[NAGDU] {Spam?} The myth of the magical cane

Sun Feb 12 02:20:15 UTC 2017

Oh, but our dogs are supposed to know everything! Its funny how many people 
figure the dog knows exactly where I want to go! If left to Holly though 
I'll go into a store and end up standing in front of the dog treat or dog 
toy shelf! She does know where those things are!

-----Original Message----- 
From: Danielle Ledet via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 5:57 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Danielle Ledet
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] {Spam?} The myth of the magical cane

Sandra, I always tell people this when I start to anser questions
about dog guide school consideration. Very well said. Raul I agree.
One of the frustrating things for me is going into an unfamiliar
environment and being expected for us to work as fluidly as a team as
we would in our own environment. If I do not know where I'm going or
what type of terrain and obstacles to expect, how can I expect my dog
to be on her best job? I have never faulted my dogs for my ineptitude
during those times! Dan, that really was funny. And I especially want
another dog with all the silent cars rolling around, and, no, I do not
think that persistently living in rural areas is the correct solution!

On 2/10/17, S L Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I completely agree with you.  If you cannot orient yourself to your
> surroundings and know the rout you must take to get somewhere it will not
> really matter whether you are using a cane or dog.  I have seen too many
> people get dogs thinking the dog will solve their mobility issues.  That 
> is
>
> not true.  You must have good orientation skills in order to be a good 
> guide
>
> dog handler.   If I had not been such a good cane traveler with the
> confidence I had I do not think I would have been able to transfer that
> confidence to working with a guide dog.  I guess I have to say that I am
> glad that now the guide dog schools pay more attention to an applicants 
> cane
>
> skills.  In the short time you have on class it would be impossible for 
> the
>
> trainers to also have to teach basic orientation and mobility skills.
> Furthermore, as others have said, there are times you might want to go
> somewhere without your dog.  Your dog may become ill and you still have to
> get to school work etc....  I know in my 42 years of guide dog use I have
> found myself having to pull out my cane many times when my dog was ill or
> when I was between dogs.  So, even though I prefer using a guide dog, I
> think it is important to have good cane skills too.
>
> Sandra and Eva
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Raul A. Gallegos via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2017 6:01 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Raul A. Gallegos
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] {Spam?} The myth of the magical cane
>
> Dan, I definitely don't want to see this turn into a dog versus Cain issue
> on the list. It's one of those things that has been brought up time and 
> time
>
> again and there is no real answer. However, that being said, it is my
> opinion only that a fair amount of Cain travel skills are necessary in 
> order
>
> to be a successful dog handler. Canes are certainly not magic wands.
> Although I am a good Kane traveler, there are people who are better than 
> me
>
> and there are people who are not as good as me. This is Merely my own
> observation and not from a professional's viewpoint. One example of how 
> Cain
>
> travel is important to me as a dog user is, I will not depend on my dog 
> for
>
> 100% of my travel. There are times that I will not take my dog to certain
> situations, or my dog might not be feeling well. Therefore, having good 
> cane
>
> skills is a must. I have met blind people, both cane and dog users who had
> trouble finding their way out of a simple one door room with four walls. 
> It
>
> has made me sad that people like this have not been able to receive 
> adequate
>
> mobility training, or if they did, they have a lead that training laps for
> one reason or another. The dog is not going to make someone be a better
> traveler just like the cane won't, it is merely one's personal abilities 
> and
>
> goals with whichever tool one uses to utilize. There might be situations
> that I am shopping at a store and will take my guide dog in and out of the
> isles. However when I need to find something specific that he might 
> normally
>
> take me around, you bet I will take out my cane and heel the dog. I hope 
> my
>
> comments make sense. Thanks.
>
> --
> Raul A. Gallegos
> Assistive Technology Trainer - RGA Tech Solutions
>
> Mobile: 832.554.7285
> Work: 832.639.4477
> Personal Email: raul at raulgallegos.com
> Work Email: training at rgats.com
>
> â?oAny teacher that can be replaced with a computer, deserves to be.â?ť 
> â?"
>
> David Thornburg
>
>
>> On Feb 9, 2017, at 4:03 PM, Dan Weiner via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Gosh you make cane skills sound like some magic wand, I know if when I
>> first got a guide dog someone had known quite how little confidence I had
>> with a cane , judging by what seems to be today's standards I would have
>> never been given a dog--lol. I'm glad guide dog schools gave people a
>> chance
>> when I, for example, started out. I got a dog and soon understood what I
>> would need to do to become a good traveler with a dog and I worked hard
>> and
>> voila I'm using a dog 24 years later, have traveled all sorts of places,
>> even other countries and so on...   This though I only hear in one ear
>> and
>> of course am totally blind.
>> fact is I was very motivated.
>> this isn't directed at your question about high school but I am just
>> amazed
>> at how much I hear about people saying things like "oh before you have a
>> dog
>> you had better have good cane skills."
>>
>> And even now, every time I go for a successor dog they'll come to your
>> home
>> a lot of times and try  out my cane skills  on a walk and I hear
>> grumbling
>> about how I veer with a cane when I cross streets...if I thought I were
>> the
>> cat's miao with a cane I probably wouldn't necessarily opt for a dog,
>> fact
>> is it's a better mobility tool for me.
>>
>> Just an observation.
>>
>>
>> No comments about the TVI, I actually agree with what's been said on that
>> subject already.
>>
>>
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