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

Mon Nov 10 04:04:45 UTC 2014

Never heard that one. But, at Pilot, our trainer kept telling us to be fair 
to our dogs. For example, take them out whenever possible and don't work 
them into the ground without a break. Also, there is a difference in the 
energy level required for constant walking or just lying around waiting.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Raven Tolliver via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Danielle Burton" <danielleburton94 at gmail.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2014 9:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?


> At Guiding Eyes, the instructors advised us to give our dogs one day
> off per week. Ha!
> This is my rule: If I have to work, so does my dog. If I go anywhere,
> even if it's just to hang out or grab a drink, the Golden Guy is
> tagging along. If there is a day that I am not doing anything and just
> feel like resting, then of course, he's out for the day as I am. But
> within the last several months, those days have been rare, and he
> deals with it just fine. What I like about him is that he is ready for
> action. If I'm ready to go anywhere, he's game. If he needs to just
> sleep for 4 hours at a time while I'm working, he's fine.
> Also, I don't technically work my dog everywhere I go, especially here
> on campus, he is on-leash and out-of-harness most of the time when we
> travel. I can tell by his actions that traveling this way is more
> freeing, so that might be why he never seems tired or fussy. But he's
> a dog that could probably work all day seven days a week though, and
> never get tired of it; he is that willing and invested. Of course, he
> doesn't hesitate to crash when we end up at any given location for any
> length of time.
> Leash-guiding allows him to fluidly switch between being on duty and
> taking a leisure walk. He decides he's on duty whenever there's
> obstruction or elevation changes, but typically, I know this place
> well enough that I pick up on it without his help. He will also do
> traffic checks on-leash, which has only happened thrice, but is still
> valuable. Otherwise, the walk is just leisure and he's happy to be
> out, speeding along on long leash, and occasionally sniffing things.
>
> On 11/9/14, Danielle Burton via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Yes, I find that that is in most cases true Nicole. I thinthe dogs sense
>> when we are tired and it effects them.
>>
>> Danielle and Willa
>>
>>
>>> On Nov 9, 2014, at 7:22 PM, Nicole Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Danielle, that is perfectly fine; this is one of those things for which
>>> there is there is not just one right answer. College campuses can
>>> definitely
>>> be stressful for humans and service dogs alike independent of each 
>>> other,
>>> and then add to that the fact that our dogs can usually tell when we are
>>> stressed, and they get stressed...
>>>
>>> Nicole
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle
>>> Burton
>>> via nagdu
>>> Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2014 3:49 PM
>>> To: Lisa; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] How often does a dog have to work?
>>>
>>> Dogs may not view work the same way as we do but I have noticed that
>>> Willa
>>> does get cranky and difficult when she gets cranky and tired after a 
>>> very
>>> unsually long day. And to be honest although she may not need the day 
>>> off
>>> I
>>> do. Lol. I'm in college so she gets worked 2 to 3 times a day 5 days a
>>> week.
>>> If not more. So I need a day off myself and I know she has to because 
>>> she
>>> is
>>> more refreed after a day or 2 of rest.
>>>
>>> Danielle and Willa
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Nov 8, 2014, at 2:40 PM, Lisa via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hey everyone!
>>>>
>>>> I would like to hear your opinion on the following question.
>>>>
>>>> How often does a guide dog have to work?
>>>>
>>>> By now, I've heard so many different things. Some say a dog has to be
>>> working every day or otherwise it would get frustrated, bored, angry,
>>> depressive... And others say it's completely fine to work the dog as
>>> often
>>> as you need to and in the mean time let it just be a happy dog, with 
>>> play
>>> time and paying attention to it of course.
>>>> I've also heard that there are dogs who really demand to get out and
>>>> work
>>> and others who are fine with one or two lazy days in between.
>>>> So, what do you think? Does it depend on how energetic and active the
>>>> dog
>>> is? What if I twisted my ankle and would want to cure it for five days 
>>> or
>>> so? Would it be okay to neglect guide work then?
>>>> Just curious.
>>>>
>>>> best
>>>> Lisa
>>>>
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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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