Category: Let's talk
Someone at work asked me a question today. He asked me why I chose a dog over a cane. I started by elling him that A cane is an amazing travel aid, but my dog does something that it can't. Two days after I got Krieger, we were out on rout with my trainer, and we were passing the opening to an underground parking garage. Its very hard to hear inside unless you are right in front of it, so I just went for it. not two seconds after I started walking, Krieger curled his body in front of mine and forcefully pushed me back onto the sidewalk, as a car fcame shooting out of the garage not two feet in front of me. Show me a cane that can do that.
As someone who can't use a dog, what am I supposed to take away from this story? The moral of all these dog rescue tales seems to be that the world is a dangerous place and the only way to stay safe is to have a dog. Maybe we cane users should all just stay home.
Nice story, and I see the point. I actually hate the whole cane versus guide dog ball cheese, because it's personal preference. They both have their highs and lows, and - not that this post acts like it mind you - you're not less of a person for choosing one over the other. I personally could never imagine having a dog, but that's just because I A: Don't really like dogs and B: probably don't have an active enough lifestyle for a Dog. Now if the new breed of guidedogs had an inate ability to know where things in the city I was looking for are located, then I might reconsider.
I don't think that is the point of this post at all, voyager. What I got from this story was that a dog is there to help you in a way that a cane cannot. This story also shows that the bond between dog and human is meaningful to both in huge ways. If you aren't a dog lover and don't even like dogs though, you would think this is total BS, as you seem to.
Thank you chelsi. I wonder why people get so ass hurt when dog handlers talk about how much they like dogs, and things dogs can do for them that canes can not. as a matter of fact, I still use my cane sometimes, and it is a good tule. But it doesn't have a mind of its own. you can't bond with it. It can't see things that you miss, and it cant spot things you don't hear. that was all I am saying.
I also like Chelsey's post. It definitely is a good story. I don't think he is making your cane the worse thing in the world. There's pros and cons to each tool, whether it's cane or dog. I'd love to have a dog, but I can't keep up with diapers and picking up poop from outside. Then to balance baby and dog. heck no. maybe one day. I kinda teared up when I read this, cute doggie stories are my favorite.
I agree that there are things a dog can do that a cane can't. Quite a few of them. I'm also glad your dog saved your life, as being hit by a car like that would've sucked. Royally. So that's really cool that that happened, and I'm very glad no one was hurt.
I've never had a situation like that crop up before. Have never been basically ambushed by a car that way. This doesn't mean it can't happen, or doesn't happen, only that it's never happened to me. Maybe I'm lucky.
I'm on the cane side of the fence, as other board posts would demonstrate, but I figure it's best for a person to go with what works well for them. A cane has thus well worked extremely well for me, and the things a dog does that a cane can't don't largely impact my life. I don't care that my cane can't find a chair or an elevator or a door, because I can.
I don't get upset when I hear stories like this though. When people share these, they aren't trying to shove their beliefs down your throat. As such, Voyager, I feel like your response is a bit much. Hell, maybe you or I or another cane user would've heard the car and leapt backward in more than enough time to remain uninjured. Without having been there to witness it, there's simply no way of telling. I think the important thing to take away from this is that Chris got lucky because his dog provided something for him that he probably wouldn't have had otherwise. What I don't think we should be taking away from this is that Chris is saying dogs are better than canes, or people with canes are in mortal danger all the time.
Chris may feel that dogs are better than canes though, and who cares? That would be his opinion, and as someone who is waiting to receive my first guide dog myself, I can say that one of the reasons I applied for a guide dog to begin with is because I wholeheartedly believe that a guide dog gives a person much more freedom and mobility than a cane ever could, not to mention the fact that having a guide dog is also a conversational piece for people. Whereas a cane, people are fearful of it.
A dog does bring a lot of attention to you in public. some people like that, some don't. and while I am not trying to say a cane is not a good tule, I was never hit by a car with a dog, ever, and I am a very good cane user. and yet, I was struck by a pickup truck 2 weeks after retiring my first dog. think fate is trying to say something, or it really has a screwed up bit of humar
As someone who can't get a dog guide, I'm frustrated. I was hit by a car, and have permanent damage to my left knee. I'm angered, only because, the guide dog community gave up on folks in wheelchairs. Just because there's only a few of us, they just left us to get hit by those cars. How cold-hearted is that of GDB, and other schools?! I think it's really stupid. I know several friends who'd donate to helping me get a dog guide. But, the chance is lost, and I can never be independent, till that is open again.
I'm glad for LTE and those that have that rescue of a guide. I'm angry, that people stuck in my situation, have to fight, and it appears to be a losing battle. LTE, got any ideas? My left knee, and my anxiety would thank you, for any suggestions. Training my own, is out. Unless, there's a way to get an outcast from a school.
I have an issue with GDB right now, and wouldn't give them a dime, till they fix their mistake. However, if I ever get rich, ha ha ha, not likely but maybe, well, I'd start a school, for people who are rejects from other schools, for stupid reasons. Some people just need a second chance. What's wrong with that?
Someone I know that got rejected, is more worried about their guides, than most people assume. They don't get spoiled, just cared for. If only others I'd met that still get into schools, cared as much.
I was rejected, and now, I cannot travel on my own. So, if I'm a bit bitter, perhaps, I have a darn good reason?
LTE, I am glad your life was saved. If only my friend could've had a guide, her chair might not have been hit by a car. She spent several days in a hospital. People don't watch lower down, so folks in chairs are neglected. When you are blind, cops just say: "You need a caregiver... My tax-dollars are paying for that." a quote from a harassing SPD cop.
So, I'll have my hand held, and take shuttles, till I can fix things.
Blessings,
Sarah
well, I will say that I know for a fact that training a dog for someone in a chair presents many challenges that frankly, are not fare to ask of the dog. Keeping a blind person safe, walking with them, making sure they do not get hurt and they get to where they are going safely while paying attention to everything around both of you takes a lot of energy and focus. So on top of that, your asking them to cary you behind them, keep track of you and your chair, make sure that every path they take will work with your chair, its almost too much for dog guides of late. It would take a special breed, that would have to perform nearly perfectly under stress witch no dog guide does, be extremely strong and ajile in case you two get going at a good speed and you need to stop or change direction rapidly, your asking for a jack of all trades here. lets not forget that guides are not robots, they are dogs at the end of the day. and asking a dog to do that almost isn't fare.
perfectly said chris.
I had a dog for a while. The experience was overwhelming and disorienting. Several people including O&M specialists told me that having a dog would make travel easier but instead it got harder. I also heard that dogs are excellent conversation starters but nobody mentioned that they're terrible conversation continuers. Chelsea, be prepared to give up your solitude if you value it. You'll be answering the same doggy questions over and over again from people who would never have spoken to you with the cane.
I'm not opposed to people like Chris sharing their stories if they're true. My problem is that dogs are usually presented as the safe choice. I'm not suited for a guide dog, but people like to suggest that I get one anyway because it's an easy solution that let's them avoid thinking. We don't talk much about safer or less stressful cane travel because that subject is just too complicated. That goes for O&M instructors as well as blind people.
But the thing that
I knew a blind woman and wheelchair user who had a guide dog. She didn't get it from the usual suppliers of guide dogs though, it was trained by a company that works with general service animals. The dog did have to be big and strong, but it seemed to work.
My sister loves guide dogs and has always had one. I prefer the cane and always have. There is no right or wrong way.
Voyager, I am quite a people person, so I'm looking forward to getting what I would consider good attention from people, once I get a guide dog. Of course you would think that dogs aren't good conversation pieces as a whole Voyager. You have told us that you aren't a dog person. Whereas, those of us who are dog lovers and who've grown up with dogs, will more than likely enjoy the conversations that we'll have with people. Because believe it or not, when you love dogs, you can share stories with people for a while. I'm not saying that I won't experience times that I don't feel like talking to people; what I'm saying is that I wouldn't have applied for a guide dog if I hadn't thought things through thoroughly.
Chelsea, I never said that I wasn't a dog person. In fact I sometimes prefer the company of dogs to people. My problem is that I'm ill-suited to be half of a human-dog team. Being led around is disorienting.
The schools did train several. My chair is electric, and they can be trained to drop their potty in front of the chair. I know it can be successful, if you have the right dog guide. It's just hard finding one that can handle it. I'm not asking them to pull the chair, cause that's just not right. But, I got this new chair all set for guiding training, and GDB quit doing it, and now I have to hope I find a school, that can get a service dog that was originally trained as a guide. That's the problem.
Try Guide Dogs of the Desert (GDD). They custom-train dogs for all kinds of needs that people have. Maybe they would be able to help you.
Thank you. I'm going to wait till I get a permanent place, and then I'll call them.
Blwessings,
Sarah
Well, I'm a cane user but my O&m said that's it's way different getting a guide dog. i'm a dog person but I'm also a cane person too. And wow, glad your dog saved your life, chriss. Although canes are helpful in some ways, I think that dogs are actually trained to stop you if anything dangerous is coming to you.
this is true. a cane can never let you know if there is a silent car rolling up to your crossing that you don't hear or see.
Yeah. When my cane starts talking to me, I'm going to name it KITT.
Blessings,
Sarah