[nagdu] Busying in Harness was Introduction

Sun Nov 29 15:25:36 UTC 2015

Dan, this is how I handle the in harness relieving, too.

Obviously, the ideal situation is to have the dog do his or her business 
before the walk or while the harness isn't being worn.  But, this is one of 
those trainer textbook versus handler reality issues.  Sure, the dog needs 
to know when it's time to do the deed, but this doesn't always work.  If 
we're working and my dog shows she needs to go by pulling off to her left or 
onto a grassy area, I'll let her go and don't stress about removing the 
harness.  I don't because IMO, the dog isn't just dropping while I go on 
completely oblivious to the mess.  She's making a physical effort to move us 
out of the line of travel and onto what she knows is a good relieving 
surface even though it's not the usual sanctioned busy time or busy area.  I 
figure that if she has to go bad enough, she should go. I'd rather she be 
thinking about guiding and not holding it in.  I might not always be able to 
remove the harness in a timely way, or I might be wearing something nice and 
decide that harness dirt isn't something I want on my clothes.

So far Paige has only gone once while working, and I did take the harness 
off because we'd only been home for a few days.  She hasn't done it since, 
though, and now with winter and wearing gloves, along with the potential for 
mud and slush on belly straps and under foot, I'm not sure if I'll remove 
the harness or not.

I probably will just to be sure she's making the signs clear, otherwise, I 
most likely won't make removing the harness a long term deal.

Lisa Belville
missktlab1217 at frontier.com
A bus station is where the bus stops. A train station is where the train
stops.  On my desk I have a work station...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Weiner via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2015 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction

> 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
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Matthew 
> Dierckens
> via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2015 4:23 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Matthew Dierckens
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction
>
> Welcome to the list. I am also a GEB graduate, having graduated with my
> first dog Marilyn in september.
> Marilyn used to poop in harness, and she still does sometimes, but as some
> have already suggested, walking her a couple of blocks and then having her
> get busy may do the trick. Also, how much food are you feeding? We started
> out with 4 cups, and I've cut that in half to two and that has also 
> helped.
>
>> On Nov 27, 2015, at 20:35, Morgan Leland via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hi, I am Morgan and I recently graduated from Guiding Eyes with my first
> guide dog. She is a yellow lab named Fairest. I live in Chandler, AZ and
> attend college full-time at Arizona State University. I am doing well in
> school and was just welcomed into a national honor's society. My hope is 
> to
> go to law school after I get my bachelor's degree. Fairest and I are
> adjusting well except she keeps pooping in harness despite being on a
> schedule and being given plenty of time to go! I am kind-of sad about this
> because I do not know how to correct it. Anyway, I love reading the 
> messages
> from this group!
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
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>
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