[NAGDU] Dogs and Canes in Tandem?

[Cindy Ray]

When I first got a dog, having a cane with you was quite discouraged. Overtime it was not discouraged anymore. I found it was an neat way to program a dog to go to a specific place like the button of a light. Also it is true that it’s easier to find some things. I think at the beginning though I probably would’ve relied on a cane too much. I didn’t get my first dog till I was about 43, and it was really hard for me to develop trust in a dog. Still, I think there are times when it is really handy to have a cane with you, and a Stacy said, it’s a good insurance if something happens and say the dog gets sick. As for Convention, that’s definitely up to you. Are used to always take my dogs, but my last one got to be so involved with other dogs that I couldn’t do it anymore.  I hated it because I hated to stop taking him. There are times though when it feels inconvenient. For instance, when I would go to lunch, or at the end of the session when all of us were going to go, I would find myself doing things alone a lot of times because I had to relieve the dog first.  The other possibility was to leave the meetings early, and I did that some. For some that isn’t an issue, for me it was. It wasn’t a dealbreaker though. T

Cindy Lou Ray
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 28, 2022, at 7:39 AM, Stacie Gallegos via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello there. This is a great question. I have had two guide dogs. And am hoping to get my third and the near future. Using your cane along with your dog is absolutely no problem and I personally think it is a great idea to have a cane with you. With my first dog, I was at a conference, and he got sick. Had I not had my cane, I would not have had a way to travel independently. I look at it as having a toolbox and having all kinds of tools at your disposal for whatever situation may come about.
> 
> ---
> Stacie Gallegos / President
> National Federation of the Blind Houston Chapter
> (346) 704-0190 | SGallegos at nfbtx.org
> 
> 
> 
>> On April 28, 2022 6:57:46 AM Diane Graves via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Greetings Once Again,
>> 
>> 
>> Back again with my 2nd question. I'm wondering if any of you use your dog
>> and your cane at the same time when exploring unfamiliar environments?
>> 
>> 
>> As I've posted here before, I didn't decide to try using a dog until later
>> in life. As a result, the learning curve relative to the transition from
>> cane to dog was quite steep. My initial instructor was very condescending;
>> not encouraging at all, so I didn't get the same quality of training as
>> others likely did. Anyway, shortly after Izzo and I got together I took a
>> pretty nasty fall. This was likely my fault, but nonetheless, it was
>> frightening. That said, I  remain very apprehensive when in unfamiliar
>> environments wherein I don't know exactly where the curbs and steps are.
>> 
>> 
>> Have any of you had similar experiences? Do you see any problems with
>> walking with the dog while checking out the new or unfamiliar environment
>> with the cane at the same time?
>> 
>> 
>> Any feedback appreciated.
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Diane Graves
>> 
>> 
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> 
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