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</head><body><p>Hello list, <br></p><p><br></p><p>I had to retire two dogs due to issues with reactivity around other dogs. I was able to work with the first dog for a while untill she was again attacked by another dog. It can be really hard for us as blind handlers to deal with dog reactivity and personally I have found the only approaches that work somewhat for dogs with issues with defensive agression are those that use positive reinforcement and/or counter conditioning. <br></p><p><br></p><p>Even if the school supports the handler the handler is the one who has to do most of the work and as blind handlers we have the disadvantage of not being able to control the environment in a way a sighted person could do. <br></p><p><br></p><p>Jordan, you could try to work with a local dog trainer on this issue if you really want to keep this dog as your guide dog. However, as you have had the issues for quite a while now it's not likely that you will ever have a dog who is easy and confident around other dogs. You might be able to find strategies to work with your dog and to help him trhough the situations that are difficult for him with the help of a professional but other dogs might always remain an issue for Belto. <br></p><p><br></p><p>Of course, the other option is retirement. Good luck with whatever you decide.<br></p><p><br></p><p>Kind regards,<br></p><p><br></p><p>Bianka <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><blockquote type="cite">Sandra Johnson via NAGDU <<a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>> hat am 10. Juli 2018 um 02:31 geschrieben:<br><br><br>Hello:<br><br>I have experienced having to retire two of my previous guides because they <br>developed some fearful aggressive barking and growling after they were <br>frequently attacked by dogs in my apartment building. It is always a heart <br>wrenching difficult decision especially when the rest of their work is so <br>excellent. It broke my heart to retire them but it was impossible to take <br>them anywhere around other dogs. I also knew their barking and growling <br>were sending the wrong message to the public of what a well behaved guide <br>dog should be therefore making it bad for all other guide dog handlers. The <br>situation is even worse now that we are encountering so many fake dogs <br>barking and growling it really sends the wrong message.<br><br>Sandra and Eva<br>-----Original Message----- <br>From: Kerri Sprecher via NAGDU<br>Sent: Monday, July 09, 2018 7:50 PM<br>To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users<br>Cc: Kerri Sprecher<br>Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Not impressed at all with Leader Dogs<br><br>Jordan and List,<br>I don’t know if Sadie, my current dog that is about to be retired, has ever <br>been put in a situation where another dog was aggressive with her before I <br>got her, since she was a re-issued dog, but that probably would explain some <br>of the same exact problem is I have been having with her as you have been <br>having with yours. I thought I was reading my own story there for a <br>minute.*Smile*<br>I agree with Sandra, some problems just can’t be fixed, no matter what you <br>do. I have worked with her on this issue ever since I got her 2015, and it <br>has never changed.g<br>Sent from my iPhone<blockquote type="cite">On Jul 9, 2018, at 4:19 PM, Sandra Johnson via NAGDU <<a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>> <br>wrote:<br><br> Jordan:<br><br>You have been having these problems with Belto for a very long time now. <br>Maybe it is time to consider retiring him. It is obvious that he cannot <br>be trusted to behave himself around other dogs. This is particularly <br>dangerous if you attend meetings or functions with other blind people and <br>their guide dogs. You have tried very hard but some problem behaviors <br>just cannot be fixed.<br><br>Sandra Johnson and Eva<br><br>-----Original Message----- From: Jordan Gallacher via NAGDU<br>Sent: Monday, July 09, 2018 4:50 PM<br>To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'<br>Cc: Jordan Gallacher<br>Subject: [NAGDU] Not impressed at all with Leader Dogs<br><br>The subject says it all. Leader Dogs is up to not listening nor taking <br>the<br>problem seriously again regarding Belto's aggressive behaviors around <br>other<br>dogs sometimes. Suggestions? They are down to one field rep as some of <br>us<br>might be aware of. . Last night was the exact situation I have been<br>worrying about where he tries to attack another dog and nothing works to <br>put<br>a stop to it except for getting physical with my dog, which is exactly <br>what<br>I ended up having to do. Other times the dog or dogs are behind fences <br>and<br>it took both me and the girlfriend I had at the time to literally drag him<br>out of those situations. His work is great otherwise, but none of the <br>usual<br>methods work on Belto since he is so strong willed. Leader is also <br>failing<br>to realize that there is a big difference between when Belto wants to play<br>with another dog and when he is being aggressive. Usually, if Belto is<br>going to be aggressive, I am quite close to the other dog before he shows<br>any interest where as if he wants to play, he will start picking up the <br>pace<br>and pulling more a bit of a distance from the other dog. That case, hop <br>up<br>and/or a correction works every single time to get his head on straight.<br><br>Jordan<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>NAGDU mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for <br>NAGDU:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comcast.net" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comcast.net</a><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>NAGDU mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for <br>NAGDU:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/spedangel84%40gmail.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/spedangel84%40gmail.com</a><br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>NAGDU mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comcast.net" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comcast.net</a> <br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>NAGDU mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/bianka%40andi-bika.de" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/bianka%40andi-bika.de</a><br></blockquote></body></html>