[nagdu] Adjustment from working with a king to a dog

[Star Gazer]

Buddy's response was great!
You'll also have an emotional transition. Some of your friends won't like dogs even those that say they do. You'll become friends with people who do like dogs even people you might not otherwise have anything in common with. 
People will expect the world of your dog, things the dog isn't capable of doing. Educating them can be difficult. 
There's nothing like the feeling you'll have when you meet your first dog. Enjoy it, no matter how the relationship ends, which it will do at some point. 
You don't have to always use a dog. It's ok to leave your dog home from time to time. It's also ok to decide at whatever point in your life that a particular dog, or a guide dog as a concept is not good for you. The dogs won't care and the schools shouldn't. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marsha Drenth via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 11:26 AM
To: Buddy Brannan; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: clarebearwest at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Adjustment from working with a king to a dog

I like buddies response. And I would totally agree with the 1.5 brain part. :-) Yes Claire, there is an adjustment period. with practice and working a dog you will learn your dogs body language, and what your dog is trying to tell you. Unfortunately as Buddy also said, sometimes you're not going to read what your dog is telling you right. And you will be the one who is wrong. I've been working several dogs, and sometimes I have no clue what my dogs have been telling me. It's not often. But it is important to understand or try to understand what your dog is telling you to do.
Claire, you're definitely not the only one to have these concerns before getting the dog. You'll be fine. Remember to listen to your instructors while in class especially when your dog is trying to tell you something. Remember those things when you get home.
Hope that helps,

Marsha drenth
email: marsha.drenth at gmail.com
Sent with my IPhone
Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary. 

> On Jun 26, 2014, at 11:18 AM, Buddy Brannan via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Your dog will probably not tell you much of anything if he’s off leash. The leash and harness are pretty instrumental in communication between you and your dog. When your dog is off leash, he is probably not working anyway.
> 
> I remember before I got my first dog that I wasn’t sure how one would coordinate the working of six legs and two brains. (In my case, maybe 1.5 brains at most.) Anyway, the legs aren’t really a problem so much. The brains sometimes are. Sometimes, you’ll get into arguments with your dogs. Just remember, sometimes, you’re the one that’s wrong. It’s all OK though. This is all stuff you learn in class and refine over the following months and years. 
> 
>> On Jun 26, 2014, at 11:10 AM, Clare Westlund via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> afraid that I will miss something that the dog is trying to tell me 
>> when off leash. Thank you all for your guidance and advice! Clare Hi 
>> everyone! I am preparing to get my first dog next month and I had a 
>> couple questions. I am nervous about the adjustment from working with 
>> a cane two then using a dog? What was it like for you? I am nervous 
>> that I will not understand what the dog is trying to tell me when and 
>> and or out of harness? I don't want to interpret the body language or 
>> mannerism of the dog in a bad way? Since I am totally blind I am
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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> 
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