[nagdu] extremely basic guide dog questions...

[Steven Johnson]

Hi Chris,
Here are my answers:
A: how do you find it to clean it up? This is a skill that over time, one
learns.  Initially, we are generally taught at a school, but as far as owner
trained dogs, it would be best to ask the folks on this list who choose this
method of training.  Generally, a handler will have some sort of containing
material, a plastic waste bag for instance slipped over their hand.  They
will feel near where the dog squatted until the present is found.  Knowing
when a dog is going is again something we all learn, and in fact, just took
my girl out and knew when the leash was dead, she was down.  However, please
remember this is my experience and everyone will perform this task a little
differently.
B. Ware do you store such materials until you can dispose of them? I own my
home, so I keep a 5 gallon waste bucket at the bottom of my deck steps and
deliver the wrapped gods into after each park.  Once a week, the night
before the garbage truck comes, I dump it into a larger bag with my garbage
and it goes off to the power plant incinerator to make special electricity!
This works great for me in all seasons, and when the weather is not
cooperative, I just put the cover on it.  Yep, this summer heat, when the
bucket is covered makes for quite the eye tearing aroma!
C. if your dog needs to go, how does he let you know? Most of us, have our
dogs patterned for parking.  I know my girl will go 4 times a day, and will
only do her #2 in the morning and at her suppertime park.  Again, each of us
has different ways that we know as we learn to understand that dog's
behaviors, but for most first-timers, and for new dogs, getting into a
regular schedule is really important.
D:  what all does a dog do that a cane can't?  Pick up chicks!  Honestly,
it's a preference, but if there were one thing that stands out to me, is the
speed at which I can work with a guide and the accuracy as well.  I feel
that they are efficient...efficient as the team that it is, but please don't
get me wrong, good cane users are also incredibly efficient and can do
anything that we as dog guide users can.  The advantage of a cane over a
dog, no poop.

Again, this is just my personal opinion and experience, and all of will vary
slightly but have similar foundations from which we built our skills
including having good O&M skills.

Have a great day!

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Chris Harrington
Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2011 3:23 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] extremely basic guide dog questions...

Hi!!!
My name is Chris Harrington, and I've been examining various messages on
this list for a couple of weeks now, and find getting a guide dog extremely
interesting. I have several basic questions for people who currently own
them, and appolagize if my questions are basic. The one I've been wondering
about, is um, waste management so to speak... When your dog takes a crap, A:
how do you find it to clean it up? B. Ware do you store such materials until
you can dispose of them? C. if your dog needs to go, how does he let you
know? Also, what all does a dog do that a cane can't?
Thanks to anyone who can successfully answer my questions!!
Have a great day, and thank you!!!!!
Chris Harrington


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