[nagdu] Relieving in and out of harness WAS Re: Myguydog:introduction

[Nicole Torcolini]

Thank you, that is the kind of thing that I had in mind.
	Yes, I definitely go by the whole if the dog won't lay down, then
the dog needs to go out. That is one of the reasons that Lexia has
designated places that she is supposed to lay. If she is not where she is
supposed to be and is wondering around, then she probably needs to go out.
She also has bells hanging on the door knob that she can ring if she needs
to go out. Sometimes she uses them, and sometimes she does not. A few weeks
ago, she definitely rang them.

Nicole and Lexia 

-----Original Message-----
From: Raven Tolliver [mailto:ravend729 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 10:42 PM
To: Nicole Torcolini; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Relieving in and out of harness WAS Re:
Myguydog:introduction

The Golden Guy has relieved himself about 4 or 5 times in harness.
Each time was my fault because we were new and I was unfamiliar with his
body language. The first time it happened was actually at guide dog school.
We were traveling in Manhattan. This spoiled guy only goes on grass. I gave
him opportunity to relieve in a parking lot, but that wasn't to his liking.
After walking several blocks in Manhattan, he realized there was no grass to
be found, so he just stopped and peed on the sidewalk. Poor guy. I did not
scold him at all. I really did not know what else to do other than just let
him do his thing.
The other times, he kept pulling over to the grass or bushes, and I would
just cue him forward, thinking he was distracted. Finally, he just relieved
himself since I would not remove his harness and cue him to relieve.
Knowing the Golden Guy now, he needs some stimulation to poop unless it is a
troublesome tummy day, so I expect him to need to go on route, and I allow
time for that.

Dogs are not always vocal about needing to relieve themselves. In my
experience, it is common for dogs to just wonder around when they need to go
out. At school, they told us that if we can't get our dogs to settle,
chances are the dog needs to go out. They are definitely right. Anything
like seeing a dog walk in circles, pacing, walking around the room, or lots
of huffiness or turning about while trying to settle are all signs a dog is
uncomfortable and needs relieving. I have seen dogs get vocal, but it was
when they needed to urinate badly or were experiencing intestinal distress.
Some dogs will also become vocal if they notice that their body language or
visual signals are not enough to get them out the door.

I have a girlfriend who allows her dog to relieve in harness just because
she doesn't want to take the time to remove it. I personally would not do
this, but if she finds that her dog does not think she is free to go
whenever, then so be it. She still pulls over to the grass and cues her dog
to do her thing, she just doesn't remove the harness.

On 8/22/14, Nicole Torcolini via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> For clarification, I was not talking about knowing that they are not 
> supposed as much as having to. Even if the dog knows that he/she is 
> not supposed to relieve in harness, if the dog really has to go, there 
> is not much that the dog can do besides go. Yes, I do agree, though, 
> that some dogs might not go when given the opportunity and then kind 
> of set themselves up for trouble or just decide to go even though they 
> don't really need to, in which case a correction would be appropriate. 
> Hope that that made sense that time.
>
> Nicole
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: debby phillips [mailto:semisweetdebby at gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 9:07 PM
> To: Nicole Torcolini; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of 
> Guide Dog Users; loriandleo at ohiohills.com; nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Relieving in and out of harness WAS Re:
> Myguydog:introduction
>
> Hi Nicole, I respectfully disagree.  I think they do know when they 
> poop or pee when they're not supposed to.  I have had issues with this 
> dog, more than any of my dogs going while we're out walking.  A couple 
> days ago, I gave her plenty of time to park, and she didn't.  Whenever 
> she does go in an appropriate place, I praise her.  So this day, she 
> didn't go when I gave her plenty of opportunity.  Suddenly as we were 
> walking, she was in her poop position.  I did not leash correct her, 
> only verbal.  Since then, she has not pooped on any of our trips.  
> Now, that doesn't mean she won't ever ever again, but I believe that 
> what I said had an
> impact on her.  But who knows? I could be totally wrong.    Debby
> and Neena
>
>
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--
Raven
"if God didn't make it, don't eat it." - John B. Symes, D.V.M.
http://dogtorj.com