[NAGDU] Doggie Vision And What Motivates Us (was Re: Questions for low-vision people)

Wed Mar 14 21:07:11 UTC 2018

OK...yeah...I'm also sort of neutral on the whole "it's like having some of ur vision back" thing. Dogs not only see differently from people, they process that input differently as well. Remember, dogs don't see detail, either. They see motion extremely well, but there really are limits, many of which we are apprised of when we train. The Seeing Eye lectures are quite detailed about the limits of doggie vision, and truly I don't know of any other school that goes into the amount of detail as to what, how fast, and how accurately a dog can judge traffic as Seeing Eye does. In one respect, it may well be like having some sight back, just for ease of travel and such, but it's probably stretching a point. It's a great sound bite, but not a lot more than a great sound bite.

As for what motivated me to get a guide dog, I'm pretty sure I'm in a minority here. I didn't do it for any lack I felt in my travel ability or freedom of movement. In fact, pre-dog, I traveled to Germany on a cultural exchange, and also visited several other states for various reasons. In that respect, I don't feel that a dog has really done much to change or expand my "freedom". Had that already. No, I got a guide dog the first time, in part, because I wanted the experience. In part, just from sheer contrariness. In part, because I just plain ol' liked the guide dogs I'd met. Some might say these are pretty terrible reasons, but they worked for me, and still do. I just plain ol' love working with dogs. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Mobile (preferred): (814) 431-0962
Phone: (814) 860-3194
Email: buddy at brannan.name
"We are all just walking each other home." 

> On Mar 14, 2018, at 2:31 PM, sonfire11--- via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Here is my input with these questions.
> 
> I was watching a publicity video yesterday for TSE, and 2 people said that
> getting a dog was like getting some of their vision back.  It gave them a
> set of eyes to use, and an extra brain to assess situations.  Do other
> people feel this way, or is it just hype?
> Given the training in lectures at TSE on the biological, emotional, and
> intellectual aspects of a typical dog, I would have to be neutral on the
> subject of hype. A dog can see better than most humans within a 20-30 foot
> distance. However, their eyesight drastically decreases the further away an
> object gets from them. Their sight covers a 260+ degree radius from the
> center of their face (their nose). Dogs have no need to see at a long
> distance away because their hearing and sense of smell picks up for the lack
> of long distance sight. Their reflexes are mostly better than humans.
> However, we can learn to keep up with them in the event something happens.
> The emotional and intellectual aspect of a dog usually end up with
> patterning and training based on reward or consequence. I agree that dogs
> can give independence back to a blind person. However, it is a team at work,
> not the dog or handler. A dog can help with travel, speed, and located
> misplaced objects. In fact, they even help with social environments. On the
> other hand, it is nothing like having sight. You still have to create
> alternative ways of cooking, cleaning house, traveling, you have the added
> responsibility of keeping your dog in check, there is the added
> responsibility of ensuring the public doesn't mess with your dog, filling
> out paperwork, reading the ever inaccessible street sign or laptop display,
> etc. In the travel department, Alec does push me back to a sighted person's
> ability to travel. However, there are limitations. He still can't tell me
> where the bus I want to transfer is located, he can't tell me 'gate A is
> over this way', he can't read street signs or construction site cautions or
> warnings, etc. So, even though a dog gives significantly larger amounts of
> independence during travel and social events, you are still limited and must
> depend on a sighted person for needs a dog can't fill. Don't get me wrong, I
> love my dog. He is amazing on the street and in buildings. However, I feel
> it is a tradeoff of responsibilities and rewards when deciding to get a dog.
> 
> What got you to change your approach and get a dog, or sharpen your cane
> skills?  Listening to classmates at TSE, it seems to take a real hard shove
> from someone, or a bad accident.  But maybe that's not always so?
> 
> Observing my mother with her dog got me interested in one for myself.
> However, I had many misunderstandings about a dog and what they did for
> people. The more I interacted with her dogs and talked to her about working
> one, the more I wanted one. I started to get one back in 2001. However,
> barrier after barrier prevented me from getting one. 17 years later, I now
> have a dog. For me, seeing the benefit through my mother, talking to dog
> guide schools, and research on the subject burnt it in my heart to get one.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2018 11:19 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Questions for low-vision people
> 
> I have questions for people who had vision, then lost most of it.  I've been
> blind most of my life, and I'd like your perspective to help my husband.  He
> had low but OK vision for many years, but has lost most of it over the past
> few years.  He uses a cane, but still wants to move fast, like he did when
> he could see better, and isn't always as cautious as he should be.  He had
> an accident recently.  Nothing too bad, yet, but it easily could have been.
> I'm arguing with him to get a dog, because I think it's the safest and
> fastest way to get around the big city safely, and what you get is well
> worth the pain of eventually having to say goodbye.
> 
> My first question is:  I was watching a publicity video yesterday for TSE,
> and 2 people said that getting a dog was like getting some of their vision
> back.  It gave them a set of eyes to use, and an extra brain to assess
> situations.  Do other people feel this way, or is it just hype?
> My second question is:  What got you to change your approach and get a dog,
> or sharpen your cane skills?  Listening to classmates at TSE, it seems to
> take a real hard shove from someone, or a bad accident.  But maybe that's
> not always so?
> 
> If people want, they can write privately to me at carcione at access.net.
> Thanks.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
> 
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