[nagdu] Me and My arrow

Tue Apr 28 18:55:20 UTC 2009

Charlene,

Trust me, I know exactly what you mean.  My curly girl is closing in on the
3 year mark, and I cannot believe the change from a year ago, when she was
trained and much more mature than the previous year.  She still has all her
energy and playfulness and strong will, but she knows how and when to use
them.  Lying quietly under a table in a restaurant is a perfect example of
the difference.  It was nigh on to impossible for her for the longest time
and would really stress her out.  Even in January, I can remember eating a
meal at an otherwise empty burger joint, being happy that she would lie down
without fuss where I put her...  Then I try to take a bite of my burger, and
a curly black head would pop into view.  /lol/  I call it her
jack-in-the-box phase.  These days, she just does it without fuss.  /smile/
I have to stop myself from periodically spooking and reaching frantically
under the table to see where she went and what she's up to this time.  I do
the odd casual check without all the drama, and there she is, resting
quietly and patiently.  Who is she, and what has she done with my poodle?
/lol/

She also outgrew the need to challenge and test out of principle alone, just
to see what would happen.  Even on leash, or in those areas where we work on
off-leash obedience, she stays within the boundaries or will check herself
at a quiet reminder:  "In bounds, please."  Cool!

Like you say, a 3-year-old is simply more mature and has outgrown the puppy
stuff, at work, play and home.  I've heard of dogs who graduate early, at
little over a year, and are matched and working well before 24 months, so
there's a lot of variance between individual dogs and handlers.  Me, I am
happy to be through with puppy and ready to enjoy my dog.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Charlene Ota
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 1:34 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Me and My arrow

I'm sure part of it is the dog, too. I just remember when I was in training,
in osme ways Irish just seemed a bit more seasoned; kind of like it was old
hat for him and the younger dogs were in class for the first time. I guess
I'm not explaining it very well and you probably just have to be there to
experience it. I just remember sometimes some of the other students
commented about how he was more settled, too. It might be something you
really don't think much about until you experience it because usually the
dogs are all the same age approximatelly when you're in class. One little
example is sitting at the dining table, Irish would pretty much quietly go
under my chair and stay there but the newer dogs who hadn't been through
that sort of thing as much were a little more rambunctious or they'd try
crawl out more.

Hope that makes a little sense any way.

Charlene 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nicole B. Torcolini
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 6:15 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Me and My arrow

I don't know how much they mature. I got my wonderful little angel at 21
months, she's almost 3 years and 7 months, and she has not changed much, at
least not in the energy level.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charlene Ota" <caota at hawaii.rr.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Me and My arrow

Good for you, Margo!  My boy Irish had been with someone else for a while,
too, so when I got him he was 3. In a way, it's nice because they're through
all their puppy stuff and have matured a bit.  Hope you have many good years
with Arrow!

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sherri
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 12:06 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Me and My arrow

so glad for you Margo. I'm sure you and your new forever friend will have
wonderful adventures together.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Margo and Arrow" <margo.downey at verizon.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 3:55 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Me and My arrow

> Hi, everyone.  Well, there was a song by Harry Nielsen in the 1980's
> and they used it in the Plymouth Arrow commercials.  Well, I've
> learned at least part of the song again because I now have a
> wonderful, lovable, did I say wonderful, lovable male  black Lab whose
> name is Arrow.  He is all black except for some white hairs on his
> head.  he was out before for about a year so he's almost three and
> he's wonderful but I said that I think.
>
> anyway, me and my Arrow (english teachers would cry, I know) will have
> many happy adventures together.
>
> Margo and arrow
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