[nagdu] Countdown to NYC - 7 weeks!!!

[Daryl Marie]

Raven and Tami,

Thanks for being the voices of reason!

Raven:
The Mutt Muffs will arrive on Monday, so I will be able to work with them at home, then at a concert we're attending in a couple of weeks.  Jenny tends to get it in her head that she doesn't like something, but if she sees the benefit, she becomes an eager convert!

On larger planes Jenny flies just fine, but on the smaller ones it is much smaller, louder, and changes in altitude are far too much.  Since I am not familiar with the planes that we will be flying to and from NYC, I figured better safe than sorry! I've brought bones or treats for her on the plane, which helps.  Someone once recommended giving her ice chips.  Last year she wouldn't take them, but now she thinks ice is the awesomest treat ever, so she might chew them during a flight.

The Halti stays permanently in my purse.  We don't use it much, but she's comfortable enough using it that she chills out.

Oh, Raven, we have SNOW!  She will relieve on snow anytime I let her.  A friend who went to MIRA in Montreal learned how to curb-relieve her dog, so I think I will ask her how that works and get her to show me if I need an alternative.  In a pinch, jenny has and will relieve on concrete... this is usually once she gives me all her signals - speeding up, slowing down, head turned toward my leg... I have tried working with her on relieving on concrete in non-emergency situations, but she will turn around and just sit down. LOL

Daryl
----- Original Message -----
From: Raven Tolliver <ravend729 at gmail.com>
To: Daryl Marie <crazymusician at shaw.ca>, NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:22:09 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Countdown to NYC - 7 weeks!!!

Daryl,
Ensure that Jenny is used to the MuttMuffs before D-Day so to speak.
Start associating the muffs with rewards so that when she's in an
uncomfortable situation, the muffs do not add stress.
She should be able to fly with no problem, even without muffs. The
first time the Golden Guy flew, I think he was more disturbed by the
altitude change. He stood up a few times on the plane. Also, bring a
bone with you for her to chew. She may or may not chew it, but having
it doesn't hurt. The Golden Guy didn't care for the bone when he flew
for the first time.
Take your Halti with you if you're worried about any scavenging.
You can start familiarizing her with relieving on concrete before you
leave, if you haven't gotten any snow yet. Here in West Michigan,
winter has hit hard, so you're probably having the same experience.
Jenny will learn that there is nowhere else to go and give in. The
Golden guy prefers grass as dogs do, and in Manhattan he tried to hold
out but couldn't and ended up just stopping and peeing on the
sidewalk. Hopefully, you can get her to go in a lot, just provide
plenty of opportunities to relieve.
It will be new and exciting for both of you. Do not stress out too
much, you don't want your girl to start acting silly and goofing up
because she's picking up on your nervousness. You all will have such a
blast!


On 11/13/14, Daryl Marie via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Well, as of yesterday, we will be leaving for NYC in seven weeks!  After
> paying for the most important (read: expensive) portion of our trip -
> flights and B&B - we're getting things straightened out, like groupons for
> food, tour passes, etc.  Last week I bought Jenny's MuttMuffs for the
> flight, booked our transportation from the airport, etc.
>
> Now that it feels real, I am excited and terrified!  I know that jenny will
> do fine, but I have horrible fears of a guide dog trip from hell - what if
> she won't relieve on concrete? What if she gets distracted by another dog?
> Tries to pick up popcorn on the floor at MSG?
>
> ACK!!!!!!!
>
> My head knows I am totally over-reacting, but...
>
> I guess I just need some encouragement that we will be fine, and if we're
> not we'll get through it like everything else.
>
> Panicked Daryl and sleepy Jenny
>
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-- 
Raven
"if God didn't make it, don't eat it." - John B. Symes, D.V.M.
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