[nagdu] guidedog and mobility skills

[debby phillips]

Hi Nicole, I think that when I got my first dog I thought that it 
would make me less afraid and a better traveler.  And it did.  I 
began going more places on my own, and having a dog did give me 
more of a sense of confidence.  I wouldn't say that I was a great 
traveler when I got my first dog.  Over the years, I improved and 
because I had dogs I got out more than I had.  Then my husband 
and I moved to rural Washington, and I mean rural.  I ended up 
needing to go to CCB to work on my travel skills again.  Now, I'm 
a much better traveler than before, but I am absolutely a better 
traveler with a dog than a cane, and I went all over Denver using 
my cane.  And what about those folks who first used dogs, before 
there were canes? They didn't have OandM instruction.  All I'm 
trying to say is that I do believe that there are people who do 
quite well with dogs but are terrible cane travelers.  Don't ask 
me how it works for them, but it does.  Maybe they travel in 
limited routes, or whatever but as long as the dog helps them, 
who am I to judge tone else?    Blessings,    Debby and Neena