[NAGDU] {Spam?} Re: something that happened to me today

[Tami Jarvis]

I also find the "just doing her job, ma'am," approach works best, when I 
remember to do that first. Or, with the trainee, "he needs to learn." 
What really makes me grit my teeth is the guy who holds the door open 
with his arm across the opening at head height, often while partially 
blocking the opening with his body... Then calls my dog impatiently or 
huffs at me or both. Okay, so a lot of the time, that guy is my husband. 
Maybe that's why it seems to be a guy thing, especially fairly tall 
guys... They're probably used to us l'il ol' gals being able to duck 
under their arms as we squeeze through or something, so it works just 
fine. Then I come along with my cane and bump my head on their arm or 
try to go through the wall because I assume they wouldn't be standing 
*in* the doorway while I'm trying to walk through... Then I come along 
with my dog, and my dog treats them like an obstacle. Hubby usually 
remembers now, but sometimes I have to remind him. Sigh.

Help with escalators was the real nightmare with Mitzi. I nearly ended 
up falling on my head when I got on just as a helper grabbed her harness 
handle, which freaked her out. It was her second time on the escalator, 
so she was still a bit hesitant to begin with, and the grab was just too 
much. So I had to let go of the leash, just as he let go, so there I was 
going up while they ran around below. I was terrified she would go on 
the escalator and get her leash caught, but somehow he caught her and 
got her up to me and was so apologetic I couldn't go for his throat as I 
wanted to. We had some successful escalator rides, so I thought we were 
good, but then we were about to get on an escalator when a crowd walked 
up, and Mitzi balked. This time, I managed to run down the up escalator 
to reconnect with my dog who was trying to get to me while avoiding 
being grabbed. What a circus. Sigh. I must have developed the art of 
looking forbidding around escalators, because we never had a repeat. Whew!

I've also had people show me the push button for disabled people to open 
the door, and I think at least one has rushed to push it for me. At 
least it didn't catch my toes. The logic seems to be that since the 
button is for disabled people who can't open the door manually, all 
disabled people must not be able to open a door by themselves. 
Attempting to point out that blindness doesn't stop me opening doors and 
that it's easier to find the door handle than the button doesn't seem to 
get through that logic. More sighs.

I think once the dog has learned the skill of showing the button, then 
having someone push it doesn't mess things up too badly. To get the dog 
solid, though, you either need to find deserted elevators or have the 
dog show you even after a human has done so. If you hear a human coming 
in time, you can also just amaze them by glibly announcing that you're 
teaching the dog to show you the button or that the dog is showing you 
the button. That's fascinating! /lol/

Good luck. She'll get it one way or the other.

Tami

On 03/30/2016 06:22 AM, Julie J. via NAGDU wrote:
> When stuff like this happens to me, I just politely tell the person that
> the dog needs to show me or that I'm working on a new skill with her.  I
> let them know I appreciate the gesture, but that I'd appreciate it even
> more if they'd move along.  Mostly it works.
>
> The other day I was at the school just as it was getting out.  Jetta
> took me up to the door closest to the push button you have to ring so
> they will let you in.  It's a security thing.  Anyhow there were lots of
> people coming out other doors.  Some lady was holding a different door
> for me and trying to talk me into using that one, which is fine except
> there were kids still coming out.  Jetta of course, is not going to
> trample kids so she can go through, which the lady didn't understand.
> Apparently she thought the kids should move out of the way.  Finally I
> told the lady that the dog needed to make the decision and do her job,
> which seemed to make sense to the lady and we finally got in the
> building without trampling children.
>
> I get you though.  Sometimes it just feels like a much, much bigger deal
> than it needs to be.  99% of the time I'm fine with the explaining and
> the patience.  Every now and then though, I've just had enough.  I
> remember once Monty had stopped and indicated the door to me.  I was
> reaching for the handle when some well meaning person pushed the
> automatic door opener button.  The door swung open and mashed my toes in
> the process.  I think there were bad words involved that day.
>
> I do my best, and when I don't, I breathe and remind myself that there
> will be many, many more opportunities to do better.
>
> Julie
> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now
> available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
>
>
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