[NAGDU] They don't quit

[Rox Homstad]

I'm raising Phoenix, a female golden for myself. She is now almost 8 months and ever since she saw Soleil, my yellow lab get dressed to go out, she started running over to try and shove her head in the harness, and she was only 3 months old. Now she's big enough and since she's outgrown all her "in training coats, she's just going to wear a harness for outings, and she was so excited last week when I put it on her for the first time.  Wiggled and hopped around when I came toward her with it, and then became a statue when I got it on and laid under my legs and held still and slept for the 30 minutes I had her wear it in the house for practice. Now she keeps pulling harnesses down off of the hooks-- which are almost 5 feet off the ground. She some how grabs the handle, leaps so the strap comes off the hook, and then drags the harness around with her. People have seen her do it and we are all kind of amazed... I'm honestly kind of afraid because if she's this headstrong at 8 months, I am going to be in real big trouble once she reaches adulthood, lol. 

Rox'E and the Kitchen Bitches
Soleil, Rowan, Phoenix
pawpower4me at gmail.com

> On Aug 27, 2019, at 3:45 PM, Sherri via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> What a touching story! I am having such a hard time deciding to get another
> dog.
> 
> Sherri
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 4:29 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: cindyray at gmail.com
> Subject: [NAGDU] They don't quit
> 
> When I am with Fisher, I am amazed. I think I have mentioned that I retired
> him almost four years ago because of his dog distraction. He would lunge at
> other dogs, and now and then he pulled me down. Well, that hurt, and people,
> well meaning ones, were trying to tell me how to handle him. It just wasn't
> working out for me. I probably had a temper tantrum the day I retired him. I
> am sorry I did it; he was too young, but we have to move on and perhaps even
> learn from our mistakes.
> 
> About 19 months ago I had hip replacement surgery, and last December I had
> shoulder surgery, so often I couldn't take him out. It was a long time
> before I could do so regularly. Often he would come to me as if to say, "Are
> you sure you aren't taking me out?"
> 
> Last night and today he was very assertive about what it was he wanted. I've
> been taking him out quite regularly now, but Bob does from time to time.
> Last night after his dinner, Bob put Fisher's leash on him. They were by the
> stairs and I was in my chair in the living room. Fisher lead Bob to me, so I
> took him out. This morning after his breakfast, Fisher walked up to me on
> the left side and licked my hand. Bob was in front of me and called him. He
> went to Bob, but then he reached back out to me. I have been touched by that
> kind of loyalty even though I haven't always been able to take him out. I
> think more and more that I will replace him, because I surely do misusing a
> dog.
> 
> Cindy Lou Ray
> 
> cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com> 
> 
> 
> 
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