[nagdu] Thanks and request for input about dog guide with other family members

Sun Jul 13 02:27:09 UTC 2014

I agree with everything that has been said here. The rules that the school
tells you, you need to really drive home with the people who live with you.
For the first little while, food and treats and most good things need to
come from you and almost only you. This is a working guide dog, not a pet.
You have to be able to take it in public without worrying about the dog
getting sick, which can happen from table scraps. Some people feed their
pets leftovers from the table, which are often very fatty. For a dog who is
used to only kibble, this can make your dog sick and/or need to relieve more
often. Also, you need to make it clear that, when you are holding the leash,
you give the commands. The people with whom you live are probably the people
with whom you are going to be seen the most in public, so they need to set a
good example.

Nicole and Lexia who loves Grandma but understands that Mommy is in charge

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 6:58 PM
To: Buddy Brannan; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Thanks and request for input about dog guide with other
family members

At Guiding eyes, they put it perfectly: your dog must understand that you
are the primary provider of all good things. They recommend that for the 1st
2-4 weeks, you limit your dog's interactions with others.
And when something like playing with or petting from others is involved, you
are always present and decide whether it occurs or not.
This way, your dog associates you with everything good and looks to you as
provider and leader.
As Buddy said, your family members will not be allowed to interact with the
dog while it is on duty. You must drive home that when the harness is on,
you are the sole source of praise and direction.
Explain that otherwise, they are distracting the dog and preventing it from
working properly.
Please also explain about table scraps. The problem with table scraps is
that they encourage begging and scavenging. I think almost all of us slip
extra food in our dogs bowls, but that food is coming from us and is noted.
Any food that our dog receives from others off the plate or in the kitchen
can cause behavioral issues, and health challenges depending on what it is.
And if a dog is eating more than its daily allowance without our knowledge,
then weight gain can become an issue.

On 7/12/14, Buddy Brannan via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Other family members absolutely can interact with your dog. Perhaps 
> you should limit that for the first little while when you get home, 
> just so your dog understands that ultimately, direction comes from 
> you. That doesn't mean your family can't be friends with your dog, 
> because they can and should. It does, however, mean that your dog 
> needs to understand that you, not your husband, not your kids, are in 
> charge. What you say goes. Your family likewise needs to understand 
> this. Not only should they not be in the habit of giving your dog 
> commands, but they also need to not second-guess your authority with 
> your dog. If you correct an undesirable behavior,for instance, it is 
> not OK for your husband to go behind you and soothe and pet the dog. 
> This one will be hard, because it also means that if your dog is about 
> to make a working mistake, unless it's something that may get you 
> killed or something, that your family let the dog make the mistake,
because not doing so deprives both of you of a valuable lesson.
> On Jul 12, 2014, at 9:01 PM, Candy Berg via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>
>> Hi  All,
>>
>>
>>
>> I  wanted to thank those who responded to me as I  consider getting a 
>> dog guide, very helpful input and I've really enjoyed reading the 
>> list during the past week.
>>
>> There have been a  couple of comments about role of other people 
>> living in the home with the dog guide, and the difference in 
>> relationship between the person who works with the dog and other 
>> family members who live with the dog. My husband and I  have always 
>> had pets, dogs and cats. I'm wondering how he would have to adjust 
>> his behavior and expectations of his relationship with a  dog guide 
>> who might join our household. Any input would be welcome.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>> Candy
>>
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>
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--
Raven
"if God didn't make it, don't eat it." - John B. Symes, D.V.M.
http://dogtorj.com

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