[nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?

[Larry D Keeler]

The only issue i have with that is that if your health is bad enough then 
you might reconsider having and using a dog. Even the regular routine can be 
stressful on some. This of course would be up to the handler and not others.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Star Gazer via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Nicole Torcolini'" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>; "'NAGDU Mailing 
List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; 
"'debby phillips'" <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>; "'Lisa'" 
<dreamymarmot93 at yahoo.de>
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2014 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?


> Nicole is spot on. The last thing you want to do is go out with your dog 
> at
> the expense of your own health. You're the human, your needs come first.
> Dogs don't view their work the same way we do, and they don't need a day 
> off
> like humans do.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole 
> Torcolini
> via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, November 8, 2014 8:36 PM
> To: 'debby phillips'; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of 
> Guide
> Dog Users'; 'Lisa'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?
>
> When you ask how often a dog needs to work, are you asking how often a dog
> needs to do guide work and/or how often a dog needs exercise? As far as
> exercise, your dog needs exercise almost every day, particularly a young
> lab. If labs do not exercise almost daily, they tend to get pent up energy
> and then start running around the house like crazy. Exercise does not have
> to be in the form of guide work. How often a dog has to do guide work 
> really
> depends. Lexia had to take a few weeks off last year after surgery, and I 
> do
> not recall having to do any major retraining with her. Most dogs, even if
> they do not work for a few weeks, will not forget how to guide, but they
> might need some reminders on the more difficult parts of guide work, such 
> as
> avoiding overhead obstacles. Note that, even if a dog is working, if the 
> dog
> does not encounter particular situations very often, the dog may need some
> reminders.
> I would not worry about giving your dog one day a week off. Dogs do
> not really have a concept of weeks, and they do not view guide work the 
> same
> way that humans view their jobs. I think that most of us who have guide 
> dogs
> do not work seven days a week, so our dogs will not always be going out 
> with
> us seven days a week. Yes, we go places on weekends, but you don't have to
> let your dog have a weekend day off. You will be able to tell if your dog
> needs a day off, which probably will not happen very often at this point.
> Labs, particularly young ones, usually do not tire easily, and, if they 
> do,
> it is gone by the next morning.
>
> Nicole
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of debby phillips
> via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2014 1:41 PM
> To: Lisa; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users;
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?
>
> Hey Lisa, great question.  Every dog is different of course, so it may
> depend on your individual dog, and certainly if you have an injury and you
> are in pain walking or need time for an ankle, knee or leg to heal, you
> should do that.  I try to do something every day, even if it's not walking 
> a
> huge distance.  But I do give my dog one total day off a week if I can.  I
> need a day off from routine, so I figure my dog might, too.  In the winter
> my dogs have probably gotten less work, especially since I live on the 
> east
> side of Washington state where there's snow and ice.  I didn't grow up 
> with
> snow and ice, mostly rain and cold, and I must say that the older I get 
> the
> more anxious ice, especially makes me.  And yes, I know, I can get things 
> to
> put on my shoes but that doesn't make me any less anxious.
>
> I get depressed if I'm indoors too much, so even when I don't feel like
> getting out there in the cold bluster of winter I make myself do it 
> because
> it does make me feel better.  Something about endorphins I think.  (Grin).
> Sorry for the ramble in
> trying to answer your question.    Peace,    Debby and Neena
>
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