[nagdu] Introduction

Sun Nov 29 14:47:47 UTC 2015

Welcome to the list. I am also a college student, living in NJ and
attending school in PA. I am working my first dog, a 3.5 year old male
Lab/Golden from GDF.

Relieving in harness wasn't a huge problem for my dog but it did
happen a few times. The biggest problem was that he didn't like to
relieve in unfamiliar areas. He pooped in harness for the first time
ever in class because he didn't want to relieve before walks and he
definitely wasn't as comfortable in the relief area as some of the
other dogs. Part of the problem was also that uses very different
signals while actively guiding then at any other time. It was easy for
me to figure out that whining while on leash or tie down, offleash, or
in harness but not walking means to relieve. It's a lot more difficult
to distinguish his slight change in pace and gait from needing to
relieve, accidentally stepping on something, or being distracted.

I generally do not allow my dog to relieve in harness. Occasionally he
will strart to busy before I get his harness off, but I don't really
mind as long as he is in one of his regular relief areas. He treats
both his harness and Halti as working gear and will usually just stand
there until I take it off. I will not tolerate off leash relieving
under any circumstance. If my dog poops while off leash, I am not
going to be able to find it. Of course, there are certain other things
I allow my dog to do that others would consider to be unacceptable, so
it's just a matter of personal choice.

Even though I live in an area where grass is more common than
concrete, I generally stick to concrete as Thai's relieving surface. I
do occasionally allow him to relieve on dirt or grass, but only once
in a while. If I let him relieve on grass on a regular basis, he
starts to expect it. I also really don't like picking up in the grass.

Danielle and Thai

On 11/28/15, Danielle Ledet via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Welcome Morgan and Fairest. Debby now that's my entertainment for
> today! I even found some in coat pockets from the prior winter! LOL!
>
> On 11/28/15, Morgan Leland via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> We live in Arizona so concrete is actually our best bet. She doesn't like
>> gravel and there are rare patches of grass. She goes fine on concrete and
>> actually does well going on command. She just surprises me as well. So
>> many
>> different things to try and I will experiment with them all. I thought
>> about
>> trying harder with the gravel so she wouldn't get used to going on
>> concretes
>> since sidewalks seem to be our nemesis.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Nov 28, 2015, at 4:28 PM, Raven Tolliver via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> You're trying to relieve her on cement? This might be your problem.
>> While this is certainly convenient, and sometimes the only option in
>> some areas, some dogs refuse to relieve on cement or concrete. And
>> even if they get used to doing it in one place, they might be hesitant
>> to do it in another place. The Golden Guy would relieve himself in the
>> relief area at GEB, but when we visited Manhattan, he refused to do
>> it, and wound up relieving in harness because he held it so long.
>>
>> I live in Michigan, so you'd be hard pressed to find a place where
>> there's no grass. So I don't make a fuss over whether he relieves on
>> cement, gravel, or grass. He'll definitely go on gravel, but if
>> there's grass nearby, he's picking the grass. Definitely go grass and
>> see what happens.
>> --
>> 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 11/28/15, Raven Tolliver <ravend729 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I'm surprised at how common this seems to be from this thread.
>>> My dog has only pooped in harness once. It was a week or 2 after
>>> returning home with him. He kept pulling over to the grass, telling me
>>> that he needed to go. But I thought he just wanted to sniff and kept
>>> telling him "hup-up" and "let's go." Well, he could only hold it for
>>> so long, just pulled over to the grass and did his business. I felt
>>> really bad after that and quickly understood that was his signal that
>>> he needed to relieve himself.
>>> Don't get me wrong. There's been many times he's pulled over and
>>> didn't do a thing, or just wanted to sniff, and so I have to use my
>>> judgment. When was the last time he relieved or had a drink? Did he
>>> poop at all today or within the last couple days? Is he stopping here
>>> because we've done it 4 times before and now this is a ritual in the
>>> making? I also use a rule of 3, if he pulls over 3 times, he's gotta
>>> go.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure where my dog learned to indicate, but I'm sure glad he
>>> does before just deciding to let loose while wearing the harness.
>>>
>>> Dan, I have also relieved my dog while he was in harness. Our dogs are
>>> taught to relieve on command, whether they're wearing a harness,
>>> winter coat, or booties, so I don't think it's a big deal. I
>>> understand why the schools advise against it, but ultimately, it's
>>> only a problem if the dog is deciding when and where to relieve
>>> without the handler's knowledge and permission.
>>>
>>> I've committed a no-no worse than that. I've let my dog out into the
>>> yard to relieve himself on multiple occasions. It's not something that
>>> happens on a daily basis, but it definitely happens.
>>> --
>>> 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 11/28/15, Dan Weiner via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of guide dogs, I hope you have
>>>> many
>>>> good adventures with your dog.
>>>> Well, the only thing I've found that works is to learn to read the
>>>> dog's
>>>> signs as much as possible...I know, easier said than done, right?  Then
>>>> give
>>>> them as many opportunities as necessary so that the doggie is relieving
>>>> hhimself when you want,  for which he gets a lot of praise, as opposd
>>>> to
>>>> just while walking.  If you notice your dog start to get in that
>>>> position,
>>>> also, pull your dog over to the side of the road or path on to grass or
>>>> whatever so at ;least he or she starts getting the idea that he needs
>>>> to
>>>> pull over.  One of my dogs learned to pull over when it was necessary
>>>> so
>>>> I
>>>> could then just give him a park time and at least we weren't walking
>>>> while
>>>> it happened. My problem as I see it is not that it's in harness so much
>>>> as
>>>> the fact that the dog is just doing plop plop fizz fizz when you're
>>>> walking,
>>>> and if you can at least get it to the point that it's on route  but
>>>> not
>>>> while moving, (in other words when you're actually giving him a time)
>>>> then
>>>> that would be good.  It's all easier said than done and I wish you the
>>>> best.
>>>> I must say honestly that Parker, my fourth dog is unique in that he has
>>>> never done his business while walking,  but other dogs I had did it at
>>>> least
>>>> a few times until I got it all sorted out. One thing aalso is maybe
>>>> choosing
>>>> some spots on route where it's good to relieve and giving your dog a
>>>> regular
>>>> time there.  The dogs signs that I mentioned could be slowing down,
>>>> speeding
>>>> up, panting, sniffing excessively, stopping unexpectedly and starting
>>>> again,
>>>> or pulling over.
>>>>
>>>> I'm most likely in the minority in that I relieve in harness, my
>>>> experience
>>>> shows it's not the equipment that the dog wears, but the place and
>>>> situation, and the dog learrs when it's appropriate...but I respect
>>>> other
>>>> opinions of course, it's just always worked for me this way.
>>>>
>>>> I should point out, I mean I relieve the dog wile he wears the harness.
>>>> Saying I relieve in harness gives the mistaken impression that I am the
>>>> one
>>>> wearing theequipment--lol
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Good luck to you and warmest wishes, we're all here if you need us.
>>>>
>>>> Dan and the Parker Larker
>>
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>
>
> --
> Danielle
>
> Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com
>
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