[NAGDU] Questions About Getting My First Guide Dog

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Rachel.
You'll have a good time at The Seeing Eye, and it's a great time to come to
the Garden State!

TSE has 2 cats roaming the halls, so at least your dog will get plenty of
cat exposure.  Part of the going-home lecture is about introducing your dog
to other pets, so maybe they will have advice about how to introduce him or
her to your cat.  I have dogs myself, but no cats.  The dogs haven't been
jealous, though.

I would never leave my dog alone in a backyard, even my own, and especially
when he's new and young.  I don't know what trouble he might get into, and
young dogs are particularly adept at finding trouble.

Good luck with your exciting new adventure!
Tracy and Seeing Eye dog Krokus



-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rachel Grider via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 6:01 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Rachel Grider
Subject: [NAGDU] Questions About Getting My First Guide Dog

Hello, Friends!

I don't usually post to this list because, having never used a guide dog, I
have nothing productive to contribute. This is shortly going to change,
though, as I will be going to the Seeing Eye to train with a new guide dog
in two weeks! I am very excited, though this decision has been a very long
time coming. I am still unsure about some things, but I know that I will
need to try it out in order to know for sure if a guide dog will be the best
mobility aid for me. 

I have a few questions for y'all about adjusting to a new guide dog. I will
probably think of many more as I proceed, but here are a few with which to
start:

1. I teach private voice lessons. I have already notified my students that I
will be away for most of June, but I have not yet told them why. I know that
it would probably be common courtesy to let them know that I am getting a
guide dog before they show up to my studio and see my dog there. I am
nervout about telling them because I don't know what kind of reaction I will
get. What have some of you done in similar situations, and how have your
students/clients/associates reacted?

2. I happen to own a cat who is not only quite territorial but also
extremely emotionally attached to me; I mean, when I am home, this cat
literally follows me around and is always trying to get me to either play or
cuddle with her. The man who did my home interview didn't seem too concerned
about her adjusting to a dog, but because the emotional well-being of my cat
is extremely important to me, I cannot help being worried. I know this
sounds really stupid, but I am afraid that because my dog will go with me
whenever I leave my house, and then return home with me, my cat will begin
to associate me with the dog and instead of growing used to my dog over
time, she will resent me and not want to be around me as much. Am I reading
too much into this? Regardless, what are some ways in which you have made
the transition easier for your pets?

3. I have two good friends who are allergic to dog hair. Both of them are
not worried about being around me with the dog, as long as I keep it
brushed, but I am concerned that despite their reassurances, my
relationships with them will suffer. One of these friends told me that
service dogs have been brought to her house before, and as long as the dog
stayed in the back yard, everything was fine. Is that appropriate to do with
a guide dog? How have some of you dealt with this?

That will be it for now. Any advice would be appreciated. I am counting down
the days until I will get to meet my new guide, but I still want to make
sure that all proactical considerations are made.

Cheers!

Rachel

http//www.rachelgrider.com
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