[nagdu] a very bad day and seeking suggestion

[Cindy Ray]

If you knew where the dog was going wrong, like you had a pretty good notion of the door, I would hold the leash and jerk it in that direction. You can sometimes make the dog move faster, too, if you jerk the leash forward. At first when you do this it is a surprise. You haven't had him a long time yet, right? He probably wasn't caring much for the wet either, and he may be testing a little. I can remember we were told that when we had a particularly rough day that it was good to do obedience after we get home because it is a positive note if they do it, and you are completely in charge there.

Cindy


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha Dudley via nagdu
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 8:43 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] a very bad day and seeking suggestion

Good evening fellow doggy directors, (ah, playing with words is quite fun)
     Today was not a very good day for me and my little Dallas boy. It was quite rainy here in Ohio and we needed, absolutely needed, to get to a meeting by 1 PM. I left in plenty of time to get there, but we had a lot of trouble along the way. Dallas was very slow, not wanting to move hardly at all. It got worse as the rain got heavier. Soon, it was pouring and we needed to get out of the rain. He just kept slowing down. He refused to walk through puddles or on wet leaves. He didn't want to listen to me at all. Finally, soaked and low-spirited, we arrived at the library, where Dallas proceeded to ignore my instructions and walk around aimlessly, like he knew where he was going. He did not, but I finally managed to get him to an elevator.
While sitting waiting on my fellow meeting attendees to arrive, Dallas whined and shifted restlessly, but I knew that he didn't need to relieve as he had just done so. When we left the meeting, Dallas absolutely refused to listen to my command to find outside. He danced through the tables at the café, turned us completely around, but did not want to walk back outside, despite my constant guiding toward the door. I knew nearly exactly where the door was, but Dallas kept veering away from it. This also happened in the student center last night. Both places are fairly open and are not mere hallways. They also have a lot of noise and people, so I really don't know what to do to try to fix this. Finally, on the way home, Dallas seemed to balk at walking through a long stretch of sidewalk covered in wet leaves. Any suggestions as to how to improve any of this would be greatly appreciated. I am not looking forward to repeating this adventure tomorrow morning as well on my way to and from an appointment.
Aleeha and sweet Dallas

--
Aleeha Dudley and Seeing Eye Yellow Labrador Dallas Vice President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
Email: blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter at @blindcowgirl199

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.
- Arabian Proverb

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