[nagdu] Working with a guide dog and toddler

[Toni Whaley]

Hello,

My daughter was four when I got my first guide dog. When we went out together, Linnea held my hand. It was amazing how Quickly Mora understood the program. Over time, my daughter would either walk behind or ahead of us. Mora would adjust her pace to match Linnea's. If Linnea got too far ahead, Mora would speed up to  get closer to her. On the other hand, if Linnea got too far behind us, Mora would slow down to let Linnea catch up. This worked quite well in the suburbs of Philadelphia. When we went into the city, Linnea held my hand until she got quite older. 

AS an aside, Linnea went to a small private school through sixth grade. When, I believe, she was in fourth grade, the public school teachers went on strike. This meant there would be no bus transportation for her to school. So I would walk her to and from school. One afternoon I went to the school to get her and her best friend. We started walking home with Mora and me in the lead. Suddenly, we encountered some middle school age boys roller skating toward us. Apparently, one of the boys was so busy staring  at me that he crashed into a wall. (He wasn’t hurt.) Linnea shouted back as we passed them, "Serves you right for staring at my mother." The three of us got a good chuckle out of that.

Toni




-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 6:55 PM
To: Jennifer Woods; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Working with a guide dog and toddler

Hi Jen,

It’s been a long time since Alena was four (and the size of a one year old), but Chet adjusted to her all right. I actually did pull her behind me in a stroller. Tipped back on its back wheels and was very careful, only dropped her a couple times. As for walking, when we had her up out of the stroller, and when she outgrew it, we walked her on a child leash. I know some people really don’t like those, though I’m not entirely sure why apart from a specifically emotional reaction, but it worked well for us and made it easier for us to keep track of her. As for walking a different pace with vs. without a child, these dogs are amazingly adaptable. Yours will figure this out with your help. Chet was a fast walker, but he slowed right down when he needed to. 

—
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name



> On Feb 26, 2015, at 6:38 PM, Jennifer Woods via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> What did you do about the fact that you probably walk a different pace when with your child than without?
> The wagon Is a great idea when we're not riding the bus and are just out for a walk as long as he doesn't want to pull it ha ha.
> 
> Jenn
> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 
> 4:13 NKJV
> 
> On Feb 26, 2015, at 12:46 PM, Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com> wrote:
> 
> I had my child hold my hand.  The other thing I did was use a wagon 
> instead of a stroller.  I put blankets in the bottom of the wagon and 
> away we went.
> 
>> On 2/26/15, Jennifer Woods via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> My name is Jennifer, and I have a three-year-old son. I am currently 
>> on the waiting list for a guide dog and I am wondering how those of 
>> you who have toddlers and a guide dog make it work?
>> I am currently working with an orientation and mobility instructor to 
>> teach my son to walk a little bit behind me. Using a stroller is very 
>> difficult so he wears a backpack with a leash to help him stay by me as we are walking.
>> We are trying to figure out what my pace is with him and without him 
>> while walking so that it's not a huge change between my regular pace 
>> and the pace I walk when he's with me.
>> 
>> Thank you for sharing any of experiences and/or advice with me to 
>> make the transition easier when the dog arrives.
>> 
>> Jenn
>> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 
>> 4:13 NKJV _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
> --
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
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