[nagdu] conversations with guide dogs was Amount of walking

Thu Mar 18 17:19:10 UTC 2010

Joy and Tami,

LOL and I thought I was the only one who held entire conversations with my 
guide!

a couple of weeks ago one of the secretaries at the school asked me if Monty 
ever answers.  My first reaction was to say that of course he answers, but I 
thought better of it.  I figured that would lead to an hour conversation 
about communicating with dogs.  Monty does respond though, just with body 
language instead of words.

Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

> Joy,
>
> Oh, yeah.  I discuss the route, what I perceive of what's ahead, wonder
> which way we want to go...  I ask her questions about it and about what 
> she
> wants to do, then I answer myself as if she answered me first...  Quite 
> the
> conversationalist, my poodle!
>
> Then, of course, I will realize that someone I didn't know was there is
> quietly tiptoeing away from the crazy blind lady.  /lol/  How 
> embarrassing!
> Or someone will suddenly giggle and try to stifle it.  Or start answering
> back.  Of course, that will be the first time I will realize I was talking
> out loud because it's such a habit by now. /lol/
>
> Like you, I use it to stay focused, and Mitzi is used to it, so she 
> listens
> like she understands every word and will sometimes do a little woof if I
> mention someplace she would rather go because she knows it by name.  I
> didn't used to be such a big prattler, but I think that the sound of my
> voice also gives me additional sound cues about what's out there...  A 
> sort
> of echo location.  Yup!  I really do talk just to hear the sound of my own
> voice.  /grin/
>
> I do it more when I'm a little off for some reason, although I have fewer
> and fewer "off" days as time goes by.  So I'm trying to curb the habit.
> We'll see how that goes.  /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Joy Relton
> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 3:00 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
> So Tami, are you one of those crazy adventurers who talks to your dog 
> about
> the area and the great possibilities? I've been known to talk with my dogs 
> a
> little. It kind of keeps our focus together and they mostly put up with my
> craziness, but I'm not sure about the neighbors.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 12:57 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
>
> Oh, indeed! My favorite going out and getting lost buddy is moving away 
> this
> summer so I'm bummed.  I love just going out and adventuring, and it's fun
> having someone else to figure out the challenges with.  /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Joy Relton
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 7:33 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
> Tami,
>
> I wish that we lived closer together because I think that we would have a
> lot of fun together. For me, jogging is pretty much a quick walk and my 
> dogs
> have had no problem with it. I currently am hoping that my walk will be 
> fast
> enough for my new dog who I will be meeting on the 29th, if all goes as it
> is supposed too. By the way, little old lady jogging is lots better than
> sitting in front of the computer. I need to do much more of the former and
> less of the latter. .
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 12:33 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
>
> Joy,
>
> If it weren't for Mitzi, I would be physically fused to my computer.  I am 
> a
> bad, bad girl!  /grin/
>
> Walking with my guide dog is also way more fun than walking with my cane,
> and I get better overall exercise by being able to just stretch out and
> walk.  We're starting to do a little jogging together, with her in 
> harness.
> It's not a regular thing yet, but I've been surprised by how well our 
> short
> little trots go.  I'm usually with our little buddy or her older cousin, 
> our
> medium buddy, and they get a kick out of making fun of my little old lady
> jog.  /lol/  They're encouraging at the same time, so it's fun teasing.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Joy Relton
> Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 4:33 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
> Well, Tami, I suspect you are a bit like me and need a dog or some other
> living creature to keep me on the straight and narrow--like walking and
> getting some of that pent up energy out.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 12:03 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
>
> Joy,
>
> Mitzi still turns into a royal snot monster when she doesn't get out 
> enough,
> so she keeps me motivated.  I can get away with bieng lazy for a day or 
> two
> now, but then I pay for it.  /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Joy Relton
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:31 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking
>
> Oh Tracy,
>
> I think that I'm going to be discovering a different level of walking 
> needed
> for my new partner when we are matched so that one to two miles that I
> usually walk might not cut any more. I know that Belle would insist that 
> we
> get out and walk and it was always better for both of us. It is true that 
> as
> the dog puts on a few years their need for long walks on a daily basis
> lessens but the need a regular walking of some kind definitely continues. 
> It
> does for us as well.
>
>
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