[NAGDU] Questions from a potential future guide dog user.

Wed May 15 23:40:54 UTC 2019

Once upon a time, I used to be nutso about bathing my dog.  I gave her a 
bath every Friday without fail for years.  That was 15 years ago now and 
I've learned that daily brushing, a nutritious diet and perhaps a spritz of 
nice smelling stuff once in a while works just fine.  My dog back then 
didn't have problems with dry skin, but that is definitely a concern with 
frequent bathing.

Currently I haven't given my older dog, who is mostly retired, a bath in 6 
months.  He smells pretty much the same as he did 5 months and 28 days ago. 
My main working guide is a Doberman, hates baths, has dry skin and super 
short fur.  For her I use a wet washcloth and a few spritzes of a coat 
conditioner every couple of months.  She gets groomed about once a week with 
a silicone bristle brush.  The super easy grooming is one of the things I 
love about Dobermans!  My older Lab/Boxer mix gets groomed a few times a 
week, daily would probably be best, but life happens and I don't stress 
about it.  I've had dogs in my past who required absolutely daily grooming 
for at least 15 minutes to keep them neat and clean.  I'd plan on 5 to 10 
minutes a day for grooming and adjust as needed depending on your dog's 
needs and the season.

I do not do anything special about urine clean up.  However, I had a dog in 
the past who would turn the grass yellow where ever she peed.  Soaking the 
area with water fixed it and I rotated where she went as much as I could 
manage.  If your dog goes in the same area frequently, the smell can get 
strong after a while, especially in summer.

HTH
Julie
On The Go with Guide-and-Service-Dogs.com
http://www.guide-and-service-dogs.com
also find my products in the Blind Mice Mega Mall
<https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory_Departments?storeid=1916046>
-----Original Message----- 
From: Sandra Gayer via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 4:45 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Sandra Gayer
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Questions from a potential future guide dog user.

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for all your help and advice, both on and off list. I wonder if
I could keep this thread going and ask another question around keeping
the dog clean and tidy?

How do you cope with keeping the dog's general smells to a minimum? I
understand that they smell a bit, they are dogs and big dogs at that.
However, I have come across guide dogs, and guide dog teams, on rare
occasions i'd like to add, who inspire a negative gut reaction and I
do not want to be responsible for such a reaction in other people. I
have read that regular brushing causes the dog to smell less, getting
them washed once a month helps as well. Any thoughts would be greatly
appreciated.

Just a couple of other questions, the constant hair shedding? Any
ideas? Last but not least, releaving. I know the handler has to pick
up after the dog has releaved him/herself but does that include urine
as well as the other type of output?

Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 5/10/19, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Sandra.
> I've had 7 dogs now, and most of them have enjoyed going new places.  Get
> out of that old rut, oh yeah!  So long as they don't sense that I feel
> anxious or lost, they're very happy to see new places.  Like others have
> said, just let the trainers know you enjoy travel and need a dog who will
> enjoy it, too.
>
> One of the things about having a dog is you have to get used to people
> talking about dogs wherever you go.  Sometimes they talk to each other, 
> and
> sometimes to me.  Sometimes they tell me things my dog has already told 
> me,
> like we're at some steps.  Other times, they expect the dog to do
> everything, including reading traffic signals.  And they almost always
> think
> the dog is bigger than he actually is, and that he won't fit somewhere,
> when
> really he can fit a lot of places.
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sandra Gayer 
> via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2019 4:44 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Sandra Gayer
> Subject: [NAGDU] Questions from a potential future guide dog user.
>
> Hello Everyone,
> I'm new to the list and I use a long cane. I apologise in advance if
> my questionshave been asked before or seem dim to all of you seasoned
> guide dog owners.
>
> I know guide dogs are taught to guide you around obstacles and find a
> clear rout but, what if there is no clear rout?
>
> I use walls, rails and other edges to know where I am. However, I know
> that guide dogs are taught to walk in the centre of a path. Does
> anyone find this disorientating? I get a, sort of, no man's land
> feeling when I'm in open spaces. Is this something you learn to get
> used to?
>
> I'm a Singer, an Actor and a Broadcast Presenter. I travel to new
> places quite a lot. I have read that guide dogs thrive on routine.
> Does that mean that the guide dog wouldn't perform well in new
> environments?
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has come across a person using a guide dog but
> using a cane on the right side? I just don't see how else I could get
> information about the ground; slight rises, dips, there is shared
> curbing in the UK, where I live, and although this means there is no
> curbe, there is a slight difference in texture to the ground. Also,
> things like changes in relief are communicated easily through the
> cane.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> Very best wishes,
> Sandra.
>
> --
> Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.
>
> Soprano Singer
> www.sandragayer.com
>
> Broadcast Presenter
> www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html
>
> Actor
> www.visablepeople.com
>
> Voiceover Artist
> www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer
>
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-- 
Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.

Soprano Singer
www.sandragayer.com

Broadcast Presenter
www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html

Actor
www.visablepeople.com

Voiceover Artist
www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer

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