(VICT) Re: escallator travel
- From: "DIANNE B. PHELPS AND PRIMROSE" <d.bphelps@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:55:44 -0700
Kitty,
I only had limited experience with escallator training with one of my dogs,
but I found it the neatest thing I had ever seen. When I went back to get
Primrose, and because I now have some balance issues, I did not take the
training.
It is my feeling, however, that if the dogs do not learn how to place their
feet carefully, they can get their paws cut and caught. I know GDB resisted
doing this type of training for quite a long time because they felt it was
dangerous. Because of our BART system in the Bay Area, many students
insisted they must have that ability because, as you said, there are times
when you must enter in a certain area where there are no stairs or elevator.
I would say that you might seek further training for you and your dog to see
whether she will be willing to get on an escallator again as sometimes, once
they are injured like that, they won't be willing to return.. I don't know
if there is any information on how often injuries of this nature occur,
though we were told that unless we used the escallators regularly and often
to keep up the skill, it would be something we shouldn't do as without that
continued experience, it would not be safe.
I hope your dog's paw is doing fine. It may well be that the stitches are
itching her, making her want to lick and bother her foot. Hopefully, she
hasn't bothered the healing. Good luck with all of this.
Dianne and Primrose
----- Original Message -----
From: "kitty hevener" <khevener@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "visually impaired clicker trainers" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 9:41 AM
Subject: (VICT) escallator travel
> Hi Everyone, I am wondering if you take your guide or service dog on
> escallators. If so, have you ever had your dog get injured? A few years
> ago, at an acb convention, I had an instructor from my school teach me and
> my dog how to do escallator travel. I decided to do that after having to
> wait forever for an elevator. All went well, and we traveled by
> escallator
> for the past 3-4 years. Unfortunately, on jul 13, 3 hours in to my short
> stay in toronto, something went very very wrong!! As we were getting off
> the up escallator, my girl started yelping very loudly. I immediately
> started yelling for someone to stop the escallator. I was loosing my
> balance as well. The end result was that she had to have stitches in her
> back paw. The vet said that he could see the tissue, but he did not see
> any
> damage to her ligaments muscles, or tendons. I honostly do not know how
> the
> accident happened. And, I really feel horrible as the last thing I would
> ever want is to cause her any pain. Friends have asked if we will
> continue
> escallator travel. At this point, I am not sure I will ever be able to do
> it again. Yet, at times, there doesn't seem to be any other alternative.
>
> Any thought as to how such an accident could have occurred? Btw, her
> nails
> did not get caught at all. My vet said her injury is healing nicely. I
> have an appointment on tuesday and am hoping they will remove the
> stitches,
> if there are any left. A friend who is a physician's assistant changed
> her
> bandage yesterday, and, shortly after he left, I discovered that she had
> pulled it off and was licking the paw. Got another bandage on and she
> managed to take it and a boot that have had on her when she goes outside,
> off and was again licking the area. A neighbor who is a nurse helped me
> bandage it again. She couldn't tell if sunstar had done any damage.
> Until
> yesterday, I had been able to give her bully sticks and other things to
> distract her from trying to get the bandage off. I am wondering if her
> instincts are telling her that it is time to remove the stitches and that
> is
> what she is attempting to do. Any thoughts?
>
>
>
>
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