[nagdu] Guide-dogs and sports

Wed Jun 4 14:35:37 UTC 2014

Welcome to the list!

I used to run with my dogs, and do still every now and then.  I have owner 
trained my guides, so I have no guide dog school to consider.  Many of them 
will advise against running with your guide.  also I have never run 
competitively, far from it.

So here's my thoughts in no particular order.
Pick a place to run that is a smooth path, no overhangs, no sharp turns and 
very little if anything in the way of obstacles.  My main places for running 
are the high school track, which is open to the public here, and paved hike 
and bike trails at a nearby park.  Some dogs will become confused or bored 
or otherwise not be appreciative of going round and round in circles on a 
track.  My current guide loves to move fast, so he puts up with my crazy 
requests to run in circles! *smile*

Be mindful of your dog's ability to move freely.  the harness can interfere 
with front leg movement, depending on the style of harness, your dog's build 
and how fast exactly you are moving.

Also just like you wouldn't run a marathon without training, don't expect 
your dog to be able to immediately run long distances with you.  give 
him/her time to build up strength and endurance.

Maybe the hardest thing for me was finding the right pace.  I could jog or 
do a slow run with them, but if I tried to move faster, my dog would move 
from a very brisk walk into a sort of lope.  It was very hard for me to 
follow my dog while they moved like this.  that's been years ago now, 
though.  currently my fastest pace means my guide is at a fast walk.  He's a 
leggy tall dog and I'm an exceptionally slow runner. *smile*  You'll just 
have to experiment to see what the best pace for the pair of you is.

My best,
Julie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Fatmir Seremeti via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 8:53 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Guide-dogs and sports

Hi all

My name is Fatmir and I live in Sweden. I tryed to find a similar list here 
in Sweden but seams like there isn't any.
I hope that I'm welcomed here and I learned a lot in just this first week 
I've been a member of this list.

I'm a professional athlete doing Goalball and I'm a low B2.
These last 4 years I've lost my ability to move around by my self.
This loss of sight has been very difficult for me in my active life where I 
nowadays have to depend a lot on other people all the time.
I have now applied for a guide-dog and on the 18th of this month the 
association here in Sweden will come home to me to determine if I'm right 
for a guide-dog.

I understand that most of the things I need help for today like going to the 
gym, swimming hall, walking and everyday activities will be much more easy 
and independent.
My question is if anyone uses their guide-dog as a running guide outdoors 
and if this is even possible?

Med vänliga hälsningar / best regards
Fatmir seremeti
+46705103634
www.goalballfatmir.blogg.se
Twitter: @goalballfatmir

> 4 jun 2014 kl. 08:16 skrev Kathy Davis via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>:
>
> Hi Julie,
>    I so enjoyed reading your account of the goings on with you and Bill
> there at Guiding Eyes. I am relatively new to the list but have been 
> active
> in NAGDU and FLAGDU for many years.
>    I too was rather taken aback when I received my last dog, Wade, from
> the Seeing Eye. Wade is a big handsome black Lab and he is much taller 
> than
> my previous dogs. After trying several things to begin to feel right 
> working
> with Wade considering his height, we finally decided to use a harness with 
> a
> shorter handle. That did the trick as the standard size harness handle 
> just
> made me feel so awkward and as you said...the harness was up in the air
> instead of leaning back in my hand near my left hip as should be the case.
>    I will look forward to reading more from the happenings of you and
> Bill. By the way, my daddy's name was Bill and he was terrific.
>
> Take care,
>
> Kathy Davis and Wonderful Wade
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
> via nagdu
> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 9:55 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] My dog blog
>
> Hi friends,
>
> I am currently training with my second guide dog.  To document my training
> and share my experiences with my family and friends, I created a wordpress
> blog.  I'm hoping the blog will live on even after my training, but for 
> now,
> I have recorded my adventures so far at Guiding Eyes for the Blind.  In 
> case
> any of you are interested, I'll post the link below.  The entries are in
> order on the page from most recent to earliest, and there are three 
> entries
> so far.  I am having a great time here!
>
> http://adivaandherdog.wordpress.com/
>
> --
> Julie McG
> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National Federation
> of the Blind performing arts division secretary, Missouri Association of
> Guide dog Users President, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008 
> "For
> God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
> believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
> John 3:16
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/kdavisnfbf%40cfl.rr.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/f.seremeti%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/julielj%40neb.rr.com

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3722/7118 - Release Date: 06/03/14 