[nagdu] From Cane To Dog

[debby phillips]

Hi there! Wow, great explanation of traveling with a dog versus 
traveling with a cane.  For me, I was blind from birth but did 
not use a cane until high school.  I honestly don't know how I 
kept from really getting injured badly at school and other places 
where I walked without a cane, before I had my first mobility 
lesson.  When I got to Seeing Eye, back then they told us to put 
away our canes.  Now we are allowed to use them until we are 
using our dogs in harness in the house.  So that first few days 
when we were heeling our dogs around with no canes was murder for 
me.  It was almost a freeing experience to get to use the dog in 
the house after walking very slowly and fearfully.  Lol.  I still 
have to use my cane on a daily basis where I work, because I work 
in manufacturing and the dogs aren't allowed in that area, so I'm 
still keeping "my hand in" using my cane.  (Grin).  I do think 
it's good to go back to the cane every once in a while because 
otherwise when you do have to make that change because your dog 
is ill or retiring and you have a wait time bed class, you won't 
be so traumatized.  I know people who freak out when that 
happens, and I've been one of them.  Hope this helps.    Peace,    
Debby and Miss Neena