Clearing things up
I have realized that I have become an anti-social hermit. More and more I am becoming awkward socializing even with people I know, but don't feel 100% comfortable with. I'm going increasing cranky with the world, especially the people I know as well. I tend to stress myself out way too much and it's hard to deal with the whole brand new guide dog handling when you are stressed out.
I have allowed people to talk me into stuff that I knew I shouldn't be doing right now, like allowing my guide to hang out and be a dog with new people. I know she is a very friendly dog and it can cause issues in harness, so why did I let her be a social butterfly last night? I felt pressured to that's why. After explaining this to His Tallest, he said they would have understood and excepted that Maylee can't be a social butterfly. I felt that wasn't the case, maybe it was just me though. At first when I got my dog home, I put my foot down, but after a few weeks of being home, not feeling well and really shitty weather I have been a bit too lenient with my dog and her interacting with the people in my household. Today I noticed that she was trying to visit every single person that we came across even if they were across the street. I thought she would understand that out of harness when I say it's ok to visit people it's fine, but in harness she is working and should not be solicitous. I was wrong. I'm still getting to know my dog and she, I, it's going to take months for things to go smoothly and I should have waiting a bit longer start allowing her to hang out with people especially people who don't live in my house.
I'm having another issue. The fact that I have a bit of trouble trying to get people to understand how to interact with a guide dog and guide dog handler. At times, everything works out and people listen and other times it seems like they are not even listening or digesting what I'm saying. Here are some tips for all you out there in LJ land.
Here's a link to some tips from GDB on meeting guide dog teams as well, click here. and here's some etiquette on meeting a blind person, click here.
Also there is no need to be afraid of a guide dog because they are some of the most friendly and passive dogs I've ever met. I've come across a lot of people who were afraid of dogs and I have introduced them to my guide and they now feel comfortable around friendly dogs especially if they are well-controlled by their owner. Another question that has popped up is how do I deal with meeting a guide dog team when I have my pet dog with me, follow this link to some handy suggestions and tips.
Now here is one of my biggest pet peeves lately when people in the public have tried to interact with us. They always say "Oh she/he is training" and start asking me training questions. I try to tell them as polite as I can that I'm legally blind and this is MY guide dog and we have recently graduated from our formal training together. When I tell them this I get a few different replies but the most common that annoy me are "Oh, I'm sorry" (usually in terms of the fact that I'm legally blind not that they assumed wrong) or "But you don't look blind" I have now meet many guide dog handlers and none of us "look" blind especially when we are working with our dogs. Guide dogs help us to move confidently outside our homes without our white canes or having someone as a sighted guide. Now there are many types of vision loss and different degrees of blindness, some people have only central vision, others may only have light perception, others may have only peripheral or even just spots all over the place and even no vision at all. If varies person to person as well as how or why the person has had vision loss. Another common question I always come across is if you are blind, why are you wearing glasses? There are people who are legally blind or VI (whatever you want to call it) who wear glasses, I know that some people may find this confusing, but what glasses do is enhance the vision that is still available to the person who is blind/vi. Glasses can not correct vision that is NOT there, for example I have limited functional central vision in my right eye, but my glasses do not show me things that are in my peripheral. If you have any questions to ask me feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them to the best of my ablity. Well I gotta run Maylee needs to go outside! Take care
I have allowed people to talk me into stuff that I knew I shouldn't be doing right now, like allowing my guide to hang out and be a dog with new people. I know she is a very friendly dog and it can cause issues in harness, so why did I let her be a social butterfly last night? I felt pressured to that's why. After explaining this to His Tallest, he said they would have understood and excepted that Maylee can't be a social butterfly. I felt that wasn't the case, maybe it was just me though. At first when I got my dog home, I put my foot down, but after a few weeks of being home, not feeling well and really shitty weather I have been a bit too lenient with my dog and her interacting with the people in my household. Today I noticed that she was trying to visit every single person that we came across even if they were across the street. I thought she would understand that out of harness when I say it's ok to visit people it's fine, but in harness she is working and should not be solicitous. I was wrong. I'm still getting to know my dog and she, I, it's going to take months for things to go smoothly and I should have waiting a bit longer start allowing her to hang out with people especially people who don't live in my house.
I'm having another issue. The fact that I have a bit of trouble trying to get people to understand how to interact with a guide dog and guide dog handler. At times, everything works out and people listen and other times it seems like they are not even listening or digesting what I'm saying. Here are some tips for all you out there in LJ land.
- Never pet a guide dog, ask first and respect the handler's answer if it's no there is a valid reason
- Address the handler (the person working with the guide dog) not the dog, guide dogs take directions from their handlers only not others. When giving directions use directions like left or right, not the common "over there" and point, even if the person is legally blind with some functional vision
- If a guide dog team is working, try your best to ignore them. Please do not grab the handler, the harness handle or the dog to direct them, really they know what they are doing even if it may not look like it to you. If the team needs help, most likely the handler will ask. For example, when coming out of buildings my dog is trained to take me to the curb if I do not give her any directional commands, this looks like my dog is taking me into traffic if you are not aware that the guide dog is showing his or her handler the curb.
- If you have questions, please try to refrain asking them as the guide dog team is working past you. Most likely you will be ignored because they are concentrating on getting to their destination. If you are ignored, really it's not a big deal and you don't have to make it one. Remember a guide dog is a mobility tool like a car and if someone was yelling questions at you when you are driving most of the time you won't stop your car to answer them in the middle of the road or if you are in a hurry to get some place.
- Do NOT try to feed a working guide. Guide dogs are trained to refuse food, but they are dogs and still might take your offer. Many guide dogs are on special diets to make sure they do not be obese and there are many other reasons that I don't really have time to go into.
Here's a link to some tips from GDB on meeting guide dog teams as well, click here. and here's some etiquette on meeting a blind person, click here.
Also there is no need to be afraid of a guide dog because they are some of the most friendly and passive dogs I've ever met. I've come across a lot of people who were afraid of dogs and I have introduced them to my guide and they now feel comfortable around friendly dogs especially if they are well-controlled by their owner. Another question that has popped up is how do I deal with meeting a guide dog team when I have my pet dog with me, follow this link to some handy suggestions and tips.
Now here is one of my biggest pet peeves lately when people in the public have tried to interact with us. They always say "Oh she/he is training" and start asking me training questions. I try to tell them as polite as I can that I'm legally blind and this is MY guide dog and we have recently graduated from our formal training together. When I tell them this I get a few different replies but the most common that annoy me are "Oh, I'm sorry" (usually in terms of the fact that I'm legally blind not that they assumed wrong) or "But you don't look blind" I have now meet many guide dog handlers and none of us "look" blind especially when we are working with our dogs. Guide dogs help us to move confidently outside our homes without our white canes or having someone as a sighted guide. Now there are many types of vision loss and different degrees of blindness, some people have only central vision, others may only have light perception, others may have only peripheral or even just spots all over the place and even no vision at all. If varies person to person as well as how or why the person has had vision loss. Another common question I always come across is if you are blind, why are you wearing glasses? There are people who are legally blind or VI (whatever you want to call it) who wear glasses, I know that some people may find this confusing, but what glasses do is enhance the vision that is still available to the person who is blind/vi. Glasses can not correct vision that is NOT there, for example I have limited functional central vision in my right eye, but my glasses do not show me things that are in my peripheral. If you have any questions to ask me feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them to the best of my ablity. Well I gotta run Maylee needs to go outside! Take care