(VICT) Re: Dream Breed
- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:14:23 -0400
yeah, it wasn't as I planned, and I know the apt. omplex would probably give
me an allowance, but again I am single and the poor pup would be stuck here
all alone, and he is such a social dog.
Some days I go out at six thirty and don't come back till nine o'c at night,
especially if I need to fgo to Newton.
I do have two good homes lined up for him whenever that day comes either his
puppy raiser or my parents, my parents have first choice.
And I know he will be happy in those homes, and that I will be able to see
him if I want to. But indeed it is hard, and is why I am making the plans
now.
Shelley L. Rhodes B.S. Ed, CTVI
and Judson, guiding golden
juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Alumni Association Board
www.guidedogs.com
Dog ownership is like a rainbow.
Puppies are the joy at one end.
Old dogs are the treasure at the other.
Carolyn Alexander
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sheila Styron" <sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 3:25 PM
Subject: (VICT) Re: Dream Breed
My heart goes out to you. I know some handlers just don't have a good
option for being able to keep their dogs.
Sheila Styron, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
816-363-3172
sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shelley
L. Rhodes
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 12:11 PM
To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: (VICT) Re: Dream Breed
Smile, GDB does use clicker training and teaching tricks to their
career
changed dogs.
In my case it is really not possible or in my mind fair for my dog to be
stuck in this apartment for sometimes fourteen hours a day whout people
to
give him love an attention. Which is why I can't keep him when he
retires
whenever that is, smile.
Shelley L. Rhodes B.S. Ed, CTVI
and Judson, guiding golden
juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Alumni Association Board
www.guidedogs.com
Dog ownership is like a rainbow.
Puppies are the joy at one end.
Old dogs are the treasure at the other.
Carolyn Alexander
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brenda-Ann Gillis" <hc89x48@xxxxxxxx>
To: "Blind Clicker" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 9:39 AM
Subject: (VICT) Dream Breed
Thanks to all who provided more info about what they have on duty out
there.
Yes, I did get the "dream dog" and what I described is my Ivy girl.
Although she is a lab, she has never scavanged or taken food from anyone
but me while working. In fact, this dog can lay on the floor at
McDonalds with a french fry at her nose and not touch it. Ivy is a
terrific Frisbee player and loves the game so much it is difficult to
convince her that she is getting tired. I have done a lot of advocacy
work and we have traveled the Nation safely and efficiently. At
speaking engagements with small children, I demonstrate her abilities
and she is extremely focused on the task at hand. After the flawless
demonstration, I take her out of harness and she dives into the group of
children wagging and kissing. She even seems to know if a child is
fearful of dogs and has been known to approach that child ever so slowly
on her belly in a crawl -- gentle and coaxing -- this is usually the kid
who falls madly in love with my dog. Ivy also can't be bothered with my
praise while working either, but when we get home she grabs a Frisbee
and clearly communicates that its her time now. A week ago my
Grandmother fell while the family was outside and Ivy laid in her lap so
she couldn't get up until someone was there to assist her. Now you all
know why I just want to clone this dog!
Unfortunately, Ivy is now eleven. She is still safe in the field, but I
am beginning to notice more sniffing, a slower pace, signs of
nervousness on busy streets and a greater degree of "socializing" during
coffee hour at church.
In preparing for Ivy's retirement, I have been working with our
puppy-raiser who Ivy adores and is well-versed in clicker training. We
started by teaching Ivy to file her own nails -- scratching on a piece
of plywood covered with non-skid sand paper stuff. It was extremely
slow going at first as she was never asked to offer a behavior before.
We hit a tremendous block in the beginning with Ivy frustrated because I
would not tell her what I wanted her to do. In time she began offering
everything she did know, but scratching the board or any proximity
thereof was not in the bag of tricks. We stuck with it and I was so
excited I could burst when she finally got it. Now we are starting to
shape other behaviors and having a great deal of fun. It is my hope
that by giving Ivy a new role in my life that the process of retiring
will be easier for her. In fact, if this works for us I have to wonder
if it isn't something schools should consider teaching those ggrads that
are beginning to consider re-tredding. I have to ask how many blind
people would be able to keep their guides after retirement as pets if a
method could be developed that made life with the new guide more
tolerable for the retiree.
Thanks again for listening to me brag. It is scary for me to imagine my
life without Ivy in the harness. I also know I need to begin thinking
about it now so that when Ivy tells me its time, I'll have a plan in
place. In my heart I know that my next dog won't be Ivy and she will
just have to hold that special corner of my soul -- the one and only
one that blesses you completely. Who knows though maybe I will get
lucky twice -- God does look after fools, drunks and blind people. VBG
Respectfully,
Brenda
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.5.5/769 - Release Date: 4/19/2007
5:56 PM
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.5.5/769 - Release Date: 4/19/2007
5:56 PM
Other related posts:
