[nagdu] Monty's graduation
Julie J
julielj at windstream.net
Sat Nov 7 19:01:51 UTC 2009
thanks! I can't wait to hear all about your new dog.
I found when I brought Monty home the thing that helped Belle the most was
to just spend a bit of time with her alone each day. Sometimes it's just
petting or playing and sometimes I take her for a walk. she has no interest
in guiding, but she really enjoys getting out.
Julie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 4:07 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Monty's graduation
> Julie,
> Congratulations to Monte and you! I can imagine how exciting this is
> for the two of you, especially you!
> Having not worked a dog in more than a year and a half - and with so
> many around me getting new dogs - I am anxiously awaiting my new pup in
> January! I must admit I have mixed emotions, though,as I am hoping my
> Louiza will adapt well!
>
> Best wishes to Monte and you as you embark upon your new journeys
> together!
>
> Peace!
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julie J" <julielj at windstream.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: <gdsdtrainingonly at yahoogroups.com>;
> <bviclickertraining at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 12:44 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Monty's graduation
>
>
>> Hello all!
>>
>> I wanted to write to update everyone on our progress. As most of you
>> know I have owner trained Monty. Owner training is a gamble and I had no
>> guarantees of ending up with a working guide at the end of it. it is
>> what I love though, and for now that is reason enough for me to owner
>> train my guides.
>>
>> I got Monty August 14 of last year. I have worked with him almost every
>> day for the past 15 months on everything he would need to know to work as
>> a guide dog. Most owner trainers, and programs for that matter, move a
>> lot faster through guide dog training than I do. That is for several
>> reasons, my preference to go slowly, Monty's age, his slow maturation and
>> my new job taking up more of my time.
>>
>> On October 7 he started going to work with me. I considered this past
>> month to be a parallel to what most of you experience when you go to a
>> guide program. The dog is fully trained, but there is still a lot to be
>> worked out. My experience with Monty has been similar, I think.
>>
>> He is working out splendidly! I really couldn't be happier with his
>> work. He has settled in nicely to my work environment. I work in the
>> courthouse in the criminal justice section, so sometimes things can be a
>> tad out of the ordinary. *smile* He is learningwhere the various offices
>> are that I most often visit and is showing those to me reliably. He is
>> quiet and well mannered, for the most part. He still likes to visit with
>> people who come into my office but we are working on it and is most
>> definitely not out of control.
>>
>> His outdoor work is absolutely wonderful. this morning he saved me from
>> a rather spectacular fall on the very slick brick street. He slowed down
>> and pulled lightly after that and showed extra caution, but was not upset
>> or flustered by my lack of gracefulness.
>>
>> Although I have still not totally finished up his traffic training, he
>> shows more traffic awareness than any other dog I have ever had. He is
>> very aware of traffic and acts accordingly even though his training in
>> this department isn't complete. I think when I do finally finish up his
>> traffic training it will be more for my peace of mind than his education.
>>
>> He remembers every place we have ever been and points them all out to me.
>> He does this with a pause and a look back at me as if to ask, "Are we
>> going this way today?" He's happy to follow whatever direction I give
>> him. He's also showing aptitude at reversing routs although I haven't
>> explored the depth of his skill in this area.
>>
>> This weekend has a lot of things to celebrate. I am going to graduate
>> Monty to full guide dog status. There are a few things we still need to
>> work on, but he is doing all of the core behaviors a guide dog needs to
>> be able to do and he is doing them reliably. This weekend is also 5
>> years since I got Belle and 4 years since I started working with her as a
>> fully trained guide dog. Also to my and my vet's best guess Monty is
>> now two years old. So I'll dub the first weekend in November as his
>> "official" birthday.
>>
>> It has been too long since I've had a fully trained guide at my side.
>> The past month has reminded me why the 14 before that were all worth it.
>> I know most of you will probably think that is a crazy long amount of
>> time and work to have no guarantee of ending up with a working guide.
>> that's okay, maybe you're right. For me, though, it is the scenery on
>> the road less traveled that brings me joy.
>>
>> Thanks for reading!
>> Julie
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>
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