[NAGDU] Hip problems and new limitations

[S L Johnson]

Melissa:

I do know guide dogs who work on the right side.  I am not sure if they they 
will be able to re-train your current dog to work on the right.  I have 
heard of trainers who have tried it but, it does not always work.  I have 
multiple sclerosis and my weakest side is my left.  As that arm continued to 
get weaker a trainer tried to get my dog to work on  my right side.  In that 
case, it was a complete failure.  She kept twisting around behind me to get 
back to my left side.  She was not safe guiding on the right because she was 
so confused.  There might be some dogs that will switch without any problems 
so, it will be up to your school to decide what is best in your situation. 
In my case, I just kept working my dogs on the left because I now have to 
use a support cane in my right hand while working the dog in my left.  My 
physical therapists were willing to work around the situation and allow me 
to put the cane in whichever hand it had to be in to allow me to use my 
guide dog as she was trained.  I think you might want to have a discussion 
with your therapist and the trainers before making any major decisions.  It 
is never fun to have to deal with physical limitations.  Best of luck to 
you.

Sandra and Eva

-----Original Message----- 
From: Melissa Treaster via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2016 1:20 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Melissa Treaster
Subject: [NAGDU] Hip problems and new limitations

Does anyone know why the train guides to work on the left? I found out today 
I have so major problems with my hip. They want me to use a cane for support 
but on my left side. The problem is that's the side I have my guide on. This 
is something that will not heal or get better with time. I am at a lost of 
what to do. We have been a team for two years and I don't want another guide 
but I may have to so that they can train on that would work on my right. 
There is a surgery but it may not fix it and there are very few doctors that 
do it in the Baltimore area. If they can do the surgery and it works my 
guide would not be a problem but I don't know what they are going to say. 
The other problems is they could fix it but at some point I would have 
problems again. So in the long run I am going to need a cane and work with 
my guide on the right. I am just very upset as to what all of these is going 
to mean. My son and I love my guide and he is young still so I am hoping the 
school might be able to take him back and work with him on working with me 
on my right. I have called the school and we will see what they have to say. 
Feeling very sad.

Sent from my iPhone
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