[NAGDU] Boarding buses.

[Tracy Carcione]

Vivianna, I couldn't agree more.
A long time ago, GDB told us to heel the dog on and off the bus.  After banging into a pole, I decided that was just dumb.  If I work my dog off, I can tell how far down the last step is, and avoid any obstacle in front of the door.  I hold on with my right hand to the door, to help me balance stepping down to the curb.
I work my dog onto the bus because there are often other people getting on, too, and I don't know if someone has stopped in front of me for some reason.
If the door is narrow, I'll let my dog go ahead of me a bit.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vivianna via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2016 10:12 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Vivianna
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Boarding buses.

also, often there is something in front of the bus door when they drop you off.  a bench, tree, pole, or whatever.  and, sometimes the bus is a bit away from the curb.  IMO it’s just not safe for me to not work my dog.

Vivianna

> On Feb 26, 2016, at 9:07 AM, Lisa via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Deanna,
> I just wanted to quickly thank you for asking this question.
> I also have been taught to heel the dog while boarding a bus but I thought the same thing that you mentioned: Wouldn't it be a more secure feeling to work the dog while entering so you know what the entrance is like? When I have my dog next to me while boarding a bus, I have to kind of feel with my foot where to step and how many steps there are. This can be a bit difficult at times.
> So I'm looking forward to answers on this.
> Lisa
> 
> Am 26.02.2016 um 15:13 schrieb Deanna Lewis via NAGDU:
>> Hi all,
>> I have a question on how to board a bus/van when travelling with a guide dog. I was reading a friend's training blog, and she described how the school she is at teaches boarding the bus with the dogs. She said that the student has the dog sit outside the bus doors, makes a long leash, then the student boards the bus and then calls the dog on. The way it was described reminds me of how someone would walk through airport security. I know when I've trained in the past, we have been told to heel our dogs onto buses, but I've almost always worked my dog onto buses, paratransit vehicles, and subways. By working my dog, I can tell if there are steps, how many, and so on. I would think it would be kind of dangerous to step "blindly" onto a vehicle and then call your dog onto it. So, my question to you all is, how do you board buses?Do you also exit the bus in the same way?
>> Thanks!
>> Deanna and Mambo
>> 
> 
> 
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