[nagdu] new reader, passive dogs and ooh, the cold weather!

[Eve Sanchez]

Tracy, I am sure I have a couple of those in my barn back home. Just never
thought of exercising my guide on one outside before. Makes sense, but
first I have to get her over her excited jerking. Thanks though. Blessed
Be. Eve

On Fri, Dec 28, 2012 at 7:31 AM, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:

> Hi Eve.
> A Flexileash works well for outside play, if you don't have a fenced area
> to play in.  If you haven't seen one, it has a big handle, which holds a
> strong line that snaps to the dog's collar.  The line retracts and extends
> as the dog moves about.  They're a little expensive, but mine has lasted
> for years. Although I did mess one up taking it to the beach and getting
> sand in it.
> Tracy
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve Sanchez" <celticyaya at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <
> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 7:12 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] new reader, passive dogs and ooh, the cold weather!
>
>
>  Hello Daniel. That makes two Daniels right? haha   Oh falls scare me. I
>> am
>> good at them, well not the landing part. I just moved here this last
>> summer
>> from Eastern Idaho so I understand the weather you speak of. That was one
>> of the reasons I moved. I need to be able to get around and I do not
>> handle
>> the cold well. Please be careful. I like the idea of a long lead for play
>> time. I do play with Taylor in the house and she always gets carried away.
>> Otherwise she is very calm. I do need to get out for walks whenever I feel
>> her getting slightly restless and that helps. It is not as warm here as I
>> expected Arizona to be, but I cannot complain coming from Idaho. I just
>> have to put on a sweater over my tank top rather than parka, snowboots,
>> and
>> Carharts. Well, I am trying to put people into my mind to remember them
>> all. Maybe with such a story as yours I might be able to recall Daniel and
>> Cass. ;) Blessed Be. Eve
>>
>> On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 2:28 PM, Daniel <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello to Eve, Daniel from Denver here. I have the new dog, Cass from GDB
>>> in
>>> Portland. Welcome and congratulations on your new baby too!
>>>
>>> Yes, it is the fit that counts.
>>>
>>> So far, so good in the work department since we have returned. The little
>>> tests have begun, and are being dealt with accordingly.
>>>
>>> As usual the weather in Denver is as unpredictable as always. Cold and
>>> snow
>>> and ice seems to be the order of the day now. Not the best working
>>> conditions for a new guide dog, who has not been exposed to the snow and
>>> ice
>>> in her 2 short years.
>>>
>>> It doesn't help that her papa is a klutz. I decided to take a fall with
>>> Cass
>>> by the curb while we were working the other day. I am not blaming her for
>>> this incident, as it was my fault for being too close to the curb. She
>>> was
>>> in the correct position, I was not. To make a long story short, it was
>>> quite
>>> a fall on the ice, and I believe it shook her up quite a bit.
>>>
>>> She continued to walk at an extremely slow pace, which was very
>>> appreciated,
>>> but now it seems she is a bit wary of going out on the snow and ice
>>> covered
>>> walks at all.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have talked to my trainer and she said this is fine for now, as it is
>>> better not to force her right now, and I certainly agree. We just want to
>>> make sure she gets her exercise and learns that snow is fun <NOT>. We
>>> have
>>> gone out in the back common area on a long lead and run around a bit, and
>>> played around on the floor.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> She is not a real play hound either, like some others have said - rather
>>> passive. She will lay by me while I am sitting, or walking on the
>>> computer,
>>> or doing something in the kitchen. The thing is we are also in the
>>> "breaking-in" phase, where I still have her on the leash while we get
>>> used
>>> to the new surroundings. Whew, what complications!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I worry about her getting bored, or me making some kind of mistake during
>>> this precious period of acclamation. It is so easy for me to give those
>>> human attributes to the dog, that I put all of her comfort and welfare
>>> above
>>> my peaceful state of mind. I call it my "nervous new papa syndrome", and
>>> just want this experience to go well.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It is several blocks, more like 7, to the bus stop. If these can be
>>> managed
>>> to get to safely, I think we would be able to get to some mall work
>>> either
>>> this weekend, or next week. The new volunteer work should be starting up
>>> about mid-January.  It's just getting through these rough few days.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Oh well, Happy New Year to all, ain't it grand to have a partner
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Daniel Sweeney
>>>
>>> Lakewood, CO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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