[nagdu] How does your dog help you?

Wed Aug 27 01:31:44 UTC 2014

Oh and I forgot the timekeeper during boring lecture classes and a
brace going up or down stairs. Now how mmuch of that can a cane do?

On 8/26/14, Danielle Antoine <singingmywayin at gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, let's see. My dogs have helped me to walk faster and more
> confident, helped me to hold my head upwhile walking, find dropped
> objects yes even pills before the children got to it (does
> anyone still teach fetch?) helped me to stay on my feet, alert me that
> someone may be approaching me or the house even before I hear it, check to
> see if I'm ready to go across the street or down stairs, found the way
> out of department stores after I've taken to many turns, have helped
> me conquer busy streets that I prolly wouldn't attempt first with my
> cane, have found trash cans, the huge bathroom stall, elevators,
> crosswalk poles and elevator buttons and door handles, and bathroom
> sinks without having to touch all over it all, up and down stairs
> unknown to me in unfamiliar enviornments and empty seats in a crowded
> meeting room or on a bus or in class, have helped me to strike up
> conversations with people and make friends sometimes have helped to
> keep certain people at a distance they have
> been therapy, loving companionship, a soft pillow to lie on on the
> floor, company when I lived alone, a friend to my children, comfort in
> troubled times, comforting to others I've been saved from silent cars
> and from falling down elevator shafts, someone to lean on, have been the
> demonstration in school lessons,  have provided areas in other life
> areas through taking care of them just like children, have a sidepiece
> LOL, have taught
> me to stay calm at unexpected emergency moments, helped me to walk
> straight, provided me with warmth and laughter and stories to tell. Oh
> yeah, and a living outfit too. Haha!
>
> Love yall much,
>
> Congrats to all who just received new dogs and to those of you going into
> class!
> Danielle
>
> On 8/26/14, Sofia Gallo via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I will never forget the day I got lost on campus and my dog took me to
>> a building near by that we had identified as a landmark.
>>
>> Obviously it is good to have good O&M skills and try not to get lost,
>> but when it does happen in a relatively familiar place, it was
>> definitely a huge help.
>>
>> Sofia
>>
>> On 8/26/14, Larry D Keeler via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Well Dan, dogs certainly do that. But also they provide companionship,
>>> alert
>>>
>>> you to others who might be trying to sneak up on you, ad percieved
>>> protection in bad neighborhoods and alert us to folks at our doors.
>>> Those
>>> things are not emphasized but they are usually there. No, I'm not
>>> talking
>>> about dog aggression or exsessive barking or anything like that for
>>> those
>>> who might think so. For example, Holly wags or pulls harder when family
>>> members or friends are about. She will also let me know by moving closer
>>> to
>>>
>>> me or other body language that someone strange is about. A couple of
>>> barks
>>> tell me someone is at the door or more disturbing, at my window. And, in
>>> some neighborhoods folks see Holly and just leave me alone. Finding
>>> things
>>> such as dorrs, elevators and bus stops and light poles for crossing the
>>> street are also a big help.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Dan Weiner via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> To: "'Amber M'" <thetraveler87 at gmail.com>; "'NAGDU Mailing List,the
>>> National
>>>
>>> Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 7:00 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] How does your dog help you?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello to all.
>>>> Well I thought this would be a fun question for the list.
>>>> I was talking by Skype with a Russian partially-sighted lady who speaks
>>>> good
>>>> English and she asked me how my dog helped me and why can't I do the
>>>> same
>>>> things with a cane.
>>>>
>>>> I gave her an answer which I don't think convinced her very much, not
>>>> that
>>>>
>>>> I
>>>> really want to convince but it made me think that that would be fun to
>>>> see
>>>> how people on the list answer that question.
>>>> I told her I would ask on the list and see what people say.
>>>> I said that my dog takes me around obstacles, stops at steps and curbs,
>>>> finds things for me, helps me keep walking in a straight line and
>>>> generally
>>>> I felt made me safer and more efficient.
>>>> I said that when it's working out well with the dog it is the closest
>>>> feeling that I can come across to walking as a sighted person since I
>>>> remember that a little bit from being akid, though I will say the
>>>> memories
>>>> are fading--lol
>>>>
>>>> I also explained intelligent disobedience.
>>>>
>>>> So if you all have nothing better to do, right answers  to that
>>>> question
>>>> and
>>>> maybe we will all learn a thing or two about each other and our
>>>> experience.
>>>> I also wrote that since I only hear out of one ear that I veer terribly
>>>> and
>>>> I  walk straighter with a dog who keeps me on the straight and narrow.
>>>>
>>>> I suppose I must like it after all, I've been doing the dog thing as a
>>>> friend of mine calls it for twenty years--lol
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yours,
>>>> Dan Weiner'
>>>>
>>>> dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amber M via
>>>> nagdu
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 3:19 PM
>>>> To: Valerie Gibson; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of
>>>> Guide
>>>> Dog
>>>> Users
>>>> Subject: How does your dog help you?
>>>>
>>>> Hi Valerie and all,
>>>> I would like to say a few things here, because, like Nicole, I chose
>>>> not
>>>> to
>>>> give certain information, a to avoid extra information cluttering my
>>>> questions, and be because I did not initially think that that
>>>> information
>>>> was relevant.
>>>> When I first talked with the breeder, and even now, we are not sure and
>>>> were
>>>> not sure whether or not I was going to actually get to keep her. Right
>>>> now,
>>>> my husband and I are still discussing whether or not he thinks it's
>>>> feasible
>>>> for us to take this on.
>>>> Also, in respect to my work schedule and it being compatible with me
>>>> training, unfortunately, I do not get to choose my work schedule. And,
>>>> if
>>>>
>>>> I
>>>> waited until I had the "right schedule quote, I wouldn't get to train
>>>> at
>>>> all. I normally only work 40 hours. When I did meet with this breeder,
>>>> I
>>>> had
>>>> no idea whether or not I was going to get to keep a puppy, and even if
>>>> there
>>>> would be the right puppy. I had already signed up for these hours, and
>>>> I
>>>> was
>>>> not able to back out of them. The policy for overtime states that if
>>>> you
>>>> do
>>>> offer to work it, you must do that regardless, so I was not in a
>>>> position
>>>>
>>>> to
>>>> cancel. Had I known for sure that I was going to get to keep a puppy,
>>>> even
>>>> for a short amount of time, I would not have taken those hours.
>>>> Now, I am spending the mornings with her, and taking her for walks, and
>>>> playing with her, before working in the afternoon.
>>>> In fact, the other evening, after I got off, at midnight, I will add,
>>>> we
>>>> went for a walk that lasted probably about an hour and a half. I did
>>>> not
>>>> even get back and get us back in bed until 130.
>>>> So my commitment to this, is not really a question. Working with her
>>>> the
>>>> same kind of hours somebody else, who isn't working, or who is in
>>>> school,
>>>> but isn't in class as many hours as I am actually working my job, is
>>>> not
>>>> feasible. But, working with her in general, and being able to devote my
>>>> free
>>>> time to her, is very feasible.
>>>> She is very eager to learn, and so I mentioned a few things that I am
>>>> wondering about, or worried about, there are many things that we have
>>>> worked
>>>> on and have been pretty successful with, that I did not mention. So it
>>>> is
>>>> not as though we have not spent any time together or done anything
>>>> productive yet.
>>>> Amber
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 26, 2014, at 1:16 PM, Valerie Gibson via nagdu
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> Personally i would have planned my puppy around my schedule, not the
>>>>> other
>>>> way around.  Since you'd already signed up for hours, it might have
>>>> been
>>>> best to wait until another litter is born.  Excitement to start
>>>> training
>>>> is
>>>> understandable, but since you're dealing with a young pup that will be
>>>> a
>>>> service dog one day, socialization and all the puppy requirements from
>>>> you
>>>> will have to be more structured than if it were a family pet.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm not saying you can't do it now, but only that this seems to have
>>>>> been
>>>> rushed into.
>>>>>
>>>>> I had a golden oppertunity to get a puppy from a litter before Zion's.
>>>>> I
>>>> didn't though, because I knew that I couldn't devote the amount of time
>>>> needed to him at that time.  When I did get him, it was still a bit of
>>>> work
>>>> to deal with him and school, but I got him at a time where i could
>>>> schedule
>>>> my work around him. If I'd not been able to do that, I wouldn't have
>>>> gotten
>>>> the puppy.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, that's my bit on that.
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyway, what's done is done. Let's move on.
>>>>>
>>>>> As ar as the whining goes. clickers really only work for barking, at
>>>>> least
>>>> in my experience.  Understand that your dog is very young still and
>>>> might
>>>>
>>>> be
>>>> scared of being taken away from her littermates.  I think the best
>>>> thing
>>>> to
>>>> do with young puppies is ignore them when they start whining.
>>>>> It teaches them that scarey things are going to happen, and they need
>>>>> to
>>>> cope with it.  If you're constantly giing her attention, she is, in the
>>>> end,
>>>> getting what she wants.
>>>>>
>>>>> Once she realizes that whining is getting no response from you, she
>>>>> will
>>>> stop.  This will happen slowly and obviously not over night, but it
>>>> needs
>>>>
>>>> to
>>>> be conistant.  In a pack, dogs will ignore a dog that's seeking
>>>> undeserved
>>>> atttention, unless that dog puts the pack in danger.  When the dog
>>>> quiets
>>>> down for 10 to 20 minutes, then go and, very calmly, say hi.  One thing
>>>> to
>>>> remember is your aditude must be the complete opposite as her's in this
>>>> case. so if she's excited or scared, you need to dish out equal, or
>>>> more,
>>>> calmness and tranquility.  I hope this make sense, but how you react
>>>> nonverbally will send all kinds of messages to your dog, even if its
>>>> not
>>>> message you want to send.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hope this helps.
>>>>>
>>>>> Valerie
>>>>>> On Aug 26, 2014, at 8:14 AM, Amber M via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Deanna,
>>>>>> Yes, she is a poodle puppy. I am trying not to use corrections. And
>>>>>> honestly, the whining is not nearly as bad as it was when we first
>>>>>> started. This morning I was able to make breakfast without much
>>>>>> noise. :-) Thanks, Amber
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Aug 26, 2014, at 9:55 AM, Deanna Lewis <DLewis at clovernook.org>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Amber,
>>>>>>> Good to hear from you. Is the puppy a poodle? How old is she?
>>>>>>> I think it's a good idea to let her whine a bit while she is in her
>>>> crate. Try to ignore her as much as possible.  Pascal used to whine
>>>> while
>>>>
>>>> he
>>>> was in his crate. A technique a trainer taught me was to put the leash
>>>> on
>>>> your dog while they are in their crate. If the dog is quiet, praise
>>>> them.
>>>> Then, if the dog does whine, give a small correction.  The biggest
>>>> downside
>>>> is that you have to be right next to the crate. This worked wonders on
>>>> Pascal, so hope it can help you too.
>>>>>>> Deanna and Pascal
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amber M
>>>>>>> via nagdu
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 9:40 AM
>>>>>>> To: Cindy Ray; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>>>>>>> Dog Users
>>>>>>> Cc: Tracy Carcione
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] An update on the owner training situation
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Cindy,
>>>>>>> As I told Tracy, I normally will not be working that many hours. I
>>>>>>> took
>>>> on those hours before I knew I would find a puppy. I had planned to
>>>> meet
>>>> with the breeder, but she had not said whether she planned to bring
>>>> puppies
>>>> with her or whether we were just going to meet and talk. So, then she
>>>> said
>>>> she would bring some, but I had already signed up for those hours. With
>>>> my
>>>> job, we are required to work hours that we sign up for. So I was kind
>>>> of
>>>> put
>>>> in a impossible situation.
>>>>>>> Amber
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Aug 26, 2014, at 8:52 AM, Cindy Ray via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I think I'd have to agree. How are you actually going to have the
>>>>>>>> time
>>>> for this training thing. If I were working 80 hours a week, I would
>>>> wonder
>>>> how you get any rest at all. That's two regular weeks of work in one.
>>>> YIKES!
>>>> I would think letting her whine while you are doing dishes, using the
>>>> restroom, etc. would be fine. If you answer her when she whines, then
>>>> she
>>>> knows that will work for her. That's just my common sense talking, not
>>>> really based on knowledge.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Cindy
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Aug 26, 2014, at 7:32 AM, Tracy Carcione via nagdu
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I don't wish to be discouraging, but, if you're working 80 hours a
>>>> week, do you have the time required for puppy-training?  I understand
>>>> it
>>>> can
>>>> be quite time-intensive.  Maybe you would be wise to wait until you're
>>>> working a bit less?
>>>>>>>>> Tracy
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amber M via nagdu"
>>>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 8:22 AM
>>>>>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] An update on the owner training situation
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>> I am sorry I have not written recently, but there has been a lot
>>>> going on. I worked 82 hours last week, and since I wrote last, have met
>>>> with
>>>> both a trainer and a breeder. The breeder that I'm met with happened to
>>>> have
>>>> three puppies that she thought might be good for the task. She brought
>>>> them
>>>> and I met with them, and picked one that I really liked. She has
>>>> allowed
>>>> me
>>>> to keep her for a couple of weeks to see how things go.
>>>>>>>>>> I have a few questions.
>>>>>>>>>> One-when you are taking a puppy that is only three months old out
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>> do business, how can you keep them from eating sticks and mulch that
>>>> might
>>>> be bad for them and still let them do what they have to do? I have
>>>> multiple
>>>> times taken her out to do business and found her with a stick in her
>>>> mouth.
>>>> I know that she is going to need to chew on things. I can't keep her
>>>> away
>>>> from it, because these are scattered around the grass where I live. It
>>>> is
>>>> not that I am deliberately taking her near a place where that is easy
>>>> to
>>>> get
>>>> to.
>>>>>>>>>> Two-when I am not able to be with her, I have been putting her in
>>>>>>>>>> her
>>>> crate. I have made it clear that this is not a punishment. I never
>>>> yell,
>>>> never push her roughly, or do anything that I think would make it a bad
>>>> experience. She has eaten in there several times, and I am doing this
>>>> to
>>>> reinforce that being in her crate actually equals a good thing. But my
>>>> question has to do with her whining. I have tried clicking in treating
>>>> for
>>>> quiet, and then walking a little further away, or staying the same
>>>> distance
>>>> away, but letting the time be a little longer, but ultimately, I do not
>>>> have
>>>> the time to sit there for a long extended period, and she can't stay
>>>> focused
>>>> on the clicker for that amount of time anyway. So I am just wondering
>>>> if
>>>> I
>>>> am wrong for having to let her wine a little sometimes because I have
>>>> to
>>>> go
>>>> to the restroom or because I have to cook dinner or because I have to
>>>> actually do the dishes etc.?
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>>> Amber
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40acc
>>>>>>>>>> ess.net
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmai
>>>>>>>>> l.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/thetraveler87%40
>>>>>>>> gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dlewis%40cloverno
>>>>>>> ok.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> This email was Virus checked by UTM 9. http://www.sophos.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/valandkayla%40gmai
>>>>>> l.com
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/thetraveler87%40gma
>>>>> il.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dcwein%40dcwein.cnc.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lkeeler%40comcast.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/gopgirl73%40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/singingmywayin%40gmail.com
>>
>