[nagdu] Calming down?

Thu Jun 18 13:49:50 UTC 2015

Raven,

I do the neck massage with Jetta when she gets wound up.  I tend to do what 
comes naturally to me, without giving it much thought.  You explain things 
so well, making them more understandable and repeatable.  I use the muscle 
tension as my guide to know when she's calmer.  I also pay attention to her 
heart rate, checking it with a hand on her chest right behind her front leg.

Julie
Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now 
available! Get the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
-----Original Message----- 
From: Raven Tolliver via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 12:48 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Raven Tolliver
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Calming down?

Daryl,
The quickest way to calm down on the spot is pause. Inhale deeply.
Hold it for 3 seconds. Then release slowly. Do this three times.
when you pause, have Jenny sit or lay down, providing her with an
opportunity to relax. For 10-15 seconds, massage the back of her neck
halfway between the base of her skull and her shoulders. Just do slow
circles, roughly 1 circle per second. You can speak praise or calming
words if you choose, or just meditate on a blank, clear state of mind
in the brief moment. Concentrate on your movements--slow, even
breathing and slow, gentle circles.
This can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. It just depends
on how much time you have, how stressed out you are, and how long it
takes you to feel a release of tension in yourself and your dog. You
will know your dog is relaxed by their slowed breathing, even heart
rate, and the lack of muscle tension in their shoulders and back.

We've all experienced high stress situations with our dogs. Usually,
they can keep it together when we're not so comfortable or confident,
and we can calm them down when they're stressed or excited. But there
are those times that our stress deeply affects them and they just shut
down or don't perform their duties as well because they are alerted to
our stress, and now feel that there is something to be alarmed about.
The above technique I've described is something I have used with me
and my dog, and other dogs I have worked with. I taught this to many
adopting families at the shelter I used to work at as well. I always
encourage people to do things like massage, yoga, and tTouch with
their dogs. But we also need techniques that we can use on the spot
when you don't have half an hour to wind down or chill out.
It's nice because this is something people can do when their out
walking or training, and need to take a quick breather to refocus,
relax, and regroup.
Hth.
-- 
Raven
Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
www.1am-editing.com

You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
have or what you do.

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

On 6/17/15, GARY STEEVES via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Daryl:
>
> I'm so sorry to hear about you losing your job. If you need to blow off
> steam feel free to email me off list.
>
> It is hard in a particular situation where you are reacting emotionally 
> for
> your dog not to get it. Yes, I've learned when I'm lost wandering around 
> not
> to get all stressed because then Bogart does and becomes almost useless.
> However, if I was to get news that was a shock it is doubtbul I could be
> mindful enough to not allow Bogart to sense my feelings.
>
> Really, you don't need to worry about Jennie but just work on keeping
> yourself calm now that the shock is over. This is an unfortunate turn of
> events but, from your emails, I sense you are a strong grounded person. 
> Take
> a step back, take a breath, and then start the searching process. We all
> know that being blind makes it harder to find employment but a lot of it
> depends on us demonstrating our skills, knowledge and ability while taking 
> a
> bit of time at the end of an interview to educate about how one gets 
> around
> the obvious obstacles a sighted employer may be worried about. For me I
> found that a lot will still depend on the attitudes of the potential
> employer as well but that part we can't control.
>
> Again, so sorry you were let go but I'm sure that you will find success
> elsewhere.
>
> Gary
>  ----- Original Message ----- From: Daryl Marie via nagdu 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org Cc: Daryl Marie <crazymusician at shaw.ca> Sent: Tue, 16
> Jun 2015 16:47:02 -0600 (MDT) Subject: [nagdu] Calming down? Hi, guys, 
> While
> I am in the inevitably stressful process of finding a new job (COMPLETELY
> unrelated to what I wrote about here this weekend), does anyone have any
> advice on keeping myself calm enough to not alarm Jenny? When leaving my
> office yesterday, she all but ran me out of the building, but admittedly I
> was freaking out myself. What do you use for inevitably stressful 
> situations
> where you will work your dog? Thanks! Daryl
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