[NAGDU] Hip problems and new limitations

[Tami Jarvis]

Melissa,

I've heard of dogs being retrained to work on the right, so let's hope 
your school can do that, since your dog is still young. It's also an 
adjustment for the handler, so they may want you to do some retraining, 
as well. I'm left-handed, so I train my dogs from the get-go to work on 
the right. For some things, it's actually more convenient, but not for 
everything.

I've heard that guide dogs are trained to work on the left so the 
handler can shake hands with the right hand. But I think it's probably 
because dogs traditionally stay to the left to leave the gun hand free 
and so you don't accidentally shoot the dog. Also, you have to keep your 
horse to your right so you don't get tangled up in your sword when you 
try to mount. So that leaves the left side for the dog. In other words, 
it's always been done that way. /lol/

I hope all goes well with getting your hip taken care of and your dog 
working the new way.

Tami

On 04/29/2016 10:20 PM, Melissa Treaster via NAGDU wrote:
> 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 ab
le 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.
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