[nagdu] wearing a harness.

Tue Nov 11 13:56:08 UTC 2014

Vivianna,
The university that you attended is the complete opposite of the small
private college I attend. The college is only 107 acres, with much of
it being woodland. If you walk 10-15 minutes in any direction, you're
off campus. There are no buses, and sidewalks are not crowded at all.
There is light vehicle traffic typically, and there are bikers and
skaters of course.
As far as what anyone recommends, that doesn't matter to me. How many
of the schools recommend feeding raw? How many schools recommend using
herbs as pest repellents? I rest my case.
Obviously, the guiding harness is the most efficient equipment for
detecting a dog's movements to follow his direction. I won't discount
that. However, I am personally able to be guided by just hanging onto
the leash. I can feel all of my dog's movements, whether I'm using a
leash and collar, a walking harness, or a guiding harness. If I take
my dog into a business off campus, the harness is on, no question. But
on campus, all the students and faculty know he is an assistance dog,
so I don't feel the need to use my harness as ID.
As far as representing other guide dog handlers, you can't appeal to
me with that argument. I personally do not feel that I represent any
group of people unless I am at a very specific function, and I do not
feel that others represent any group that I belong to. Just as I do
not worry about how I represent the black community, I surely don't
worry about how I represent the guide dog community. I am not
endorsing anything that is unsafe or inappropriate, I am simply doing
something that works for me and my current guide dog.
Traveling outside with my dog on-leash is not a crime. Many people do
it. And I am not obligated to the public or anyone to identify my dog
as an assistance dog or identify myself as a blind person. If we were
entering businesses out-of-harness, I might understand all the
hullaballu. But we're not. There is no problem with me entering any of
the buildings on campus with him out-of-harness, since there are other
students and faculty with assistance dogs who do not have harnesses as
a part of their working equipment.
I still use my guiding harness, I just don't use it as often as others
do. I learned my current environment with a cane, before I even
thought about getting a guide dog. I know this campus and the
surrounding city like the back of my hand, and I trust my dog 100%
even when he's leash-guiding. And I am aware enough of my surroundings
that if he is distracted or goofs up, I can pick up the slack.
Whether anyone wants to use leash-guiding or not is none of my
concern. I encourage people to do what makes them feel most safe and
comfortable.

On 11/10/14, Brett Sample via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Julie hahahahahahahaha! That is awesome!! Guide Dog Police. You have no idea
> how much I needed that laugh!! Thank You!! My only comment on this whole
> subject is...Do what is best for you and your Guide, harness, no harness,
> treats or clickers. What works for one might not work for another.
>
> Brett and Ziva
>> On Nov 10, 2014, at 1:32 PM, Julie J. via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I do use leash guiding in certain circumstances.  Just recently I used it
>> when at a hotel.   My room was just across the hall from the door outside.
>> So from my hotel room door to the relieving location was no more than 20
>> feet.  Leash guiding worked very well and yes it was in public and yes
>> there were other people and no, he wasn't a sniffing jumping maniac.  My
>> dogs act just the same in or out of harness.
>>
>> The second time was when at a business luncheon.  The food was self
>> service from a buffet line.  I had a plate of food and a drink.  I looped
>> the leash over my forearm and followed Monty.  I could feel which way to
>> go with that small amount of info.  Not something that would work very
>> well in most circumstances, but at the moment it was the best I could come
>> up with.  And before everyone suggests that I could have gone back for the
>> drink or asked for help, yes, I know, but I was at a business lunch  and
>> sometimes there are subtle social things going on that you have to account
>> for.
>>
>> And just because I'm in a outspoken mood, you get the bonus confession!
>> Aren't you excited?  I fed Monty a bit of my banana at a business
>> conference on our break right in front of other people and right next to
>> the table. the number for the guide dog police is: 1-900-555-1234.  I
>> thought I'd save you the time of looking it up because I know there are
>> folks who want to turn me in to someone.
>>
>> Leash guiding, no harness in public, people food...what next?  It's
>> anarchy for sure.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
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-- 
Raven
"if God didn't make it, don't eat it." - John B. Symes, D.V.M.
http://dogtorj.com