sad day for me

I am so sorry to hear that you have had to make this difficult decision. As difficult as it has been, however, I admire your courage for doing what is best for Tigger, rather than what was most comfortable for you emotionally.:hug:
 
Oceanblue7 said:
Hear again, I am sorry to hear about Tigger's retirement. I sure hope you will adjust to the new dog. Will you keep Tigger or will go to a new home? I am a yellow lab lover too, they are so heavy especially males than females. My Lucky dog is 100 lbs. and stands about my height cute dog. It will take time hang in there.
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thanks, oceanblue. <hugs>

you have a 100 pound lab? wow! tigger is very small for being a lab -- she's only 45 pounds.

i've seriously thought about NOT getting a guide dog for fear of constantly comparing tigger to my next guide dog. at the same time, i've been using guide dogs (2 of them -- sugar and tigger) since 1992 and i can't imagine my life without one.
 
Hear Again said:
nope. i'm allowed to keep tigger even if i bring another guide dog home. if it turns out that my next guide dog and tigger don't get along, i could always have my sister take care of tigger.
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first, i am so sorry to hear that tigger's going to be retired.


I hope tigger can get along with the new guide dog. if so will tigger confuses the new guide dog who's taking over the guide dog position or tigger gets confuses??

i have never thought of this way. I hope tigger and the new guide dog get along well and let the new guide dog do it. I know we all can't expect the old guide dog and new guide dog will hit it off right away.

wonder if you happen to have apicture of tigger?

good luck.
 
Jiro said:
ooooh ok then you shouldn't be this sad! at least she'll be with you all the way.
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i understand what you are saying, but when you've worked with a dog for 10 years who has literally saved your life on several occaisions and has performed the duties of a hearing dog, it's hard to accept the fact that tigger will need to be "semi-retired." the reality of the situation hasn't hit me emotionally yet, but i'm sure it will eventually.
 
jillio said:
I am so sorry to hear that you have had to make this difficult decision. As difficult as it has been, however, I admire your courage for doing what is best for Tigger, rather than what was most comfortable for you emotionally.:hug:
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thanks, jillio. <hugs back>

one thing i'm trying to remind myself is that she is still here with me and that this isn't a matter of having to put her to sleep. at the same time, i can't help feeling as though i've lost a part of myself. tigger and i have been a team for the past 10 years, so we've had alot of memories together.

as for making the right decision, tigger comes first. as difficult as it is, i need to do what's best for her. after providing so many wonderful years of devoted service to me (and saving my life on several occaisions), it seems only fair that i do this for her.
 
Hear Again said:
thanks, oceanblue. <hugs>

you have a 100 pound lab? wow! tigger is very small for being a lab -- she's only 45 pounds.

i've seriously thought about NOT getting a guide dog for fear of constantly comparing tigger to my next guide dog. at the same time, i've been using guide dogs (2 of them -- sugar and tigger) since 1992 and i can't imagine my life without one.
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45 lbs for a lab!?!? that's pretty light for lab and that's good! :laugh2: 100 lbs is not uncommon but it is overweight by AKC standard (lol sorry oceanblue) unless... he's simply a very large type. I only have 2 major complaints about labs - their otter tails are like baseball bat. it will knock any shit down! and they drool & slubber! :laugh2:
 
Hear Again said:
i understand what you are saying, but when you've worked with a dog for 10 years who has literally saved your life on several occaisions and has performed the duties of a hearing dog, it's hard to accept the fact that tigger will need to be "semi-retired." the reality of the situation hasn't hit me emotionally yet, but i'm sure it will eventually.
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very understandable now. hang in there! oh don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Canine Edition sunglasses for your Tigger. :cool2:
 
Hear Again said:
thanks, jillio. <hugs back>

one thing i'm trying to remind myself is that she is still here with me and that this isn't a matter of having to put her to sleep. at the same time, i can't help feeling as though i've lost a part of myself. tigger and i have been a team for the past 10 years, so we've had alot of memories together.

as for making the right decision, tigger comes first. as difficult as it is to make this decision, i need to do what's best for her. after she provided so many wonderful years of devoted service (and saving my life on several occaisions), it seems only fair that i do this for her.
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I try to understand. I have never used a guide dog myself, but from what clients have told me, they become an extension of you, just as your arms or legs are. I am sure there is agreat deal of grief involved in your decision, as well as a bit of anxiety over having to adjust to a new guide dog.
 
Frisky Feline said:
first, i am so sorry to hear that tigger's going to be retired.


I hope tigger can get along with the new guide dog. if so will tigger confuses the new guide dog who's taking over the guide dog position or tigger gets confuses??

i have never thought of this way. I hope tigger and the new guide dog get along well and let the new guide dog do it. I know we all can't expect the old guide dog and new guide dog will hit it off right away.

wonder if you happen to have apicture of tigger?

good luck.
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thanks, frisky. <hugs>

you asked a very good question about how tigger and my new guide dog will interact. some trainers are concerned when a blind person brings in a new guide dog into their home because it does have the potential to confuse the retired guide dog. i'm hoping this won't be the case with tigger. what i plan to do is take tigger and my new guide dog out for walks on a leash so that tigger doesn't feel as if she has been replaced by another dog. one thing i hope is that tigger won't become depressed whenever she sees me putting the harness on my new guide dog. tigger *loves* her harness and leash because she knows it's time to do her favorite thing -- work.

i do have pictures of tigger. i'll ask my boyfriend if he can help me post them here on ad.
 
Hear Again said:
thanks, frisky. <hugs>

you asked a very good question about how tigger and my new guide dog will interact. some trainers are concerned when a blind person brings in a new guide dog into their home because it does have the potential to confuse the retired guide dog. i'm hoping this won't be the case with tigger. what i plan to do is take tigger and my new guide dog out for walks on a leash so that tigger doesn't feel as if she has been replaced by another dog. one thing i hope is that tigger won't become depressed whenever she sees me putting the harness on my new guide dog. tigger *loves* her harness and leash because she knows it's time to do her favorite thing -- work.

i do have pictures of tigger. i'll ask my boyfriend if he can help me post them here on ad.
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wonderful thing about dog is that they adapt so quickly... much faster than dog in terms of behavioral modification. I don't mean to "cheapen" your situation but I just want to say that based on Tigger's intelligence and temperance... she will adjust fairly quick to being an old fart instead of guide dog. :cool2:

oh one small question - you mentioned that she's been having frequent accidents... did it happen inside your home and inside the places?
 
Awww. :hugs:

I'm sorry you have to retire Tigger.

Hopefully it will work out for you with both dogs being there.
 
Glad that you re keep Tigger!! .. Hope a guide dog will be fitting in the company of you! :)
 
jillio said:
I try to understand. I have never used a guide dog myself, but from what clients have told me, they become an extension of you, just as your arms or legs are. I am sure there is agreat deal of grief involved in your decision, as well as a bit of anxiety over having to adjust to a new guide dog.
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you are correct on both counts. they say that there is nothing like the bond between a handler and their service dog and i definitely believe this to be true with tigger. i don't think i'll ever bond as closely to a dog like i have tigger. tigger is mellow, playful, intelligent, willing to please, affectionate...i could go on and on.

right now i'm trying to decide whether i want to retrain with another guide dog immediately or wait until tigger passes away. on one hand, i don't want to have another dog because i'm worried about how i will treat it if he/she does not behave like tigger. i know my second guide dog will be different than tigger, but if he/she doesn't behave as well as tigger, i will constantly say things to myself like, "tigger wouldn't have done this" or "tigger would have done a, b or c." on the other hand, i can't imagine my life living without a guide dog and for all i know, my next guide dog could be just as loving and smart as tigger -- and i won't know that until i've had an opportunity to train with a new dog. the last thing i want to do is spend my time asking myself, "what if?"
 
Jiro said:
oh one small question - you mentioned that she's been having frequent accidents... did it happen inside your home and inside the places?
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yes, tigger has been having accidents inside my apartment.

however, she has never had them inside a public place, thank goodness.
 
Hear Again said:
yes, tigger has been having accidents inside my apartment.

however, she has never had them inside a public place, thank goodness.
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ah... sorry to hear... life sometimes sucks... especially about the growing-old part...
 
Jiro said:
ah... sorry to hear... life sometimes sucks... especially about the growing-old part...
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you're right. it does suck. big time. having to retire or put a dog to sleep is the hardest part of having a guide dog. :(
 
Hear Again said:
thanks, frisky. <hugs>

you asked a very good question about how tigger and my new guide dog will interact. some trainers are concerned when a blind person brings in a new guide dog into their home because it does have the potential to confuse the retired guide dog. i'm hoping this won't be the case with tigger. what i plan to do is take tigger and my new guide dog out for walks on a leash so that tigger doesn't feel as if she has been replaced by another dog. one thing i hope is that tigger won't become depressed whenever she sees me putting the harness on my new guide dog. tigger *loves* her harness and leash because she knows it's time to do her favorite thing -- work.

i do have pictures of tigger. i'll ask my boyfriend if he can help me post them here on ad.
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Sweet! Your plan is to make sure that tigger doesn't feel as if she has been replaced by another dog sounds good. Let's see how it goes with tigger. I feel that the new guide dog doesn't know what's going on and probably would think Tigger is just another dog. Or I could be wrong about it. I know lots of dogs really love to be working anything unlike CATS. :giggle: It is going to be more interesting to find out about tigger's response and the new guide dog. I am surprised that the trainers have not had experiences with the old guide dog and the new guide dog before.

i admit that i hopeeee that tigger and the new guide dog will get along OK.

In the advance time, thank you if you plan to post a picture of tigger. since you mention that tigger weighs 45 lbs that makes me curious. CUTE!
 
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