[NAGDU] Shopping with a guide dog and indoor relieving?

Tue Jun 4 13:04:44 UTC 2019

Hi Sandra,

Welcome to the list!  I wanted to respond to your last thread but was
swamped at work.  So I'll take a few moments to address some points
here.  If you want to email me off list, I'm cool with that of course.

Indoor relieving: my dog will *not* relieve indoors.  Like others on
the list, he just won't go in those inside airport relieving areas.
Part of it in his case stems from his size.  Those indoor relieving
areas are just too small to accommodate a 75 LB labrador.  They do
have puppy pads for relieving, but you would have to train the dog to
know what they're for.  For long flights they might benefitial, and I
know people who have used them before.  My first dog didn't have a
problem relieving on concrete under an a covered patio, but my current
dog doesn't like it so much.  It depends on the dog.

As for shopping, I either use a backpack or just carry a few shopping
bags on my arm.  If I have a heavy load, I much prefer a backpack to
anything else.  You can fall on your backpack if you twist yourself
around, and there are nice backpacks created to put less pressure on
your back.  I'm talking about hiking backpacks.  They are nerdy, but I
loved my backpack that would clasp in front of me because it felt
secure and hurt my back less than a typical style.

As a performer, it will be critical for you to tell the school what
you need.  A flexible dog who can handle long days, new environments,
and slightly altared schedules.  There are most certainly dogs that
can handle this, but you have to be clearer than ever with the school
that this is your need.  A dog who can sit still as you do rehearsals
and concerts and then guide you throughout airports and new cities is
likely what you're looking for.  Everyone has unique needs when it
comes to their guide dogs.  But when you're a performer, it's extra
important to get it right, since your appearance and reputation are
part of your package.

Very good questions!

Julie

On 6/4/19, Sherry Gomes via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I get *all* my groceries delivered, because I hate grocery shopping
> intensely. As for other shopping, I have purses where I carry bags, treats,
> phone, credit cards, all that. Some of them are big enough to put small
> things in. Otherwise, I'll either carry shopping bags over my arm or use a
> back pack. As for indoor relieving, I've never allowed any of my dogs to do
> that. When I trained with Petunia in 2014, after the first week, we were
> told we could relieve our dogs on the patios outside our rooms. But it was
> covered, and Petunia would not relieve there, so it was out to the relieving
> circle. With every dog I've had, they are expected to relieve in all types
> of weather which probably isn't as hard on them as extreme heat or cold is
> on me. Lol. Now I have a fenced yard, so home relieving is there. Out and
> about, there's always an area around with grass or a quiet corner with
> pavement outside where she can do her thing.
>
> Sherry
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David via NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 6:14 AM
> To: Sandra Gayer via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: David <david at bakerinet.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Shopping with a guide dog and indoor relieving?
>
> Good questions, all. See my interlineal answers
>
> *David in Clearwater, FL*
> *david at bakerinet.com*
> On 6/4/2019 7:15 AM, Sandra Gayer via NAGDU wrote:
>> where is the shopping going to go? How do I carry it?
> Shopping bag, cart, or backpack.
>> Has anyone had good, or bad, experienceswith pull along cases/trolleys?
>> Pulling behind you or in front of you?
> When traveling, I use a 4 wheel hard-sided trolley pull-along that can tilt
> and be used like a two-wheeler. In a supermarket or big-box store, I use the
> grocery carts and try to pull them along beside me by holding onto the front
> side of the basket. This is often too wide for other people and the aisles.
> Claire does not account for the extra width when guiding. I use a hand-carry
> basket that some stores have at the entrance when I won't have too much
> stuff. There are problems, of course. If you pull the cart behind you, it
> can creep up and give you a nasty bump on your heel. In all cases, except
> when using a backpack, when your right hand is in use, it is difficult to
> correct your pup effectively and quickly. You can sense through the harness
> handle when your pup drops to pickup food on the floor.  If you are quick
> enough, you can do a harness correction.
>> Backpacks? This last would be worse and could do damage if I fell but I
>> cold be wrong about this.
> Actually, I think the opposite is true. If you can twist as you fall, you
> can land on the backpack - won't help with the damaged goods you fall on,
> though. This is by far the most comfortable way for me to shop.
> I just put the backpack on the moving belt when I check out. I then find an
> empty register to repack items from the bags into the back pack.
> Aldi's has a packing area just beyond the cash registers.
>> if the weather is bad, how do you get the dog to relieve indoors or at
>> least undercover where there's no grass?
>
> I don't. Claire will not relieve indoors. Think about it, this is actually a
> good thing. If there is no grass, she has been trained to relieve at the
> curb. Airports are a problem for us. She absolutely will not go into the
> indoor relieving areas. No amount of coaxing, rewarding, or commanding will
> work. If we have a connection, I need to plan enough time to exit, relieve,
> and return through security.
>
> Keep asking questions, Sandra. Answers and support are why we are all here.
> I learn something on this list almost every day.
>
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; President, National Federation of the
Blind Performing Arts Division; First Vice President, National
Federation of the Blind of Missouri