[nagdu] Stressed dog?

[Daryl Marie]

Hi!
Thank you all for the suggestions. Going to see if I can tackle these all at once.
I've brought tug toys for her to play with, and that helps a little bit, but doesn't really calm her excitement to leave the building.

I don't have a ton of opportunity/time to let her go all sniffy, except when she relieves, and I'm starting to give her a couple extra minutes to do that, because I'm running into an issue where she'll signal she wants to go out, NOT relieve, and spend several minutes sniffing... so giving her the opportunity at the outset does seem to help...
Perhaps I need to be more cheerleader than drill sergeant on the way home, or to the building. thanks for that suggestion!

She is probably picking up on my stress, but this was occurring even before I became continually stressed at work. I've worked here for five months, and I can count on one hand the number of times she's guided me straight to the door without wanting to re-direct to the grassy areas... or, conversely, once we get into the building, going straight to her bed rather than wanting to go back outside through the garage. Normally, Jenny is a door-finding ninja, even from a distance, as shown by her willingness and ability to find any other door I tell her to take me to.

Julie, Thanks for the encouragement. I don't know enough dog walkers here that I'd b e OK to leave Jenny with.  And I know that I'm stressed overall and need to get out. Even if it means taking a step back and going back to call center work, at least I'd be in a place where I felt respected and like a productive member of the team...

Daryl
---- Original Message -----
From: Danielle Ledet via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Danielle Ledet <singingmywayin at gmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 15 Nov 2015 13:01:53 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Stressed dog?

What about a puzzle, or play time on a flexi leash with a ball at
lunch or before you leave work to tire her out a bit?


On 11/15/15, Tami Jarvis via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Daryl,
>
> I'm sorry things are so bad there. I hope you're able to find something
> better soon!
>
> When you leave the building after work, do you have time to let Jenny
> sniff a bit or something to clear out her nose? Maybe even a short time
> out before you really get going would help her refocus to work you home.
>
> I can't think of anything else for the general stress, especially since
> you have too much of it, too. A lot of extra praise can go a long way,
> or just a pause for silly talk and ear or neck massage or something like
> that. Stopping to jolly the dog when it's cold out isn't my idea of a
> good time, but even a short little something can help.
>
> hth,
>
> Tami
>
> On 11/15/2015 09:19 AM, Daryl Marie via nagdu wrote:
>> Hi, everyone,
>> I wrote here a couple of weeks ago about my workplace and its rotten egg
>> smell. Basically ever since then, I've noticed Jenny has ben so stressed
>> in general, even though the smell is gone. I've written before how
>> ecstatic Jenny is to leave the building at the end of the day, and her
>> peculiar reluctance to find the door to find the door to get inside (Jenny
>> is normally a door-finding superhero). Whether she's picking up on my work
>> stress, finds the lack of sunshine or places to walk boring, or there's
>> something wrong with the building itself, I can't tell in particular. But
>> I notice that her guide work seems to have a pattern to it. From Friday to
>> Sunday, her work has a steady pattern of gradually improving, with Sundays
>> being by far the best day. Mondays can go either way. Tuesday to Friday,
>> particularly the afternoons, she just seems to be on a HUGE distraction
>> kick. Mornings, she is nearly flawless in her work. So for whatever reason
>> - boredom, stress (hers or mine or both) or so
> me problem with the office building itself - I firmly believe that my job is
> detrimental to my dog, myself, and our partnership.
>>
>> Unrelated to this, though, I have made a decision to leave my job at the
>> end of the year. I am unable to handle the stress of my office dynamics,
>> the unwillingness of my employer to be supportive of my desire to be
>> autonomous and productive, and the complete isolation in office location.
>> All of these elements have combined to make work an incredibly miserable
>> experience.
>>
>> Any pointers on things to do to ride this out? I've tried to give Jenny
>> things to do during the day, but that doesn't seem to help much.
>>
>> Thanks for any input.
>>
>> Daryl
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-- 
Danielle

Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com

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