[nagdu] issue with guide dog eating snow that is fresh

[Debby Phillips]

I think my first dog got tons of leash corrections.  Of course, 
she was stubborn and kind of a brat, so lots of times she 
deserved them.  Although Seeing Eye (thank God) is still old 
school for most things, each dog has its own personality and it 
takes time to get to know your dog.  When not working, it works 
better for Neena if I get her to come to me, and take what she 
has out of her mouth.  But for some dogs, that doesn't work.  I 
stuck to what my school taught, especially with my first dog.  If 
Pilot has taught that their students should use leash 
corrections, and John is a new handler, then I guess I'd say, 
until you really know your dog, stick with what the school says.  
At this point, they probably still know the dog better than John 
does.  In a few months, that won't be the case.

One more thing I want to say here, and maybe this is just my own 
personal gripe.  I feel like people who prefer "old school" 
methods get looked down on on this list, and I think that should 
stop.  It's fine to make suggestions, but sometimes people just 
sound so didactic and stern that I feel like I've been leash 
corrected.  Lol.  I did think that Nicole was a little harsh.  
John was probably responding in the way that his school taught 
him to, so who are any of us to say he was being harsh? I don't 
know Molly, but I do know Goldens, especially female.  Sometimes 
you  have to nip bad behavior, or undesirable behavior in the 
bud.  If he had Molly out to do her business, that's what she 
should be doing.  If Neena and I are out in the snow and she's 
supposed to be at parktime, then I'm not going to let her eat 
snow, or roll around in the snow.  I want her to relieve.  She 
can and does get off-leash freedom because we have a fenced yard, 
and then she can and does roll in the snow, probably eats some, 
and has a great time.  But she knows what the words park time 
mean.  And I'm sure by now Molly knows whatever words Pilot uses 
to indicate to the dog that it's time to relieve.    Peace,    
Debby