[nagdu] feeling a bit discouraged

Sat Sep 8 19:30:43 UTC 2012

I always suffer a great deal of let down when I come home, and I have some little problems like the dog not beint willing to move sometimes, and then I panic. As I think on it, what I've done in that issue is just given the dog extra chill time and just played with it.
Cindy

On Sep 8, 2012, at 12:34 PM, Shannon Dyer wrote:

> You raise some really good points here, Anne. I will definitely try your suggestions. Clear communication is a wonderful thing.
> 
> Oh yes. I'm very grateful for Ace's unwillingness not to relieve himself indoors. I just wish he'd move after relieving.
> 
> You may be onto something when you mention a sort of let-down after returning from guide dog class. I shall give this some thought.
> 
> Shannon and Ace
> Shannon Dyer
> Alumni Council Member,
> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
> ®  and
> America's VetDogs®,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc ®
> Providing "Second Sight" ® since 1946
> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
> Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047
> solsticesinger at gmail.com
> To make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
> www.guidedog.org 
> or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
> www.vetdogs.org
> Visit us on facebook at: 
> www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs
> 
> On Sep 8, 2012, at 12:46 PM, "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi, Shannon,
>> 
>> Trying to look at this situation from the dog's point of view, I'm thinking
>> that when Ace refuses to move when you ask him to go back inside, that
>> perhaps it is because his intestines are still feeling a bit unsettled and
>> he is thinking that maybe he still needs to empty some more.  You might try
>> giving him another chance to relieve, or going for a short walk and then
>> giving him another chance to relieve before going back inside.  I'm also
>> thinking that I would be very appreciative of a dog like Ace who seems to be
>> doing his best to communicate to you when he needs to relieve and to avoid
>> having relieving accidents indoors.  The way I would approach this sort of
>> situation would be to reward the dog highly (with exuberant praise and
>> treats, if your school and your personal philosophy allow) immediately after
>> he has successfully relieved himself in an appropriate place.  I would also
>> praise and treat him upon returning indoors after a successful relieving
>> break.  That might help him understand that he is doing what you want him to
>> do and that you understand what he is telling you through his behavior.  In
>> other words, it makes the communication between the two of you clearer, and
>> it may make him feel more secure and help both of you relax.
>> 
>> Now I am going to throw something out just for your and other people's
>> consideration--
>> I think that there might be a phenomenon occurring here that is similar to
>> the post-partem depression that affects some new mothers shortly after they
>> come home with their newborn babies.  What I am saying is that I think that
>> sometimes we fall into a little feeling of letdown after we get home from
>> the stimulating environment of the guide dog training program, and the
>> excitement of meeting the new dog has begun to fade into the daily routine
>> of life with a young and inexperienced guide dog.  We go from a setting
>> where we have a circle of instructors and staff to support us and interpret
>> the dog's behavior for us and a class of fellow handlers to share our
>> concerns and experiences with, to our home communities where we may be the
>> only guide dog handler and the only person we meet face-to-face with on a
>> regular basis who understands what guide dog training is and the
>> relationship we have with our guides.  It's not surprising that we may feel
>> that we are alone and that we are not understanding what the new dog is
>> thinking or why he is doing the things he is doing.  Added to that, there is
>> the fact that the dog is completely in the dark about the process he is
>> going through.  He doesn't know why he is with this new person; he doesn't
>> really know why he was trained to do the things he was trained to do; he
>> doesn't know why you came into his life or why he was taken from the kennel
>> and his trainer; he doesn't know how to get your attention or how to
>> communicate his needs to you; he doesn't really know just what you expect of
>> him or how to please you, but he knows that his ability to do this is
>> crucial to his future happiness and even survival.  Both handler and dog are
>> going through a process of mourning for the loss of the known security of
>> the past and adjustment to the unfamiliar adventure of the future.  This is
>> one of the reasons why it takes up to a year to build the bond and
>> relationship between the handler and the working dog.
>> 
>> If this hypothesis rings true at all for you, then take comfort in the
>> knowledge that the process you are going through with your new dog and the
>> feelings and doubts you are experiencing are completely normal and natural,
>> and that it is a process which, in most instances, proceeds to the happy
>> conclusion of a smoothly-functioning and joyfully-bonded team.  There is
>> nothing wrong with having and expressing your doubts and concerns, in fact,
>> it is definitely right to express them both on lists like this and to the
>> instructors at your school.  While difficulties such as those you are
>> describing are usually quickly overcome and are soon put behind us as small
>> bumps in the road which leads to lasting and wonderful partnerships, we all
>> know that some issues do not find solutions and that a small percentage of
>> guide teams end in the dog's early retirement or career change.  We must
>> acknowledge this possibility, even though it is scary and causes us much
>> anxiety.  This group is here for the express purpose of listening and
>> supporting you through the rough spots in your team-building, as well as to
>> rejoice with you in your moments of triumph and success.  Thank you for
>> giving us the chance to share our experience with you and to support you.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Ann
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Shannon Dyer
>> Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2012 8:10 AM
>> To: GDF List
>> Cc: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
>> Subject: [nagdu] feeling a bit discouraged
>> 
>> Hi, all.
>> 
>> I've been home with Ace for almost two weeks. He has had an unpredictable
>> relieving pattern since I got him, but my trainer insists that it will work
>> itself out as we become more of a team, and Ace gets used to his
>> surroundings. He hasn't had any accidents in the house, which is good.
>> 
>> While we were on class, Ace would stop walking if he needed to relieve. I
>> mean he'd just come to a complete stop and refuse to move until he was given
>> the opportunity to relieve. This happened both inside the building as well
>> as on route.
>> 
>> Yesterday, he started refusing to take me inside after I took him out to
>> relieve. He did it twice yesterday and once this morning. I was just
>> standing there on the sidewalk in front of my house, trying to get him to
>> move.
>> 
>> I'm just not sure ow this is going to work. I'm feeling really discouraged.
>> His relieving has become a bit more normal the past few days, but now, he's
>> refusing to move after he relieves. I really don't know how to handle this.
>> I know I'll talk to my instructor, but that won't be until at least Monday.
>> Right now, I just feel like giving up. If I can't get back into my house,
>> where else is he going to stop working?
>> 
>> I really don't know why I'm writing this. I guess I just needed to get it
>> off my chest. Thanks for reading, all.
>> 
>> Shannon and Ace
>> Shannon Dyer
>> Alumni Council Member,
>> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
>> R  and
>> America's VetDogsR,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc R Providing "Second Sight"
>> R since 1946
>> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
>> Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047 solsticesinger at gmail.com To
>> make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
>> www.guidedog.org or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
>> www.vetdogs.org Visit us on facebook at: 
>> www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/annedie%40nycap.rr.com
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/solsticesinger%40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com