[NAGDU] Guide dog problems

[Monse]

Hello, Marion, I truly loved your words! That is just the way how things
should be done... I clearly understand your points and agree with all of
them.
It is true that some teams deteriorate through the time, but I think it is
due to a both sides fault: from the programs part is the poor dogs' training
and the short length of customers instruction; and from the users part is
the lack of initiative to think out of the box and question the things
programs say and do. 
On the other hand, Schools must stop issuing poorly trained guide dogs or
what it is worse, pets passing as guide dogs not even by other malicious
people, but by the same organizations just to get a few more donations and
spreading the idea to the world that they give dignity to the blind people
by giving them a highly trained dog and be honored because of that.
I have seen a lot of dogs like that in my country and unfortunately must
handlers justify and romanticize the lack of "their" dog training with
things such as " he's still adapting to my place", we are still in the
bonding process or simply saying that he is by no means a robot and learn to
live and deal with those problems, when the truth is that a well-trained
guide dog when in harness should never be a hard puller, should not pull
whenever it sees other dogs  and try to interact with it, should not be
easily distracted by people trying to pet it and reach the point of rolling
over on its back to get some belly rubs or jump on people, should not guide
and pick things up from the ground at the same time, among things of the
kind... Because soft pooling is part of the basic obedience training and
ignoring distractions is part of the high standards an assistance dog should
meet in order to get that status.
Once I heard a guide dog handler saying full of pride that when she was
hospitalized, her dog was diagnosed with gastritis because of sadness and
that way she illustrated the strong bonding between a handler and their
assistance dog... what a nonsense... that dog probably has separation
anxiety and the handler clearly knew nothing about how an emotionally stable
working dog should behave.
Anyway, keep that great job you have been doing and hope we can get in touch
so that maybe we can do something together in the future related to guide
dogs and the way an adult guide dog handler should be treated.
Sincerely,
Monse Woman and owner-trained guide dog Franco

Original message:

	I have said this for 34 years! I have questioned programs publicly,
met with them privately, introduced resolutions to call them to task some of
which passed but the most important one failed on the flor, and have heard
the heartbreaking stories of guide dog users treated unfairly. It is
absolutely true that many will not stand up and make their voices heard
because of the fear that is instilled by some programs. There is no secret
some of them talk about us when they should not! I believe every program
asks if you have had a guide dog before and from whom. Should we lie or just
not rock the boat? Some teams deteriorate unnecessarily because graduates
avoid calling the programs when it first happens, waiting until it might be
too late to fix because they do not want to be seen as unsuccessful, unsafe,
or incompetent, all reasons outlined in their paternalistic contract as
reasons to remove a dog. I have been saying these things for 34 years and I
hope you now understand why!

Marion


Marion Gwizdala
(813) 626-2789
Blind411 at verizon.net


-----Mensaje original-----
De: Monse <monse_v at aol.com.mx> 
Enviado el: jueves, 18 de marzo de 2021 1:13
Para: 'nagdu at nfbnet.org' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Asunto: RE: Guide dog problems

Hi to all.
I have to say that is a real shame what programs do to their consumers.
Unfortunately, this problem of guide dogs taken away from handlers for no
valid reason by schools is something that happens regularly, although it is
not known enough because most users prefer not to make the subject public
either to avoid retaliation against them or because they are simply afraid
of that black list in which they won't get a successor dog from their
current or other program. That happens specially when there are very few
schools in their country, which fortunately is not the case in America.
That's how it is in my country ha-ha.
Same thing happens with the lag of "their" dog's training, ETC. the truth is
that the world will never hear about things of the kind.
All of that not to mention that most schools all around the world reserve
the right to repossess a guide dog at any time supposedly to protect the
safety and well-being of the Guide Dog. My question then would be protect
the dog from whom? The consumer they chose to be the dog's handler?
Anyway, I really really applaud your courage for speaking up and defend your
rights, organizations must stop treating disable people like children unable
to take care of a dog. In that case, they should improve their eligibility
requirements even though that takes them some extra work and effort... and
probably a reduction of budget.
Keep up the good work! At least you have an organization behind you that
protects your rights and is not part of the schools' group of friends.
I decided to be an owner-trainer because all of that.