[NAGDU] Dogs and National Conventions

Fri Apr 29 00:07:35 UTC 2022

Good evening,

I have had two dogs, and I've taken both of them to conventions. They
did so well. My first dog loved it and enjoyed dodging the canes. My
second dog also loved it but needed breaks, or he would shut down a
little on me.

I was also super busy at convention as I served as the president of
the performing arts division for several years. I used to have a
couple friends who were willing to watch my dog if he needed a break
and I had to be somewhere. I would definitely recommend doing this,
asking a few friends if they would be able to hang out with your dog
if she gets stressed and needs a break.

My first dog used to get pretty excited to see the other dogs the
first day there, but she got used to it and did well the second day
and beyond. Eventually, your dog will likely get bored seeing the
other dogs.

I've never had a problem using the relief areas either. My second dog
didn't like it much, but I could eventually get him to use the boxes.
Taking a dog to convention can take some patience, but I've always
found it to be super rewarding. I rarely got hit with canes and was
always able to weave through the crowds with my dogs.

I am not looking forward to my first convention without a dog by my
side this year.

Julie

On 4/28/22, Lyn Gwizdak via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have been to 2 National Conventions and a bunch of state conventions of
> both NFB and ACB. NFB ones are larger with more dogs. My dogs have been
> interested in the other dogs. Treat that as a distraction and handle as you
> were taught by your school. Dont get too stressed out by this. The dogs
> will all be excited by all the dogs and new environment. Make sure you have
> down time in your room away from all the activity. Bring your dog's
> favorite chew toy or bone.
>
> As to the relief areas, I rarely used them because of all the dogs and
> possible "land mines" missed during clean up. Some people are lazy and dont
> even bother. I would find another spot near the hotel that is quieter and
> cleaner. I did this and it worked out great.
>
> If you are a nervous type of person, remember your nervousness and stress
> will travel down to your dog. In addition to many dogs, there are tons of
> white canes that may bump your dog. Some people decide this would be way
> too much stimulation for their own dogs and thus leave them home where they
> can have a vacation of their own.
>
> If you or others bring their own dogs, please remember to relieve them more
> frequently than you do at home. All that convention activity can cause the
> dogs to have to go more. You dont want an accidental poop in the hallway!
>
> Have fun and good luck!
>
> Lyn and Aristotle
>
> On Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 2:24 PM Stacie Gallegos via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello Kevin and all. I am happy to report that more information about this
>> exact topic will be coming soon. I can't agree with you more I do think
>> guide dog users need to take a larger part in assuring that our guide dogs
>> have a better place to relieve themselves. Stay tuned for more
>> information.
>>
>> ---
>> Stacie Gallegos / President
>> National Federation of the Blind Houston Chapter
>> (346) 704-0190 | SGallegos at nfbtx.org
>>
>>
>>
>> On April 28, 2022 4:03:05 PM Kevan Worley via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > I look forward to the thoughts of others with regard to relief areas. I
>> > also suggest that we, the guide dog handlers should take more
>> > responsibility for the relief areas. I don’t know what that would look
>> > like. But I would be interested in ideas, and thoughts. My guess is that
>> > our president and board Are all over this
>> >
>> > At Your Service,
>> > Kevan Worley
>> >
>> >> On Apr 28, 2022, at 2:42 PM, Diane Graves via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Wow!. Thanks to all of you for all of this great insight and
>> information!
>> >> This is really helpful. I am also gratified to learn that I am not as
>> much
>> >> "the lone ranger" as I thought I was. I was 54 years old when I was
>> matched
>> >> with Izzo. I thought that was perhaps one reason that the learning
>> curve
>> >> had been so steep and why the instructor was so condescending.
>> >> What can you tell me about the relief areas? Kevan mentioned that he
>> found
>> >> them challenging. Is this because there are so many other dogs, or
>> because
>> >> ther are people who aren't cleaning up after the dogs and leaving a lot
>> of
>> >> "land mines" to find? LOL I've just never worked with one of these at a
>> >> convention before, so want to know what I should expect.
>> >>
>> >> Diane Graves
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kevan Worley via
>> NAGDU
>> >> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2022 10:25 AM
>> >> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> >> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Cc: Kevan Worley <kevan at nfbco.org>
>> >> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Dogs and National Conventions
>> >>
>> >> I will answer here. But I wouldn’t go by me and my guide dog. Onyx
>> There’s
>> >> not muc is not much of a sniffer. And she works particularly well in
>> big
>> >> crowds. She has been to three conventions. I would not leave her at
>> home.
>> >> But that’s because she is a real asset for me at convention. I know
>> that
>> >> many dogs are not particularly good at conventions. And I knew some
>> people
>> >> who leave their dogs at home. I also know a few people who use their
>> dogs
>> >> some at conventions and leave their dogs in their rooms at convention
>> if
>> >> the dog is good at staying in a room without distraction or barking
>> their
>> >> heads off to annoy everybody around your room. That’s all I know I
>> think
>> >> I’m very lucky to have a dog that works so well at a convention. I I do
>> >> find relief areas a huge challenge at convention. Frankly I try to find
>> >> somewhere even if it’s somewhat of a distance from the hotel to relieve
>> >> onyx. We ought to do something different with relief areas.
>> >>
>> >> At Your Service,
>> >> Kevan Worley
>> >>
>> >>> On Apr 28, 2022, at 5:46 AM, Diane Graves via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Greetings NAGDU Friends,
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> I have a couple of questions that I want to pose, and I want to post
>> >>> them separately to be sure nothing gets lost in translation as they
>> >>> are both very important to me. True to the subject line, I want to
>> >>> start with a question about national convention.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> My girl has never been to a national convention. We've been together
>> >>> almost five years but this will be her first convention. She is a
>> major
>> >>> "sniffer"
>> >>> and is easily distracted by other dogs. I have been working with her
>> >>> to try to get her acclimated to the gentle leader, rewarding her with
>> >>> a treat when I put it on, but she absolutely hates it. (She loves the
>> >>> treats, of course.) After having the leader  on for just a minute or
>> >>> two, she starts rubbing her face on me and everythin surrounding her
>> >>> trying to get it off. A little embarrassing, not to mention the fact
>> >>> that I have to wonder how much she is really paying attention if she
>> is
>> >>> doing that.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> This will be my first year serving as President of the Indiana
>> >>> affiliate, and I'm not exactly sure yet what all of my
>> >>> responsibilities will be while at the convention. I hate the tought of
>> >>> leaving my girl behind, but don't want it to be overly taxing and/or
>> >>> stressful for either of us. So. my question is this.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> How many of you take your dogs with you to convention, and how many of
>> >>> you elect not to do this? If you have a partner who is a major
>> >>> "sniffer" and loves to meet and greet other dogs, how do you deal with
>> >>> these things?
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Any feedback appreciated.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Diane Graves
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>
>> >>
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of
Law, JD Candidate 2023