[nagdu] Retirement and transition between dogs

[Shannon Dyer]

Hi, Julie.

I'm really sorry to hear of Bree's impending retirment. It's always a difficult thing to do.

I don't have much advice to give you about the cane aspect, but I did want to wish you the best, and to let you know you and Bree are in my thoughts.

Shannon and the Acelet
On Nov 19, 2013, at 7:35 PM, Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi friends,
> 
> I hope you all are doing well.  I wanted to give you all an update and
> ask a couple of questions.  I have had to make the decision to retire
> my dog, Brie, at the end of this year.  She has slowed down so much
> that I cannot walk with her comfortably, and she does not seem to want
> to work.  Actually, her behavior is misleading.  She wants to work, be
> with me, go places, but guiding seems to be difficult for her.  I
> recently moved to go to grad school on a larger campus.  I do much
> more walking per day than she has been used to.
> 
> Since it is November, and I am still working on my application, I may
> have to wait until the end of next semester for another dog.  This
> means that I will be using the cane full time next semester, and Brie
> will have to live with my mom.  I do use the cane from time to time,
> but using it full time will probably be a huge change for me.  I am
> sure that some of you have experienced.  I can think of many things I
> will have to get used to in the transition from nearly full time dog
> to full time cane use, but if you guys have any other advice, I would
> be very interested.  Also, I am wondering...  Did your friends and
> families treat you differently when you went from using a dog to a
> cane?  Weird question, but my nature is to anticipate everything.
> 
> Any advice you all might have on this transition would be most
> welcome.  I was not expecting to retire Brie this early, but as usual,
> she made up her own mind.  :)
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 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
> 
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