[NAGDU] it's never too early to begin preparations

Thu Jan 17 15:51:39 UTC 2019

I think that it is important to consider temperature changes. One thing I
noticed in Florida was that the temperature difference between the
airconditioned hotel and the outdoor temperature was extreme. I not iced
some dogs experiencing heat reaction symptoms within 10 minutes of being
outside. I also noticed some dogs shivering and actually being too cold
after transitioning indoors. We can wear a hoody in the hotel and chuck it
once wee step outside, or switch from jeans into shorts just before going
outside,, but our dogs have the same fur and fat layers across environments
and can't adjust so easily. I would suggest that in addition to the usual
suggestions regarding hydration, that people also allow a short grace period
to cut down on poor reactions to the heat. For instance, if you are going to
go and walk around the strip, bring your dog out into the heat and have them
stand or lay calmly for about 10 minutes getting used to the temperatures
before working them and walking briskly around outside. The reverse, when
coming inside, keep your dogs moving, blood moving and keep them warm, then
let them cool down slowly if you can, rather than transitioning from
moderate exercise in great heat, to complete inactivity in a cool or even
cold environment. Having a small fleece blanket, thin, but warm that you can
put over your dog when you first come in, then remove after 15 or 20 minutes
could also help ease the transition. When we were in Orlando for a family
vacation, I took my dog all over Universal Studios, Cape Kennedy Space
Center, etc., and she did fine. I think that this is because the house we
stayed in was moderately, but not super well air conditioned, and I did a
lot of walking in the very warm, but not hot mornings 7and evenings. Also,
before power walking around the parks at mid-day (Ilsa only has one speed
and it is fast) she 7spent time sitting or lying down in the shade while we
stood in line to enter the park, so she could warm up gradually. The
negative reactions I noticed were actually when we would come into very cold
airconditioned stores or restaurants and she would flop onto tile floors
then get some pretty serious shivers, necessitating me to get her up and
moving, cover her with a coat or rub her vigorously. It is a myth that being
cold, causes colds. However,, it is the fact of going from very cold to very
warm environments and visa versa that can affect the immune system. When I
was a voice major we were urged to bundle up in the cold and take off layers
one at a time as we come indoors, rather than roughing it in a coat and
boots, then tossing off the coat right away when coming into a building at
75 or 80 degrees. Rather we were advised to wear coat, hat, scarf, gloves,
etc., then after coming in, remove the gloves, a few minutes later the hat,
then the scarf, and the coat last, and get dressed a few minutes before
leaving the building. A pain in the butt? Absolutely, but it worked, and for
voice majors for whom any congestion or a cold can be a huge problem, we
keep track of such advice and its effectiveness. In Florida, Ilsa often got
chilled after spending time outside then being asked to lay, motionless,
sometimes on a tile or linoleum floor. I learned to bring her in and walk
briskly around before going into a meeting where we would have to sit still,
and a few times I did cover her with a sweat shirt as an intermediate step.
It might also be worth warning those living in hot areas already, such as
Florida, that extreme humid heat feels different to our dogs then extreme
dry heat. A dog who walks short to medium length routes at mid-day in
Orlando, might still struggle with the exact same temperature in Nevada, in
a drastically lower humidity. Also, I don't know what the laws are regarding
smoking, but if it is allowed inside in Nevada, and you are coming from a
state, like NY, where smoking is allowed virtually nowhere, and you suddenly
have your dog in restaurants, casinos, etc., where it is allowed, they may
experience respiratory issues, especially when coupled with the desert dry
heat outside and the potentially very dry, recycled indoor air. Whenever we
visit NC where smoking is allowed in restaurants and such, Ilsa and my
previous guide did a lot of sneezing and had more eye and nasal discharge
after spending significant time in these environments. I hope some of this
helps. I think that these dogs are heartier than we often give them credit
for, and I hold firmly to the belief that a properly acclimatized and
hydrated dog can be reasonably asked to work in even very hot weather.
However, this assertion is absolutely predicated on the notion of vigilance,
intelligent informed decision making, and a willingness to change things up
if something you try does not work well. I do not believe in babying our
dogs, because then they become more of a hindrance than a help, but not
babying them does not mean ignoring their needs and just expecting them to
suck it up and deal with no help or caring from us. Ilsa and I walk 1 to 2
mile routes in 95 degree weather at mid-day in the summer, but she gets
water before, water after, and a climate controlled transition from cold to
hot and back again. Ilsa walks routes in the 10 degree winter, wearing
mushers secret and her sweater from On The Go, and sometimes we walk a
little extra around the bus stop to keep moving and keep warm, but I still
expect her to work, and I do my part to make it as safe and comfortable for
her as possible. I see posts on various lists where someone won't go out on
Monday because it is over 90 degrees, won't go out on 80 degree Tuesday
because it is raining, and won't take their dog out on the weekend because
it has dropped below 60 degrees, and on Wednesday they left their dog home
from the concert, (not a rock concert) because of their delicate ears, left
them home from the bar on Thursday because the rowdy people might stress the
dog out, and then on Friday they go to a festival without their dog because
the dog might scavenge something and get sick. I just have no patients for
this. Faced with similar: Ilsa would be kept well hydrated and work on the
95 degree day, would get soaked, right along with me on the rainy day and
get vigorously towel dried after the walk, would sit far from the band at
the concert, would be placed in a safe out of the way spot under my chair in
the bar, would wear her gentle leader and be corrected to avoid scavenging
at the festival, and would be just fine in 55 degree weather on the weekend.
I just wanted to add this perspective, because on the back of lots of great
advice on keeping our dogs comfortable, healthy and safe, I think it needs
to be remembered that they are strong, healthy, well trained, adaptable
travel tools, in addition to being outstanding dogs, loving companions and
cute and furry cane alternatives.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Roanna Bacchus via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 7:42 PM
To: Mike Hingson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Roanna Bacchus <rbacchus228 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] it's never too early to begin preparations

Hi Michael thanks for your message. I do not have a guide dog, but I decided
to reply to this topic anyway. Keep your guide dog hydrated with lots of
water. Do not feed them salty foods. Be sure to park them regularly each
day.

On Jan 16, 2019 7:36 PM, Mike Hingson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> As you probably know, our National Federation of the Blind National 
> convention will be held this July in Las Vegas Nevada. Temperatures 
> during the day, and most likely at night too, will be over 100 
> degrees. This means we need to prepare to keep our guide dogs safe and 
> comfortable during the time we are in Las Vegas.
>
>
>
> We are planning to write an article for the Braille Monitor to provide 
> people with helpful and relevant information concerning how to handle 
> the hot temperatures with our guides. I am inviting you to participate 
> here in a discussion of what you do to keep your guides safe in extreme
temperatures.
> Let's talk about both hot and cold situations. 
>
>
>
> All relevant ideas and thoughts are welcome. There is no wrong idea. 
> We want to get the most information that we can so we can provide good 
> information for all convention goers who bring their guides.
>
>
>
> Thank you in advance for your help. 
>
>
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
>
>
> Michael Hingson
>
> Vice President, NAGDU
>
>
>
> The Michael Hingson Group, INC. 
>
> "Speaking with Vision" 
>
> Michael Hingson, President
>
> (415) 827-4084
>
> info at michaelhingson.com
>
> To order Michael Hingson's new book, Running With Roselle, and check 
> on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please
visit:
>
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>
>
>
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