2014, at 9:32 AM, "Karyn & Thane" <bcpaws4me at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I'm not Marsha either. I am no longer ambulatory but when I did use a cane
> many many years back, I was told to put it on the stronger side. For me I
> was impaired on both sides but not evenly.
>
> I also wanted to point out that a number of people do use their guide dogs
> on the right side so some who need canes with a guide dog will in fact be
> using a cane on the left side. I have used both my dogs on the right in
> fact. Most who use a guide on the right do so either due to shoulders
> wearing out from years of guide dog use or secondary mobility disabilities
> where they are either too weak on the left side/ have mobility equipment
> that is controlled on the left side like I do (and no you would never want
> to be around me if that was switched to the right-- bumper car city!)
>
> Karyn and Thane
>
>
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