[NAGDU] Leading Music with a Guide Dog

[Rachel Grider]

I direct my church choir and I also lead the music for the congregation every Sunday. Are usually just tired Demi to the piano or to a chair next to me so that she is close enough that I am aware of what she is doing but does not get in the way of my movements. My dog is very used to this, so we really haven’t had a problem. I also have a portable crate that I will put her in during some performances, and she can just stay backstage and be fine. Let us know what you end up doing!

> On Feb 9, 2018, at 09:06, Tami Jarvis via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Julie,
> 
> Both of my poodles are velcro dogs like yours. I've done a bit of training to tone them down, but it's not really a problem for me since I don't do things that require walking away from them much.
> 
> Ruffwear does make an adjustable hands-free leash, so you can fit it around your waist. I don't like the over-the-shoulder hands-free style, so I use the Ruffwear one, mostly for leisure walks using my cane. Mine is long, but if I recall, they have shorter lengths, too. I think it's called the Ridgeline. The Roamer leash also has the adjustable hands-free feature, and it stretches so the dog can move around more without pulling hard on your waist. I don't know if that would be a good thing or a bad one while you're directing and want to move around.
> 
> That's about all I know. Congratulations on getting closer to your goals!
> 
> Tami
> 
>> On 02/08/2018 03:17 PM, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU wrote:
>> Hi friends,
>> This week I'm filling in for our music director at church.  It's such
>> a great experience, but my dog and I need to find a way that will
>> allow me to conduct the choir comfortably that works for him as well.
>> Since I think I may want to do this as a career, I want to have a
>> method in place that makes me and Bill happy.
>> My dog doesn't react well when he can see me but not get to me.
>> Putting him on tie-down, for example, while I go across the room and
>> rehearse with a group makes him a little crazy.  It got to the point
>> at which I had to keep him in my professor's office while I rehearsed
>> with my opera class in grad school.  He used to bark and do everything
>> and anything so that I would return to him.  Now, he has gotten a lot
>> better over the years.  Last night at rehearsal, I put him under a
>> chair right next to my friend who held the leash for me.  He was in
>> the first row, maybe five feet from where I stood conducting.  He did
>> well enough, and my friend had no problem with him, until about
>> half-way through the rehearsal when he got up and decided he would
>> come back to me.
>> So, you can understand why I may not feel comfortable putting him with
>> someone else or on tie-down.  On the other hand, I don't want to be
>> stepping on his leash either.  I don't feel as free to move when I am
>> on the dog's leash.
>> Have any of you ever directed choirs or other musical groups?  What
>> did you do with your dog?  What would you do?  Would you take the risk
>> and leave the dog with the friend under the chair?  I have a
>> hands-free leash, but it's too large for my waste.  I would have to
>> fix it up a little to fit me, and I'm afraid I would look ridiculous
>> up there with a leash around my waste.  Hopefully, I can buy a
>> hands-free leash that is as unabtrussive as possible and fits a very
>> small waste size.  :)
>> Thanks for any ideas you might have!
>> O, and Billy Bob appreciates this too!
> 
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