[NAGDU] Shopping with a guide dog and indoor relieving?

Tue Jun 4 19:06:32 UTC 2019

There are a few different techniques I was taught in training while in
the grocery store, and I find most of them helpful in different
situations.
* If you are with another person, you can have the dog follow them.
It's easier if the person tells you when they are turning, or makes a
quiet intermittent sound like snapping their fingers ever few seconds
so you can make sure to reinforce your dog for following
appropriately.
* Again if you are with another person, they can pull the cart from
the front, while you hold onto the push bar and heel your dog.
* Carrying a basket is easier than a cart if you are only getting a
few items. Hold the basket in front of you, so it is easier for the
dog to clear obstacles.
* You can work your dog, and pull the cart behind you.

Others have given you good suggestions for carrying groceries home.

Encouraging a dog to relieve inside is probably not the best idea.
Most thoroughly housebroken dogs are going to be extremely resistant
to it anyway, and cleaning up after a large dog isn't going to be fun
even with potty pads.

It's kind of one of the down sides of dog ownership. You must take the
dog out regardless of the weather. If you have an area outside that is
covered, by all means use it in bad weather. I often will take my dogs
out a little closer to the door when it is raining, but we're still
getting wet. I was able to convince my last dog to relieve in an
airport relieving area after much sniffing of previous dogs' scents.
It was in a garage type of place with an outdoor feel though. If it
were in a small indoor room, there is no way that would happen.

Danielle

On 6/4/19, Julie Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> At the store I get a store employee or my own shopper/reader person to push
>
> the cart.   I try to keep them talking so I can follow and give my dog
> directions.
>
> When I leave the store, if I have only a few things I have a backpack or I
> will use a reusable grocery bag and carry it in my right hand. I also have a
>
> pull behind cart that is about the size of a milk crate that works well for
>
> heavier things.  Usually though I have transportation home.  The store where
>
> I do most of my shopping has people to carry your stuff to the car.
>
> My dogs get a bit confused about the pull behind cart at first, but after a
>
> block or two we've got it worked out and operating smoothly.
>
> My boy dog will use the indoor relief area at the airport, if he has to go
> bad enough.  No way would my girl dog do any such thing as to disgrace
> herself indoors.   She doesn't like going outside in bad weather either.  I
>
> try to take advantage of breaks in the rain to take her out, if I can,
> otherwise she'll have to deal with it.  I do try to find a place that is on
>
> the lee side and protected a bit from the wind or a building overhang if I
> can.  Honestly though we are just going to get wet/cold/sweaty sometimes.
>
> I keep all the dog's stuff, pick up baggies, hand sanitizer, gentle leader
> or whatever in a bag attached to the dog's harness.  I only carry around
> treats with a new dog or if I'm working on something new.  Most treat
> pouches have extra pockets where you could keep bags, hand sanitizer or
> other small items.  I haven't carried a purse in years.  If my stuff doesn't
>
> fit in the dog's harness pouch, in my pockets or in my wallet, it stays at
> home.   I do take more stuff when I travel out of town, but it goes in the
> suitcase.
>
> HTH
> Julie
> On The Go with Guide-and-Service-Dogs.com
> http://www.guide-and-service-dogs.com
> also find my products in the Blind Mice Mega Mall
> <https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory_Departments?storeid=1916046>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandra Gayer via NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2019 6:15 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Sandra Gayer
> Subject: [NAGDU] Shopping with a guide dog and indoor relieving?
>
> Hello Everyone,
> I've been researching, using books and lectures, as well as going over
> recollections of guide dog teams I have come into contact with, in
> real life. I'm back with more questions, if that's alright.
>
> Assuming I have a treatbag on my belt, a bag of plastic/paper bags for
> relieving purposes in another belt bag, an across the body handbag
> with stuff I'd need for myself like tissues and eyewash hand
> sanitiser, somewhere for a towel or kitchen roll to wipe the dog
> before getting into cars or clean buildings like shopping centres,
> where is the shopping going to go? How do I carry it? Keeping in mind
> that, if possible, I'd need a hand which could be made available
> quickly if I fell. Has anyone had good, or bad, experienceswith pull
> along cases/trolleys? Pulling behind you or in front of you?
> Backpacks? This last would be worse and could do damage if I fell but
> I cold be wrong about this.
>
> Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.
> Very best wishes,
> Sandra.
> My other question is, if the weather is bad, how do you get the dog to
> relieve indoors or at least undercover where there's no grass?
>
> --
> Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.
>
> Soprano Singer
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