[nagdu] Revolving Paw

[Tracy Carcione]

And dog love can go too far.  A dog will work when he's sick or in pain,
because he wants to please his person and be with him or her.  I had a
shepherd who had to retire early due to stress, but he tried hard to work
for me anyway.  I think he tried too hard, and that added to his stress.
It's why we have to listen to our dogs and be sure we're hearing them and
not just what we want to hear.  It ain't easy.
Tracy

> He may love you, but love doesn't equal wanting to work.
> I have had two guide dogs. The most special experiences I had with both
> dogs were when they weren't guiding.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kristen Steele
> via nagdu
> Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 7:58 AM
> To: Vivianna; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Revolving Paw
>
> Corvette has just turned 5 and is not near old enough to retire. His work
> is excellent once you get him going, and the paw issue is not all the
> time. Corvette is a very safe guide; he would never place me in harm. He
> has always put his paw on my lap or even held my hand with it as a form of
> affection or when he is unsure. I have been a bit lax on obedience lately;
> since the weather around here is warming up, I will work more with him on
> practicing commands and listening. I'm hoping obedience will help to
> correct the issue but was just checking to see if anyone else had ever
> experienced a similar problem.
> --
> Kristen
>
> On 4/1/15, Vivianna via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi Kristen,
>> I agree, call the school.
>> a dog that refuses to guide does not a guide dog make.
>> what if you are alone?  you say you are having to take a sighted
>> person’s arm?  what kind of independence is that?
>> i had a dog that quit working once.  one day, he just refused to go
>> forward.
>>  unfortunately, i was out on the street alone.  i had to find my way
>> home dragging him along.  he never worked again.  just refused.
>> since dog’s can not talk to us, they have other ways of telling us
>> things.
>> you may have to respect his wishes and retire him.  he does not sound
>> like a safe guide and, your safety is important.
>> it’s hard to hear, and, hard to take but, what else can you do?
>> sorry.
>>
>> Vivianna
>>
>>> On Mar 31, 2015, at 9:17 PM, S L Johnson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Kristen,
>>>
>>> It sounds like he is really stressed about something.  It is time you
>>> called your school for help.  Don't wait, things might get a lot
>>> worse.
>>>
>>> Sandra
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Kristen via nagdu
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 7:55 PM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Revolving Paw
>>>
>>> Hi, everyone--
>>>
>>> Lately, Corvette is being stubborn at times and using his paw to his
>>> advantage when he doesn't want to go forward. Often, he will put his
>>> front, right paw up on his leash--which I am holding horizontally
>>> (usually on top of his harness)--not allowing him to move. He will
>>> sit in place in that position at a standstill. When I grab his paw in
>>> an attempt to put it back on the ground, it will only "revolve" and
>>> immediately goes back to the exact, same spot again. This happens
>>> both on and off the lead. The revolving paw used to only occur when
>>> he was nervous at an unfamiliar place, but it now happens more and
>>> more frequently, even at familiar places or when I am taking him
>>> outside our front door to relieve or be groomed. I've tried to
>>> refocus him with a "Corvette, forward" command; however, I usually
>>> have to resort to grabbing a sighted guide and walking with them
>>> while holding onto him until he goes forward on his own. Any
>>> suggestions/tips?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> --
>>> Kristen
>>>
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>>
>>
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