[nagdu] water intake question

Wed Jan 21 18:20:11 UTC 2015

John,

In regards to the water, if she is drinking it later on, then that's a 
good thing. You are right to consider the fact that she is still a puppy 
and may have different needs than a fully adult dog, and her needs may 
vary at times as she finishes growing and as her system develops. You're 
obviously paying attention to her needs and considering what needs to be 
considered. I think you will be surprised how quickly you learn as the 
two of you settle in together in your home. In a way, her youth can be 
an advantage, as well, though she will probably need more support from 
you than an adult would. You will be guiding the last phase of her 
maturing process, and you will also be able to see her finish growing up 
and becoming the dog she will be, which is pretty cool. Then one day, 
you will suddenly realize it is all very easy after all and that your 
dog is also very easy because she's a grown up. /smile/

Supposing everybody just shuts up and lays off, of course. Sounds like 
you're getting it from all sides. This happens, unfortunately, and it is 
tough to deal with. Here you are, trying to learn a whole new skill set 
with a living being who depends on you as much as you depend on her, and 
who has time to even deal with outside interference? I like to listen to 
advice and outside observations, but I've learned that when it comes to 
my guide, I need to be very firm about drawing boundaries. It helped 
when I realized how much of the "advice" from "experts" (in quotes) was 
pure doodoo from folks who barely had a clue about dogs, let alone guide 
dogs. Honestly! I think part of the learning process involves figuring 
out who to listen to and when, as well as how to keep those boundaries 
intact.

As for the accident in the hallway... It happens, especially for 
newbies. You're learning something new, and you make mistakes. The 
important thing is to recover and learn from it. You will be less likely 
to forget to have a bag on you from now on, I bet. Then you'll find 
yourself trying to pay for groceries with the bag you carry in your 
wallet as an added just in case... Or is that just me? /lol/

I hope your school is able to support you through what seems to be a 
difficult settling in process and that the people around you can learn 
to respect your boundaries. Do you have choices in home healthcare 
workers? Can you bar the one who is interfering in favor of another, for 
instance, if it comes to that? And how dependent are you on your family 
at this point? Staying away from them may not be an easy decision, and 
just refusing to give them leave to inspect and interfere also sounds 
drastic. If it were to come to that, you wouldn't be the only one who 
has had to do it. It's your personal safety at stake in the end. If 
people can't respect that, then...

Keep asking questions and learning. I hope things settle down for you as 
you adapt to being a dog owner and guide dog handler. Molly sounds like 
a great dog.

hth,

Tami

On 01/20/2015 05:19 PM, John Sanders via nagdu wrote:
> Hi,
> she isn't getting enough water.
> I need to work harder on that.
> I have been actively calling the school.
> I will be calling them tomorrow.
> I will fill her water bowl up to full.
> I will tell her that there is water for her and to go ahead and drink it.
> When I tell her that there is water, she won't drink it right away.
> At the time I tell her that there is water for her, she probably doesn't
> want it.
> If she doesn't want it, later in the day, she will drink the majority of
> it.
> My home health care provider had told me that I need help with Mollie
> and taking care of her.
> this is my first dog.
> I've never taken care of a dog before.
> I hope to hear from you soon.
> Sincerely,
> John and the golden retriever Mollie who if I'm not carefull will be
> taken away
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Buddy Brannan via nagdu
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 7:42 PM
> To: Buddy Brannan ; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide
> Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] water intake question
>
> Also, by whose reckoning is Molly not drinking enough water? If you’re
> offering her water at appropriate times throughout the day, she’ll drink
> it if she feels she needs or wants it. She won’t if she doesn’t. One of
> two things is true:
>
> 1) You aren’t offering her water enough of the time, therefore,she isn’t
> drinking enough, or
>
> 2) You are offering her enough water and she isn’t drinking it, so she’s
> probably getting enough, or she thinks so anyway.
>
> You haven’t been out of school very long. Seriously, call them for
> guidance. They know your dog. All of these other self styled experts do
> not, and I’m not even sure they know as much as they think they do
> anyway. And when I say call the school, I mean *you* should call the
> school. Not your mom. Not your neighbor. Not your cousin’s uncle’s
> wife’s hairdresser. You. Your dog. Your responsibility. All yours.
>
> —
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>
>
>
>> On Jan 20, 2015, at 7:37 PM, Buddy Brannan via nagdu
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Wait. Why would your mom call Pilot? Whose dog is this? Is your arm
>> broke? Pick up the phone and call them.
>>
>> —
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: 814-860-3194
>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Jan 20, 2015, at 7:05 PM, John Sanders via nagdu
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> My home health care provider is also saying that I need a lot of help
>>> with caring for my dog.
>>> this is my first dog.
>>> Even people in my apartment complex are saying that I need help.
>>> For example: I didn't know it, or maybe I wasn't paying attention
>>> but, she had relieved herself out in my apartment hallway.
>>> I had forgotten to bring a bag.
>>> It was an accident.
>>> My parents are going to start stopping over weekly.
>>> I have a question: if my mom or dad were to call Pilot, would ray
>>> tell them that he can't talk to them about my dog?
>>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>>> Sincerely,
>>> John Sanders
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Daryl Marie via nagdu
>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 5:25 PM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] water intake question
>>>
>>> And along this same line, may I please suggest that it's your
>>> decision how to care for your dog?  Your emails seem to mention your
>>> parents wanting to influence a lot of the care of your dog, but at
>>> the end of the day the decisions are yours...
>>>
>>> Daryl
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Buddy Brannan via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> To: John Sanders <starmy22 at gmail.com>, NAGDU Mailing List, the
>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:19:01 -0700 (MST)
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] water intake question
>>>
>>> My question is…didn’t they talk to you about this in school? If they
>>> didn’t, why aren’t you calling your school to ask for clarification?
>>>
>>> —
>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>> Phone: 814-860-3194
>>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>>> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Jan 20, 2015, at 5:11 PM, John Sanders via nagdu
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I have a question:  My dog is still a puppy. she is only a year old.
>>>> My parents think that I should give her 6-8 cups of water a day.
>>>> How much water does a guide dog need who is a puppy?
>>>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> John Sanders
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
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>>
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