[nagdu] Preparing to bring your Guide dog home

[Raven Tolliver]

One of the biggest things to consider is dog-proofing your place.
We must remember that these dogs spend 4 to 6 months in the kennels,
so their house manners go to the wayside. So until you learn how well
they behave in-house, you have to set them up for success. Part of
this is ensuring things are not all over the floor for them to pick
up, and making toys available for playtime.

Don't wait to see how your dog reacts to people or you having food
around. Set-up the expectation that when someone has food, doggie
should go do this thing. For instance, when I lived in my apartment in
college, my dog knew that when I was eating, or if I was eating with
my roommate or guests, he was to go lay down on the couch. That was
just what he and I decided worked best, and it worked well for those
two and a half years. Now he just lays quietly beside my chair. The
point is, have a routine so that there is not this big to-do about
doggie misbehaving in certain situations.
We can't foretell everything, but if you can pre-plan, what does it hurt?

Being emotionally supportive of your dog is always important, but
especially important in the beginning. More than ever, they need
consistency and contact. They are in a new environment with strange
people. This will make things stressful on the dog, and naturally they
tend to be somewhat testy in response to getting a feel for what the
boundaries and expectations are. Also, they need lots of playtime and
work time to blow off steam, de-stress, and get to know you.

Praise for good behavior. Schools teach us to do this while our dogs
are working, but I say do it even when your dog is lying quietly.
Don't make a big deal of it. But just calmly praise them and
occasionally treat them for just sitting pretty, being quiet, and
lying calmly. As many dog trainers say: "Catch your dog doing
something good." It is common to crack down on dogs when they're
naughty, but we often fail to praise them for everyday good canine
behavior.

Also, don't be too hard on your dog. I think some people crock too
many behaviors up to the dog being testy or stubborn, when there is
always a reason for why dogs do what they do. I promise. You might not
know what that reason is right away, or ever. But there is one, so try
to be understanding. This guide dog thing is not just about what we
want them to do, but also about what they are willing and unwilling to
do, and we must be respectful of that when possible. Being forceful
and argumentative with them creates tension, and you want to avoid
that as much as you can. Try to be motivating, coaxing, and
reinforcing upfront, and rely on more forceful tactics as a last
resort. You don't wanna be a push over, but you don't want to be
extremely pushy either.
Just my 2 cents.
-- 
Raven
You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
have or what you do.

Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
www.1am-editing.com

Naturally-reared guide dogs
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs

On 6/15/15, Applebutter Hill via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I think of two things initially. First, it is important for your family and
> friends to understand that you are not bringing home a pet, that the first
> 6
> months to a year of your relationship is a critical bonding period that
> will
> make the difference in whether or how well you two will work out as an
> independent team and how safe you will be. If and when they will be allowed
> to pet or play with your dog is solely at your disgression and on the
> advice
> of your instructor. Even ten years from now, they need to defer to your
> wishes about this.
>
> Second, you are bringing home a real live dog, a fur person, a living
> breathing animal with emotional and physical needs. He or she will have
> already made many sacrifices on the road to becoming a working dog. Your
> new
> dog was first taken from his birth mother and litter mates, then taken from
> his or her puppy raiser family, then taken from his trainer. He or she is
> now an adult dog capable of being concerned that your home as well will be
> temporary. The love you give, the consistency you display with regard to
> obedience and working behavior, the time you invest in including your dog
> in
> your life will make a huge difference in the dog's ability to adjust and
> thrive in this new environment.
> HTH,
> Donna & Hunter
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Roanna Bacchus
> via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2015 3:06 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Roanna Bacchus
> Subject: [nagdu] Preparing to bring your Guide dog home
>
> Dear Nagdu Members,
>
> Since I want to learn more about guide dogs, I thought I would start this
> topic.  I remember how good I felt the first day I brought my cane home
> from
> school.  I remember thinking about how my sighted siblings and other family
> members would react to seeing my cane at home.  They are very open to me
> traveling with my cane disever we go someever.  How do you prepare to bring
> your guide dogs home after training with them? Look forward to reading your
> thoughts on this topic.
>
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