[NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes

Tue Apr 19 16:06:39 UTC 2016

Too true.  But you guys, this is coming from Aleeha's school. or someone 
representing her guide dog school in an official capacity.

I have more to say about this and will bombard the list with my thoughts 
momentarily, so consider yourself warned.  LOL

Lisa

Lisa Belville
missktlab1217 at frontier.com

Never make the same mistake twice. There are so many new ones, try a 
different one each day.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Weiner via NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes

> Good for you, Sandra, someone who actually tells it like it is.
>
> Warmest regards,
> Dan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 11:11 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: S L Johnson
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes
>
> Hello:
>
> Oh, I hate this topic.  It always makes my blood boil when people claim a
> cane is better than a guide dog.  Are they completely stupid?  I have 
> worked
> in many unfamiliar areas both with a cane and with a dog.  I find the dog 
> to
> be much more soupier to the cane in an unfamiliar area.  You cannot ask 
> your
> cane to find curbs, steps, seats,elevators, check in or check out 
> counters,
> the bus entrance, doors, get you safely on and off a train  etc...  Anyone
> who tells you a cane is better in unfamiliar places is just not telling 
> you
> the truth.  They obviously do not truly understand how a guide dog is
> trained and how they work.  I love traveling in unfamiliar airports, 
> hotels,
> cities and have my dog find the things I ask her to find with confidence 
> and
> joy in her work.  As long as you give plenty of encouragement when your 
> dog
> is hesitant and then follow up with plenty of praise when the dog
> successfully follows your commands, you should do just fine.  I never 
> would
> have traveled to many of the places I have been with my guide dogs in the
> past 40 years if I had to do it with a cane.  After all, the cane is just 
> a
> useless stick and a guide dog is a very intelligent, highly trained 
> capable
> partner to ensure your safe travel.  No way is a cane better than a dog.
> Come on folks, get real, the guide dog is the only way to be totally
> independent without looking stupid swinging that dumb stick around.  Just
> ask any sighted person observing us travel at our conventions.  They all 
> say
> the dog people get around much better than the canes and they don't trip 
> up
> all the people with the overly long canes.  Dogs are the best!!!
>
> Sandra and Golden Retriever, Eva
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Weiner via NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:49 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Dan Weiner
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes
>
> I just think as everyone said, go ahead with whatever you feel comfortable
> doing and don't pay attention to any nay-sayers.
>
> I've met people who say they use the cane in unfamiliar environments, if 
> it
> works for them that's fine, though honestly I've found it is oof very 
> little
> use to go over an outdoor environment with a cane before I usee a dog. 
> I've
> sometimes gone over in door environments with a cane, say my office when I
> was working to know every nok and cranny, every chair and so on, or maybe 
> a
> classroom.  But for travel basically it's the dog if I'm using a dog and
> maybe a folding cane in my backpack if I really need to check something.
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Dan the man, Parker the hound
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:38 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Julie McGinnity
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes
>
> Hi all,
>
> I agree with what's been said...  And I'll take it a step further...
>
> We should expect that we will get lost with our dogs.  It will happen at
> least once, if not multiple times.  And we must know how our dogs react to
> this.  Of course, it is ideal to know exactly where we're going so that we
> can give our dog clear directions, but navigating the world can be rather
> like navigating life.  We do not always know where we're going, even when 
> we
> think we do.
>
> So do you know how your dog reacts when you're lost.  My first dog would
> work but got really stressed out.  My current dog probably thinks it's a
> game and loves it because I ask him for more targets when I don't know
> what's around me.  As long as I tell him he's a good boy, he's on board. 
> :)
>
> These dogs should have the training to work with us under a majority of 
> the
> circumstances in which we find ourselves.  There is no reason we should be
> afraid of working them in new environments or expect that we will always 
> no
> where we are headed when we're using our dogs.  If you feel more 
> comfortable
> with your cane in a new environment and wish to use it, then go for it. 
> But
> if you would rather work the dog, or if you want your dog with you for the
> rest of the travel involved in your plans, then excellent.  In the end,
> Aleeha, you know yourself and your dog best, and that matters the most.
>
> On 4/19/16, Star Gazer via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> The dog should do what it's told, in that
> your commands should be
>> conveyed in a manner that is easy for you and that the dog can 
>> understand.
>> Who is pushing back and why do you care? I mean, if it's the mail man,
>> it doesn't matter what he thinks, at least not in this situation. If
>> it's someone who trained the dog and is trying to excuse poor
>> training, then you need to decide what you'll do about it... not use a
> dog? Get another dog?
>> Get a dog from another school? Talk to the owner trainers to see what
>> suggestions they may have? You have a lot of options.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha
>> Dudley via NAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 8:41 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes
>>
>> Hey all,
>> I'm writing to seek your opinion on something that I've been pondering
>> for a while. Do you guys find that it is reasonable to go to a brand
>> new city with your dog, get directions to go somewhere, and get there,
>> while still using the dog, even if the area is unknown? Am I wrong in
>> thinking that the dog should listen to what you need, and not have a
>> massive panic? I've gotten some push back from people on this and
>> wanted
> to see your thoughts.
>> Thanks
>> Aleeha
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> Julie A. McGinnity
> President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division, 
> Second
> Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri "For we walk 
> by
> faith, not by sight"
> 2 Cor. 7
>
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