Dog parks in general are not the best places for guides. At least here in Boston, I scope out a park before I let Judson in it, and Gwenna we will progress to that point, smile. Sometimes they can be dog fight centeral, or dirty. Others of course are nice, wonderful places for pups to play and great places for socializing. Depends on the neighbors and the neighborhood and the dogs and their owners. But as a "general" guideline, guide dog handlers are discouraged smile, unless they can check it out first, which Kitty does. Smile. it is the same as the "rule" that says, no natural sterilized bones. Um, ooops, she is eating one right now, with peanut butter in the middle of it. As a gernal rule, it is not cool for dogs to have these but I know Gwenna won't do anything dangerous with it. As my trainers told me at GDB. We train for the generic, generalized guide dog handler, your job is to customize. But for first time handlers that can be a difficult challenge, hence the "guide lines" that the school suggest to graduates. If you understand doggy psych, and can handle the extra stuff then great, if not, the guidelines have proven to produce safe and working dogs, smile. Which is what the schools want out there working, smile. And sometimes it is just enough to get someone to "follow" the very obvious common sense rules, not to mention the "gray areas". Am thinking of a dog handler, first time, who called the school in horror a week after she brought her new dog home. Dog had eaten a poisonous mushroom, unknown to the student and the dog died. Reson it happened, student didn't. Keep their dog on leash and tie down, until they found out what interested their dog. It was not what the school highly suggested, and in this case the dog died because of it. Common Sense as we know is a beautiful gift when it is present, smile. Shelley L. Rhodes M.A., VRT, CTVI and Guinevere, Golden lady Guide juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc. Graduate Alumni Association Board www.guidedogs.com More than Any other time, When i hold a beloved book in my hand, my limitations fall from me, my spirit is free. - Helen Keller ----- Original Message ----- From: <Infinitepaws@xxxxxxx> To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 12:32 PM Subject: (VICT) Re: Off-leash? In a message dated 9/9/2007 9:28:40 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, khevener@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: very rarely shared this info with other dog guide users because their comments made me feel as though I was doing something absolutely taboo!! So, out of curiosity, what is the reasoning? Sandy Foushee Infinite Paws-Abilities Training and Service Dogs Teamed with Alexandra Guide/Service Dog Colorado Service/Assistance Dog Club - Trainer.- ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.10/995 - Release Date: 9/8/2007 1:24 PM