[nagdu] Perspectives on Guide Dogs

[Craig Heaps]

Rachel:

You're wise to address your concerns beforehand.  However, don't expect 
having a dog to be perfect, or that it can be perfect.  As with spouses, 
partners, children, co-workers, you take the good with the less than good. 
My experience has been mostly positive in the 15 months I've had a guide. 
Here are my answers to your quesitons.

Craig and Chase
craig.heaps at comcast.net


> 1. Based on your experiences, which dog breeds do you feel make the best 
> guide dogs and why?
My dog's a black Lab.  He's great.  I've had a Lab as a pet and I think 
they're great dogs.
>
> 2. How have the dynamics in your home been changed since you got a guide 
> dog, especially your relationships with family and other pets? If so, how 
> do you keep a balance between your relationships?
Our standard poodle loves my Lab. He now has someone to play with when Chase 
is out of harness. My wife loves my guide. She was also the driving force 
behind my getting my guide, having encouraged me to get a dog for years 
before I chose to do so.
>
> 3. Do you feel that people tend to be drawn to you because of your dog 
> rather than your own qualities? If so, have you done anything to change 
> that?
Yes people are drawn to the dog.  I have a sign on his harness handle that 
says, "Do Not Pet Me.  I Am Working".I'm also thinking of wearing a dog nose 
and a tail in hopes someone will want to scratch behind my ears too.
>
> 4. Have any of you ever been aware of housing or job discrimination 
> because of your dog? If so, please explain.
No. None.
>
> 5. Where and when do you believe it is appropriate to have your dog with 
> you, and where and when should one leave the dog at home? For example, is 
> it appropriate to take your dog to a job interview?
I take my dog everywhere. He flies on planes with me, riding under the seat 
in front of me. (Yes, he fits.  I was surprised too.) We go to San Francisco 
Giants games and Stanford football games.  He goes to the grocery store and 
church.  If I have a really long flight (Asia, Australia) I might consider 
not taking him.I retired in April, but before that, he went towork with me 
every day.  Yes, I would absolutely take him to a job interview.
>
> 6. For those of you who are fond of sports such as running, hiking, and 
> the like, are you able to use your dog as a mobility aid while 
> participating in these activities?
>
> 7. Do you think it is appropriate for a mobility instructor te use a guide 
> dog?
Sure. Why not?
>
> 8. What are some of the emotional benefits that your guide dog has 
> provided you?
I love dogs.  He's a great companion. When he's in harness, he's all 
business.  But when he's out of harness, he's a dog -- a great dog.  I sit 
on the floor and he tries to climb in my lap.  He loves to be petted.  He 
loves to play tug.
>
> 9. Have you ever encountered folks who had dog alergies or fear of dogs? 
> If so, how did you deal with that?
Only once. We were in a hotel in Reno and started to get on an elevator.The 
lady on the elevator said she was allergic and started to get off. My wife 
and said, no.  We'll take the next elevator.

>
> 10.  What are some ways of finding a balance between treating your guide 
> dog as a "soul mate" and simply using the guide dog as a mobility aid? I 
> know that some of you might have extremely intimate relationships with 
> your dogs and think of them on equal terms with a child or spouse. While I 
> see nothing wrong with this, I personally do not want to think of my dog 
> that way; I want it simply to be my partner and my companion. I do not 
> want it to get in the way of my relationships with my human family. I 
> also, however, want to give my dog no less attention and love than any 
> animal deserves. What are some ways of developing healthy boundaries with 
> your dog?
>
If your dog is like mine, it will be all business when that harness is on. 
You can be too.  Your safety depends on your dog doing its job.  So you 
treat it firmly and fairly.  You do your best to be clear about what you 
want and quick to correct any inappropriate guiding. Then, the harness comes 
off and you can ease up. Have you had pet dogs before? Your guide will be 
the same in many ways as your pets. You do need to protect your guide in 
some ways.  But my guide has a role in the family that is for my needs and 
safety. The companionship is great too.


> 11. As blind people, we know that using a guide dog instead of a cane 
> makes no difference in the independence of the person. The average sighted 
> person, however, is not educated in our mobility aids, and many of them 
> have their own preconceived ideas about why one may use a cane or a dog. 
> Based on your experiences, do you balieve that the overall public 
> perception would favor a cane user or a dog user? For example, do you 
> believe that you might have a greater chance getting a certain job if you 
> brought your dog or your cane to the interview? Another example: Do you 
> believe that a sighted person would be more or less inclined to want to 
> date a blind person with a dog or without one?
>
How in the world can anyone answer those quesitons?  They dpened pruely on 
the person with whom you're dealing, employer or prospective date.  I don't 
really care one way of the other.  I'm going to have a dog for my needs, not 
based on some projection I make of how people will perceive me. I find a dog 
is a much better mobiilty tool than a cane.  When I leave AT&T Park after a 
Giants game, Chase gets me through the crowd better than I ever dould on my 
own with a cane.

> Those are all my questions for now, and I will be discussing some of them 
> with the folks at Guide Dogs as well. I balieve that in the end, any 
> doubts that I have now will be outweighed by the benefits of having a 
> guide dog. I appologize if any of you are offended by the blundness of 
> some of my question--I have deep respect for all methods in which blind 
> people use for travel, and I understand that everyone has his/her own way 
> of working with a guide dog that works for that person.
>
> Thank you in advance for your responces!
>
> Cheers!
>
> Rachel
>
> rachelgrider.com
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