[nagdu] From Cane To Dog

[Buddy Brannan]

I think, though can’t recall for certain, that Steph is in the land of Oz. Well, I thought either UK or Oz, but the UK has gone to training from hotels or from the student’s home as I recall, so I’m pretty sure it’s Oz. 

— 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name



> On Aug 25, 2014, at 8:10 AM, Cindy Ray via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Really, Stephanie, they told you to put the cane away because you would be learning the layout of the building without a cane? The first time I went to my school, I had heard this was what they did, and I had made up my mind I was going to refuse to do that. When I got there, the instructor said, “I see you have a cane. Good. Use it.” Then during the period when we were heeling the dog places, I knew the building and I could operate more efficiently. I thought maybe all of the schools used this approach now. For people who did not have canes, there were loaners at the school.
> 
> Cindy
> cindyray at gmail.com
> 
> On Aug 25, 2014, at 3:33 AM, Stephanie via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> I have to write on this, because I can relate. I used my can since I was young. I am mid 30's, it it was a problem. First of all, I went through a grieving process as I realized that soon I was going to be with out the cane. I even doubted if a dog was for me. I did not get a dog for many years, because I thought I could never trust an animal to guide me. But I heard about the benifits and decided to try for a dog. 
>> The first day of training, I was told to put my cane away, and that we would be learning the lay out of the building with out my cane. I felt dread and wondered how the hell I was going to do this. I got lost a lot those first few days.
>> But soon, I found my dog was guiding me, and I didn't feel so lost. There were some things that really puzzled me though. Obstacle work caused a real problem to me. I kept failing the obstacle work because I just couldn't understand how I could tell the dog to find my way around something when I had no idea what, or where the obstacle was. After a frustrating time of it, I told the instructor my issue and that she would have to show me how to do this because I just couldn't get my mind around it. So we worked through each obstacle and I was able to work out how to use my feet, hands etc instead of a cane.
>> The other thing I found was trying to work out why my dog stopped some times. And thefeeling the loss of land marks that I'd gotten used too.
>> Now, I'll never go back to the cane. I don't have to count steps, work out land marks as much. I can just remember the turns and how to get some where. I can go straight across streets, no more indents or anything like that. No more having to find a pole to tell me we were close to something. No more having to stress about an open space because Gypsy guides me through all that. 
>> Last christmas, I used my cane for the first time since getting my dog 15 months ago. I got to the shops ok, but my mind was telling me where the counter was, but I forgot the obstacles in my road. I also nearly crashed in to some one on the way out, and couldn't find the door. Like I couldn't glide gracefully to the door. I was so thankful for my dog!
>> Anyway, it will take time to trust the dog. But if you give it time, and you want to, you will never look back.
>> Steph
>> '
>> 
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