Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
Having the Upper Paw
You may have heard that we guide dogs serve our blind partner.
Well let me set you right. We guide dogs serve ourselves. We do the job purely for our own satisfaction.
Walking down a street is basically a compromise of differing interests. For my blind person the task is merely to get down the street safely.
For me, the job is much more complicated. I must use my skills to lead him and get the most kibble treats as I possibly can.
Here for instance was a real situation: My blind guy and I were walking down the street, I can see a car parked in our way. Taking him in one direction will give me only one treat. Taking him around the obstacle in the opposite direction will give me three possible treats. So which do I take?
The three treat route of course.
I show him the obstacle, get my treat, guide him to the end of the obstacle, another treat, then lead him arounsd the obstacle. Jackpot, third treat.
Just leading around might have given me one treat if he had even noticed that we went off our line.
So when you see a guide dog team at work. Don't feel sorry for the guide dog.He or she has the upper paw at all times. We are smart remember. We do all our work for what we can get out of it. Kibble, lots of kibble.
Well let me set you right. We guide dogs serve ourselves. We do the job purely for our own satisfaction.
Walking down a street is basically a compromise of differing interests. For my blind person the task is merely to get down the street safely.
For me, the job is much more complicated. I must use my skills to lead him and get the most kibble treats as I possibly can.
Here for instance was a real situation: My blind guy and I were walking down the street, I can see a car parked in our way. Taking him in one direction will give me only one treat. Taking him around the obstacle in the opposite direction will give me three possible treats. So which do I take?
The three treat route of course.
I show him the obstacle, get my treat, guide him to the end of the obstacle, another treat, then lead him arounsd the obstacle. Jackpot, third treat.
Just leading around might have given me one treat if he had even noticed that we went off our line.
So when you see a guide dog team at work. Don't feel sorry for the guide dog.He or she has the upper paw at all times. We are smart remember. We do all our work for what we can get out of it. Kibble, lots of kibble.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Meeting a Guide Dog Team
Many people don't meet a guide dog team everyday, so I'd like to let you know the correct way to approach us.
First of all, a blind person and their guide dog are properly called a "Guide Dog Team"
Most people see us guide dogs as friendly and approachable and many think nothing of just reaching out and grabbing at our heads or ears even while working. Doing such a thing is very distracting to us dogs as we work it may cause us to jump, distract us and make any situation dangerous.
The correct way to say hello is to ask our human partner if you may say hello, pet me or such a thing.
Quite often, William, my human partner is ok with people saying hello. Warning him gives him time to give me instructions to break from working and sit quietly.
Some guide dog partners do not like people to pet their dog. This is a personal choice and should be honored. Saying no to you is not personal and is not meant to hurt your feelings, it is just that they know their dog and maybe the dog doesn't take to interruptions in their working very well.
Don't approach a guide dog team in a street crossing or on the approach to a crossing. Those are not the time to want to say hello.
Also please don't offer me treats or throw food down in front of me as I am working. it can be very distracting and lead to accidents. Though we are well trained and well cared for as working guides, we are also dogs and can sometimes be easily distracted.
First of all, a blind person and their guide dog are properly called a "Guide Dog Team"
Most people see us guide dogs as friendly and approachable and many think nothing of just reaching out and grabbing at our heads or ears even while working. Doing such a thing is very distracting to us dogs as we work it may cause us to jump, distract us and make any situation dangerous.
The correct way to say hello is to ask our human partner if you may say hello, pet me or such a thing.
Quite often, William, my human partner is ok with people saying hello. Warning him gives him time to give me instructions to break from working and sit quietly.
Some guide dog partners do not like people to pet their dog. This is a personal choice and should be honored. Saying no to you is not personal and is not meant to hurt your feelings, it is just that they know their dog and maybe the dog doesn't take to interruptions in their working very well.
Don't approach a guide dog team in a street crossing or on the approach to a crossing. Those are not the time to want to say hello.
Also please don't offer me treats or throw food down in front of me as I am working. it can be very distracting and lead to accidents. Though we are well trained and well cared for as working guides, we are also dogs and can sometimes be easily distracted.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
A Guide Dogs Day
Many people think that a guide dogs day is all work.
That is possibly because they might see us in harness, but when we are not in harness we just become another dog.
Well just in case you are wondering here is my typical day:
7am I am up and about. Do my morning stretches and go to the bathroom.
7:30am I have my breakfast and often go into the yard to lay in the sun while it is cool.
9:30 I might have a game of tug rope.
10:00 Put on my harness and lead William the couple of miles to work, or if it is hot lead him onto the bus to ride to work.
10:45 We usually arrive at William's office and I get a chance to relieve again.
11:00 Get a drink of water before going under William's desk to sleep.
3:00 PM I usually wake and go for a relieve break. Sniff around, say hello to friends.
3:15 Back under the desk for more snoozing.
7:30 pm Harness up again to walk or ride home.
8:15 Have dinner.
9:00 PM play with my toys. Chew on my nylabone chews, go-nut stick or wrestle William.
10:00 PM Late Reliving time and go to bed ready for tomorrow.
This would be my typical work day. As you can see there is a lot of downtime for me.
Some days I may not work at all, week-ends I might work only a few minutes like when William wants to go to the movies.
So a guide dogs life is not all work. we get to have lots of fun time too.
That is possibly because they might see us in harness, but when we are not in harness we just become another dog.
Well just in case you are wondering here is my typical day:
7am I am up and about. Do my morning stretches and go to the bathroom.
7:30am I have my breakfast and often go into the yard to lay in the sun while it is cool.
9:30 I might have a game of tug rope.
10:00 Put on my harness and lead William the couple of miles to work, or if it is hot lead him onto the bus to ride to work.
10:45 We usually arrive at William's office and I get a chance to relieve again.
11:00 Get a drink of water before going under William's desk to sleep.
3:00 PM I usually wake and go for a relieve break. Sniff around, say hello to friends.
3:15 Back under the desk for more snoozing.
7:30 pm Harness up again to walk or ride home.
8:15 Have dinner.
9:00 PM play with my toys. Chew on my nylabone chews, go-nut stick or wrestle William.
10:00 PM Late Reliving time and go to bed ready for tomorrow.
This would be my typical work day. As you can see there is a lot of downtime for me.
Some days I may not work at all, week-ends I might work only a few minutes like when William wants to go to the movies.
So a guide dogs life is not all work. we get to have lots of fun time too.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Hello
 |
| Leif, sits beside some fruit bushes. |
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to my new blog. I am very excited to introduce myself to you.
My name is Leif, I am a black Labrador Retriever and a graduate of Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California.
I have been working as a guide dog partner to William since November 2013. We get on well. He is a bit mean giving out the kibble as reward for my great work, but I have my own ways to get those extra bites of kibble.
Life as a working guide dog is not all work of course. There is a lot of downtime and I get to play tug rope and play with my toys.
We also get to meet lots of people as we travel around.
I hope that you will follow my blog. Maybe become a friend and comment on my posts.
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