[nagdu] [nagdu help

Sat Feb 9 05:25:25 UTC 2013

Hi all,  I was the person who waited.  When I first got my dog and was
unsure about bringing her somewhere, I stressed and stressed about it.
 It took a good year or maybe longer before I trusted myself long
enough to weigh all the factors in a situation like this.

Our dogs are our mobility tools, but they are also dogs.  You might
say, well duh, I know they are dogs.  But I think we forget sometimes.
 They can have enjoyment, displeasure, even opinions if you would like
to go that far.  Somewhere can be too loud or too tight for them, and
this may stress them out.  Obviously we don't want to stress our dogs
out.  We love our dogs very much and consider their wellbeing.  I can
tell you as a first time guide dog user, it takes a while until that
consideration means only a few minutes of thinking and pondering
rather than days on end.  So, if it takes a few years, when you are
learning what your dog can tollerate, what you can tollerate, and what
you as a guide dog team can tollerate together in the thousands of
situations that present themselves every day, then that's the way it
is, and I don't see anything wrong with it.

For example, our main place to perform recitals on campus is the
recital hall in the music building at my university.  Taking my dog to
other students' recitals freaked me out.  What if she did something to
distract the singer?  Since the room is so small(probably seats 50
people at most), something small is rather noticeable. And these
recitals are often recorded, and thy are for our degrees.  Now I have
a game plan.  We sit in the isle closest to the exit just in case Brie
starts being a problem.  Of course, she never has, but I never want my
dog to disrupt anyone's recital.  This idea took a while to form.  I
just had no clue as to how to become more comfortable with taking her
to these student recitals.  So sometimes these things do take a while
to work themselves out.

On 2/8/13, Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:
> The question of whether or not to bring your guide dog to a concert depends
>
> upon several factors. My primary consideration is the type of seating that
> will be available. I went to a james Taylor concert at the Ice Palace in
> Tampa, Florida (now the Tampa Bay Times Forum) and took my guide dog. I knew
>
> my seating was in an area where there were folding chairs and lots of space.
>
> On the other hand, I went to an Eric Clapton concert in the same venue and
> didn't take my dog. I knew the seating was fixed and there was very little
> room for the dog. Whether or not to take your guide dog is a personal
> decision only you can make after considering all the factors. Now that the
> concert has come and gone, what did you decide?
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 8:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] [nagdu help
>
>
>> Depends on what kind of concert and how your dog reacts!  I'd take mine!
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Becky Sabo" <beckyasabo at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 8:35 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] [nagdu help
>>
>>
>>> Hi all
>>> I am going to a concert tonight in Colorado. It the first one since I got
>>>
>>> my dog. Should or I should not bring her tonight?
>>> Becky Sabo
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Feb 7, 2013, at 4:06 PM, Stephanie Mitchell
>>> <naturelovingmom at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> As a soon to be dog user, this discussion is really interesting.  I was
>>> told that when I first get my dog, I cant let it do this, otherwise it
>>> will not learn to obey me...  How long before you can do this sort of
>>> thing with the dog?
>>> Steph
>>>
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>>
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>
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16