[nagdu] weather prepareness

Thu Apr 26 15:45:32 UTC 2012

Maxx is okay with storms also, he just sleeps through them.

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> From: missktlab1217 at frontier.com
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:42:26 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] weather prepareness
> 
> Julie, how did you teach Monty to react to storms without being a complete 
> terror?  Katy just doesn't take them seriously.  We live in Southern IL, so 
> we also get the storms and are in a part of town where I can hear several 
> tornado sirens when they go off.  Katy thinks it's play time and would 
> rather grab her ring and smack me in the legs with it than actually go into 
> the bathroom to seek shelter.
> 
> Lisa
> 
> When life gives you lemons, throw them at something.  Always makes me feel 
> better.
> Lisa Belville
> missktlab1217 at frontier.com
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:59 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] weather prepareness
> 
> 
> >I have no idea what the guide dog programs cover regarding weather, but 
> >this is what I do.
> >
> > I live in Nebraska, land of tornado, strong winds and hail.  I live in a 
> > single family home with a basement, so it is very easy for me to make sure 
> > there are emergency supplies in the basement as well as being able to go 
> > down there with very short notice.
> >
> > In addition to all the people emergency gear, I also make sure that I have 
> > enough water for both dogs, dog food and leashes.  Belle, my nutty anxiety 
> > prone dog, has been taught by much repetition to go to the basement when 
> > she is feeling nervous.  Monty my guide is very good about listening to me 
> > when under stress.  His default response to being nervous is to Velcro 
> > himself to me.  Neither dog is particularly fussed about storms, although 
> > I have noticed an edginess in their behavior when we are in tornado 
> > watches and warnings.
> >
> > Monty will work in all sorts of weather conditions.  although in very 
> > heavy rain we usually have to have a discussion about how I am really 
> > serious about going out.  He doesn't particularly like it, but sometimes 
> > you have to do what you have to do.   I don't particularly like it either, 
> > but walking home in the rain is more appealing than spending the night at 
> > work! LOL
> >
> > Julie
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 4/24/2012 8:44 PM, Criminal Justice Major wrote:
> >> Hi, all,
> >> Since many have experienced rough weather in their neck of the woods, am 
> >> curious if any of the guide dog schools do cover weather prepareness 
> >> during training classes?
> >> If not, will that be something they'll look at in the future?
> >> I've been pondering this thought for a long time as Freedom David Berry, 
> >> my previous/second guide dog had a huge fear of storms.
> >> I couldn't work him in any, even if they were small ones.
> >> Freedom's anxiety was bad enough to where he'd have extreme rapid panting 
> >> and would shake tremendously.
> >> I did use an anxiety medication called Qualicalm (not sure how to spell 
> >> that) which did help.
> >> That was something I didn't want to keep Freedom on as I didn't want him 
> >> to be dependent on the treatment meds too much.
> >> I'm glad that the storm defender cape still exists and now the thunder 
> >> shirt.
> >> If one doesn't want to rely on meds too much, then either of those would 
> >> be a better alternative.
> >> I do remember one time when the tornado siren went off here in downtown 
> >> Denver in the summer of 2008, Odie and I did a practice drill during a 
> >> real situation.
> >> I immediately put him on leash and the two of us went down to the first 
> >> floor of our apartment complex to seek shelter by sitting down on the 
> >> floor in the middle of the hallway which was on the north side of the 
> >> complex.
> >> On June 14, 2009, we did have a funnel cloud that was over the top of our 
> >> apartment building, but thankfully, it didn't touch down.
> >> The whole experience was scary and Odie was terrified.
> >> I happened to be taking a nap during that storm and once the siren went 
> >> off, he immediately pushed the bed with hard force to get my attention 
> >> quickly.
> >> Am glad he did though as something dangerous could have happened if that 
> >> funnel did touch down.
> >> All I could do was let Odie be and I tried my best to remain calm.
> >> The sound of the wind was creepy and my ears popped due to the pressure 
> >> from it.
> >> I could feel the wall around my window moving toward me and away from me 
> >> and same happening to the wall inside the bathroom.
> >> During that one, I had not time to get downstairs.
> >> I mostly tried to stay away from the window once I felt what was 
> >> happening.
> >> What made the situation more scarier was when the tornado drill went off 
> >> three more times, every fifteen minutes during the whole hour.
> >> I've been definitely paying attention to how my furry partner behaves by 
> >> feeling him daily and also listening to the sound of the birds.
> >> If the birds aren't out chirping, then I know something big is going to 
> >> happen.
> >> I'm sure that will be a repeat for when I get my next partner and my 
> >> hopes are that it will teach the next dog to stay close by during severe 
> >> storms.
> >> no, I wouldn't continuously keep petting or reassuring my partner, but 
> >> maybe a couple of pats and most important is to try and stay calm.
> >> We did experience a few earthquakes in Colorado too and again, I hope 
> >> that will also be talked about if or when schools may decide to offer 
> >> that lecture during training.
> >> Just some thoughts to ponder.
> >> Bibi, husband Dale and son Odie
> >> medical alert service dog
> >> the happy spirited bounty labra wolf
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >
> >
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