cnnon15's Blog

Guide Dog's Need For A Harness
By Evangeline Samuel 

The other day a friend was telling me how he saw this dog who was assisting a blind lady. The guide dog got distracted and those around him wanted to play with him, but the owner pulled his leash abruptly. He thought that was rude and abusive. I explained to him that dogs who assist the blind should not be distracted. The guide dogs that assist the blind are trained with a dog harness and leash. Several people are involved in the training of the blind dog guides. Their training is vigorous and detailed. The dog must be aware of his destination and how to get there without any incident for his owner.

Blind people have to have total faith in their dogs. They do love their dogs, and exercise them and feed them. But they are not play dogs. From the time they are young they are chosen for this great job based on the character of the dog. The blind person goes where the dog leads. He makes sure that she does not bump into anything while they are walking outdoors. It is imperative that the dog is not distracted while crossing the road with his owner. Cars should give them the right of way and not honk or yell at them. If the dog gets distracted the owner will get confused and there may be an accident.

The way the owner holds on to the dog leash is important. The owner gently pulls on the leash that tugs on the harness and holds him back. I explained to my friend that she was not being mean to the dog but rather corrective. He still thinks it was mean. Because there are people out there who think they can touch and play with a blind dog guide, we must educate the public that this is very serious and could jeopardize the life of the blind owner.

As those of us blessed with sight come across a blind person with a guide dog we must respect their delicate relationship. If you want to help the blind person, you may gently lead her on the other side of the dog. The blind dog guide must always be vigilant of his surroundings. The only way this could happen is if the dog is in his harness and the blind owner has a good grip on the leash.

The Mastiff Dog. This impressive dog stands more than 3 feet tall and can weigh well over 200 pounds.

The Mastiff dates back as far as 1121 B.C. and had quite a reputation as a warrior. Early in history Mastiff Dogs were used on the battlefields and led the charge wearing battle armor earning them a reputation for their bravery.

The loyalty of the Mastiff is another strong characteristic. In 1415 there is account of a faithful Mastiff guarding his battle wounded master, Sir Piers Legh, until he could be rescued from the battle field.

As time moved on the Mastiff Dog also developed a reputation for hunting to go along with his bravery and faith fullness. Today however, this majestic breed is known not only for its massive size but also for the quiet and gentle companionship it provides to his family.

No longer forced to fight in wars or hunt for large animals, the Mastiff has evolved to become a trustworthy friend. Because of the Mastiff Dogs large and powerful size, it is often feared unjustly. Todays Mastiff wants only to please his family and will be protective but not in an aggressive manor. In fact this gentle giant can be very shy and will have to be socialized properly starting as a Mastiff puppy.

Mastiffs are generally gentle, quiet and calm dogs. But as with any dog, proper training is very important right from the start. While the Mastiff may be tremendous in size, he is generally a house dog and wants to be where his family is. This is not the dog to be put in a pen outside and ignored. Providing your loyal friend with a soft spot of his own within the house is best.

In 1929 the Mastiff Club of America (MCOA) was formed to honor this noble dog. Each year the Mastiff Club of America hosts the MCOA National Specialty which is a great opportunity for the Mastiff Dog to show off and compete in different show categories.

Have you ever noticed that someone is always telling you that you can't do the things that you like to do with your dog?

For instance, ever since I began my career as a dog trainer every one has told me that I should never, under any circumstances, play tug-o-war with my dogs.

I was also always told to never, ever allow my dogs to sleep on the bed with me...and to never, ever feed my dogs "people food."

I could go on and on with a long list of things that we should "never" do with our dogs. Here's the funny thing, in my 18+ years of dog training, I have found that playing tug-o-war with your dog is a good thing.

Letting your dog sleep on the bed with you is not going to turn him into a blood sucking vampire. Feeding him "people food" will in many cases make him healthier.

What you have to know is this. Each dog is different. Each household is different. If your dog understands that you are in charge and that it's your bed, there is no problem letting him sleep on it.

In my house, I allow my dogs on the couch and on my bed. They clearly understand that I am the one in charge. If I walk into a room and tell them "OFF," they immediately jump off the couch.

They don't resist. They don't defend the couch. They follow my commands. If my dogs did growl or defend the couch, they would lose that privilege.

When a pup comes into my house, I usually leave a leash on him to drag around. The leash allows me to have a little more control than if the leash was off.

How many times has your pup stolen something and ran away, only to have you chasing him around the coffee table, behind the couch, and up the stairs?

A leash can prevent all of this. Simply step on the leash and end the chase game. The same holds true when teaching your dog the word "OFF."

The easiest way is to walk up to your dog and give the command "OFF." When he ignores you, pick up the leash and give it a quick tug.

Repeat until he gets off the couch with out you touching the leash. As long as your dog understands the word "OFF," you won't have a problem.