[nagdu] Introduction and some past topics

[Daryl Marie]

Hi, Chaim!
Welcome to the list!
My name is Daryl, and I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with Jenny, my first guide dog, a black Lab from BC/Alberta Guide Dogs.

I do not let people pet Jenny in harness; she is still a young, easily-distractible dog; I usually don't notice that someone is petting her until it is obvious she is distracted (lifting her head, sniffing, seeking attention); I will redirect her to me, or pull her away, and try and be nice about not petting the dog... sometimes that makes people frustrated, but they wouldn't pet a neighborhood dog they didn't know, so why am I open season?

It is a pleasure to have you on the list; I look forward to your contributions!

Daryl
----- Original Message -----
From: Chaim B. Segal via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Sent: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:11:41 -0700 (MST)
Subject: [nagdu] Introduction and some past topics

 Greetings!

I do not believe I have introduced myself on this list yet. I recognize a few of you on here from the Seeing Eye's List.

My name is Chaim Segal, and I live within the greater Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area. At present time, I am working with my fourth Seeing Eye Dog, a back-cross black lab/golden retriever named Yahtzee. I have not been an official NFB member in quite a while, but am considering rejoining and becoming an at-large member.

Without any further ado, let me discuss a few topics. I subscribed to this list the day before Thanksgiving, and am receiving messages in Digest mode. I am backlogged with E-mail from other lists, and it has not been until now that I have begun to sift through and read many messages from the digests. So, please forgive me for bringing up old subjects.

Breeds:
My first Seeing Eye Dog was a shepherd. I found him to be a great worker. Unlike my succeeding guides, I had fewer problems with him with food distractions, and despite the number of people who wanted to pet him, there were considerably more people who were cautious of him. He had to retire rather early, but that was not due to hip displycia. There were other factors involved.
Howard, regarding your guide's problem with wax in the ear:

I'm not sure what your school instructed you guys to do when you first trained. I can tell you that originally, Seeing Eye taught us to clean the dog's ears every week-and-a-half. My first three dogs had many problems due to recurring ear infections. When I went to train with Yahtzee, we were informed that it had been found that cleaning a dog's ears too often precipitates infections and the like. I now clean Yahtzee's and my retired guide Keeper's ears once every three weeks, and sometimes even farther apart than that. This being said however, it may be a good idea to take two large cotton balls, one for each ear, and in the interim, stick the cotton ball in, gently move it around, and get out excess wax. I would not want to make you go against what the school said, but it sounds like you may be cleaning a little too often. Please other list members, I don't want to start an ongoing debate about this.

Petting dogs:

In general, I am one who asks people not to pet the dog while he is in harness. If someone begins to do so without asking permission, if I catch on to what is happening, I turn to the person and try to put a smile on my face, then politely say, "Excuse me. It is best not to pet a working guide in harness, because you can cause the dog to become distracted and unable to perform its job. Sometimes, this leads to questions. Other times, people apologize and go about their own business. I try to save taking a militant approach or being purposely sharp with people for occasions where my civil or human rights are being violated. Unfortunately, some sighted people have had negative experiences with blind people snapping at them when they have tried to offer assistance, and it has done more harm than help with how they see us. This being said however with regard to petting, if someone feels that they can still maintain control of their dog if someone pets it in an off moment, though 
 I would not do it, if it works for them, then fine.

There are some isolated cases in which I will let a small child pet the dog for a second or two. Usually, I will do so if the child in question comes from cultural circumstances where dogs are either feared or unwelcome, I.E. African Americans from the inner-city and extremely-devout Orthodox Jews. Even in these cases however, if I feel we are in a ticklish crowded situation, I will still politely advise the parents or small child  not to do so. My only reason for making these exceptions is that hopefully, it will aid to the child's education and give them a good feeling about guide dogs and us in general.

Now, so as not to confuse anybody on here, I will say that the following may be viewed as taking an opposite approach. I do believe that even if it is not a close relationship, our guides should be comfortable around those we live and work with. For those people ay work with who like dogs, I would say let them have a controled introduction when you work the guide in for the first time. Thereafter, the dog should know that if you are allowing that person to pet him or her, they must remain calm.

It's great to be on this list!

Chaim             

Chaim B. Segal
Customer Service Representative
Sinclair Community College
E-mail: chaimsegal at sbcglobal.net

Every man, woman, every boy and girl,
Let your love light shine, make a better world.
[Daryl Hall & John Oates 

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