Baby Dragon

Teebs if that's the only one you got wrong (and only because you missed a word in the question!) then you're doing really well!!! :rolleyes:

Actually, most people have done very well - the average score is about 9/11

Thanks for the pictures, Mindy is adorable :rolleyes:

I'll go have a look in those other threads too, thanks

Yes, I am a guide dog puppy walker. Mindy is my first guide dog puppy, I've only had her for 5 days.

It is quite annoying though that when people find out she is a guide dog puppy they go on forever about how hard it would be to give the puppy back and how they couldn't do it etc. It makes me feel like they think that I must have a cold heart or something for being able to give the puppy back I know how hard it will be to give her back, but in the end she will hopefully be able to make someones life so much easier and enjoyable, so it will be worth the pain.

One lady said to me she would purposely train the dog to be naughty so it failed everything- how selfish! :rolleyes:

Mindy's a cute name Are there any photos of her? I'd love to see!

When I was in high school our family puppy walked two Guide Dog puppies too. It *is* very hard giving them back, I cried both times, but at the same time it was really nice to know they were going to help somebody who really needed them. I don't think the people are trying to say you have a cold heart or anything (though I understand how you might take it that way.) We used to get the same sorts of comments too. I think it's more that they're admiring what you're doing and that you'll willingly go through training her and giving her back just to be able to help somebody who needs her. I found it helped me to keep reminding myself that they weren't mine, but to be honest I don't think it's really possible to do the job of a puppy walker properly without getting at least a little bit attached!

When I went to do team training with my own Assistance Dog and take her home with me for the first time, it was such a happy time for me, but at the same time I felt sad for the puppy walker because I know how hard it can be. Seeing it from both sides has been interesting.

Anyway.. puppy pictures.. please!!! :D

Got one wrong

Assistance dogs are awesome though, what they can do is very impressive!

When i went to pick up my guide dog puppy, there was a sign with etiquette guidelines- one was "speak to the person and not to the dog"- who would speak to the dog, if the person was right there??? The way it was worded was pretty funny, it made it sound like there were people who actually had a converstaion with the dog, not the person!

You'd be very surprised!! This is not an uncommon scenario - I walk into a shop and the shopkeeper doesn't make eye contact with me and just looks and smiles at my dog... "Hello little puppy wuppy wuppy. Oh yes you're a good girl aren't you.. Oh yes you are!!" I have to wait for the conversation to end before I can get a word in :D

Are you a Guide Dog puppy walker? ;)

:D A couple of questions made me think - but i got 100% Thanks.

Well if you had got one wrong, I think there would have been a mistake in the quiz!

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story....-dogs-etiquette

Thanks Baby dragon, I got 1 wrong, but I learnt from it!

Heres one day hoping I can have one of my dogs trained as an Assistance Dog and be as helpful as they are in the USA.

Thanks for the link

J

I'm glad you found it interesting :D I think it would be awesome to have one of your dogs trained as an Assistance Dog one day!

We use Ruffwear boots for the roads in Summer, I'm very happy with them and the dogs don't mind them once they get used to them.

Dogs that don't shed at all tend to have high maintenance coats like Poodles. Some of the single coated breeds (like the Greys) don't shed very much, double coated breeds shed a lot.

That's very true. I have a Lab x Poodle (from rescue) and he doesn't shed very much and requires regular brushing and grooming.

I also have a Lab and while she sheds, I find it a lot easier to care for her. I just have to vacuum. There's no constant brushing, de-knotting and grooming involved. She's also a lot quicker to bath.

So it depends on what you prefer in the way of coat maintanance. It's possible to have the best of both worlds and pay for regular grooming of a dog with a non or low shedding coat, but it can get expensive if you don't do it yourself, and you would still need to brush the dog in between.

This article today is very on topic http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=197433

Ruff call could bite Coast restaurant

Thomas Chamberlin | June 2nd, 2010

A CHINESE restaurant on the Gold Coast could face a fine of up to $50,000 after refusing to serve a blind man because he brought his specially trained guide dog inside with him.

Geoff Skinner, of Atherton in far north Queensland, said he entered the Peacock Inn at Broadbeach on Sunday night with his wife Janet and guide dog Gadget, only to be told he could not eat inside and would have to either tie his dog up outside or be seated outside.

The 63-year-old, who became legally blind eight years ago, presented a small card explaining he had a legal right to enter the restaurant with the dog but he said restaurant staff refused to serve him.

"It was very humiliating and disheartening and ruined our night," said Mr Skinner.

Queensland's Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 states guide dogs can enter shops, cafes, restaurants, clubs, hospitals and ride in taxis, buses, ferries, trains and on planes legally.

Fines of up to $10,000 for an individual or $50,000 for a business can be imposed for refusing them access.

"There was no compromise," said Mr Skinner.

"I explained he was a guide dog and that he doesn't get separated from me.

"We've been there before and it wasn't a problem but the girl said she got into trouble last time we came in," he said.

Disability Services Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said there would be a thorough investigation into the incident.

"This is a very serious matter and my department has contacted Mr Skinner about his complaint," she said.

"Most businesses are doing the right thing but those that don't will face the full force of the law."

Restaurant manager Yang Zhao, who said he was a law student at university, confirmed Mr Skinner was not allowed to have his dog inside at the weekend.

He claimed that another law, the Food Act 2006, could override the newer legislation.

"Personally I would like to allow the dog into the restaurant," said Mr Zhao.

"If there is somewhere I can find more information ... currently I don't think I did anything wrong," he said.

Guide Dogs Queensland communications and marketing manager Donna Hurley said the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 allowed dogs to be let in and said that should be 'the end of the story'.

"That's the law," she said.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/0...coast-news.html

Baby Dragon, I've learned a great deal about Assistance Dogs from your posts on DOL.

Thanks mita

My views about them have certainly changed over the years of having one. I'm still learning.

I take back my suggestion of a poodle if the poodle owners here don't agree. They'd know best about their breed.

I'd suggest maybe a poodle but since you don't like the look of them, you could keep it in a non standard clip. They are definitely not low mainanance with their coat, but if you're willing to pay for professional grooming and willing to brush the coat in between, it might be just the sort of dog you're after.

I prefer cold! They smell less too

Black Dog can make something similar too http://www.blackdog.net.au/index.php?optio...mid=3&min=1

I don't know anyone who's used one though.

Can someone please post something that will restore the pleasure I was feeling when I started this thread

In restaurant and on plane

The law states that Guide dogs are to be allowed entry everywhere their human needs to go... sadly, this doesn't translate to other Assistance dogs - there are no laws to make them as "accepted" as Guide dogs in public areas.

Yes there are... Guide Dogs and other types of Assistance Dogs are covered under the federal law... The Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Some states have state laws that cover only Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs and not other types of Assistance Dogs, but this is slowly changing... like in SA and QLD they have brought in/are bringing in state laws that also cover other types of Assistance Dogs. http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/key-proje...nce-guide-dogs/

At any rate, the federal law applies in all states.

Yay I was in a lovely cafe called Kelby's in Marrickville and saw they had a big sticker on their front door "Guide Dogs and owners welcome!" It was a delight to see!

I wonder how the blind go about spotting that sticker....

Yeah, I wondered that too after I posted. Maybe they have to be in the company of a "sighted" friend

I know you guys were joking, but just in case anyone is wondering... As I understand it, it's more to remind the staff and to explain the presence of a dog in the restaurant to other customers than for the benefit of the person with the Guide Dog Also to show support for the Guide Dog organisations.

Also, following access denials of Guide Dog users at some restaurants, part of the settlement has been that they've had to put one of those stickers on their doors.

I never know what to expect when walking into a restaurant. It's the law that Assistance Dogs are allowed in restaurants, but unfortunately that doesn't mean the restaurant staff are always happy to see Assistance Dogs, or that they know the laws or choose to go by them.

Almost always, my worrying has been for nothing, and the staff have been lovely. A few times I've been asked if she's a Guide Dog, because "only Guide Dogs are allowed in here." I feel that in part, this is a response to the huge amount of public education about Guide Dogs, and the lack of education about other types of Assistance Dogs. An example is the "Guide Dogs Welcome Here" stickers on the doors to some shops. Don't get me wrong, I think they're a good idea. But it would help so much more if they could say "Assistance Dogs Welcome Here" rather than "Guide Dogs Welcome Here" since Guide Dogs are a type of Assistance Dog anyway. I believe the stickers are made by the Guide Dog organisations, and there's probably no real incentive for them to change them. People who say that only Guide Dogs are allowed are often the most difficult to try to educate because they think they already know the laws.

We've hardly ever had any issues in the almost three years I've used an Assistance Dog. On the odd occasion I've had to explain the law and give the person a brochure about Assistance Dogs, and that soon resolved the issue. We probably have less issues than some Assistance Dog teams because my dog is a Lab and I think people tend to assume she's a Guide Dog.

I find that more people are happy to see a working Assistance Dog than the amount of people who go out of their way to make us feel unwelcome. I still do get very nervous when going to a new place though, especially somewhere like a restaurant because there's no way to know if the staff are aware of the laws.

Here's an example of what Assistance Dog users deal with. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/artic..._newsphoto.html

You don't have to spend heaps on toys. If just get about 3 good quality toys, you can rotate them and your dog will love it. Good quality toys last longer and I think they work out better value in the long run.

Some of my dog's favourite brands and toys are Kong, Cuz and Planet Dog

If I had to choose 3 toys, I'd say one could be something for treats to go in (like a Kong or treat ball), one could be squeaky and one could be either chewy or something like a ball to play fetch with.

The segment is here if anyone missed it http://7pmproject.com.au/video.htm

I think it was good exposure too. I can't speak highly enough of the 7pm project crew also. Myself and some other AD users visited to be in the audience a while ago and they were so lovely to us and accommodating. Charlie was particularly taken with our dogs and came to get cuddles from them after the show was over.

It sucks that you would have to spend more $, but you could get him some doggie pjs until his coat grows back if you're worried about him getting cold. My dogs love their pjs.

I like this idea...I think Charlie would look pretty sexy is some special doggy Pjs! :D

online searching and shopping for his now.. just got to go and measure him for size!

well, i did say i wanted a short hair dog one day...

Try here

It sucks that you would have to spend more $, but you could get him some doggie pjs until his coat grows back if you're worried about him getting cold. My dogs love their pjs.