February Question Lessons only our guide dogs can teach?

[psan...@nagdu.org]

Hello list,

We’ve made it to the middle of Winter, and we hope you are all doing well.

My question for this month is, What is one lesson that your guide dog has taught you that no human trainer ever could

For me, the unforgettable lesson was “listen to your dog.” We all hear this during training, but I didn’t fully appreciate it until one memorable morning on my way to work. We had just moved into a new neighborhood new sidewalks, new routes, and, as I would soon be reminded, mailboxes planted right in the middle of the walkway.

About a hundred feet from home, my guide suddenly slammed on the brakes like we were avoiding a cliff. I reached out, felt absolutely nothing, then reached down to check his head position… and promptly walked face-first into the side of a mailbox. I turned right around and went home to make sure my teeth were still in the correct quantity and alignment. Thankfully, everything was intact—except maybe my pride. I can only imagine what my guide was thinking in that moment.

Lesson learned. It never happened again, and I’ve listened to him ever since... well, mostly.

I’m excited to hear other handlers’ stories too.

 

Paul Sandoval, Board Member

National Association of Guide Dog Users

(346) 439-7444 • psan...@nagdu.org

www.nfb.org • www.nagdu.org

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[s.wil...@icloud.com]

I learned how reactive our dogs can be and how much they care about us. When I stepped on the edge of a sidewalk and rolled my ankle, causing a tear in my Achilles tendon, my dog has never worked that same spot the same ever again. I dropped down on my left knee because my foot was behind me, of course.

My dog decided that a small branch, on the sidewalk was more of an obstacle than stepping off the edge of the concrete with the 2 inch drop off. needless to say, my dog works his way all the way up to the edge of the sidewalk between both parking stops. Makes an immediate left now then makes an immediate right and head straight to the center of the door, giving me plenty of room around that edge where I stepped off and curves in front of me to point his nose at the door knob, which is perfect! He also has started to body block me when I come to a curb going up onto a sidewalk in a parking lot. Used to be he would just stop or sometimes even jump up on it now he body blocked me completely, and it lets me know that there’s a curb there which I already know that, but I appreciate it.

Best regards

Scott Wilson

727-423-4312

On Feb 10, 2026, at 1:20 PM, psan...@nagdu.org wrote:



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[Ann Chiappetta]

Hi all-

All my dogs have taught me to be more patient  than I ever thought I could be.

 

Ann M. Chiappetta, MS

President, Friends In Art, Inc.

pres...@friendsinart.org  www.friendsinart.org

914.393.6605

www.annchiappetta.com

"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."   - Ray Bradbury

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[Morgan Estes]

My dog Ivan who is my first guide dog, has taught me to be patient and to laugh more often. He truly is the goofiest. He has also taught me that mistakes are ok to make as long as we’re safe making a mistake isn’t the end of the world. He is truly one of the best parts of my life. I love how snuggly he is and how he is always so excited to see me in the mornings it’s definitely a great way to start the day. 

Warm regards,

Morgan A Estes

On Feb 10, 2026, at 5:25 PM, Ann Chiappetta <annie...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Joy Relton]

One lesson that each of my seven dogs have taught me in their own way is to have a sense of humor. In other words, “chill”. I remember my first dog was such a perfectionist with her square corners and stopping at the curb just on point. One day, she seemed to be doing something that made no sense. My trainer said “look down and see what she is doing”. She was standing perfectly at the curb with a stick between her paws, just sort of rolling it between her feet. Since this was my first dog and we were both trying to be so perfect, I just burst out laughing and said “good girl”. Then I carefully removed the stick and gave her a hug and a pat. Then, we went on with our work as normal. Now, when I think that I am about to scream with frustration about something I bend over and squat down and give my dog a big hug and a pat, or a scratch on her side and give him/her lots of praise. After all that’s part of their salary.  

[carc...@access.net]

My dogs have taught me that everyone has their own special talent or gift, and it’s part of my job to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and work with them.  Learning that about my dogs has helped me realize it’s true of humans too. 

It’s always interesting, meeting a new dog and figuring out what their special thing is.

My Echo was a great guide, so long as she knew I appreciated her work and told her how great she was.  I made up a new measure of progress, the good girls Per minute.  Some of my dogs have been absolutely bomb-proof, able to cope with anything, but I had to learn to work with their determination to do what they wanted.  I’ve learned a lot more patience and calmness than I used to have.

Tracy

 

 

[Donna Permar]

One thing that I have learned is to never question my guide's  memory for directions! He can work a route 1 time, and months later if we find it necessary to work that route again, he somehow remembers the route. It is so humbling when I think I remember a route correctly, but my dog shows me that I am wrong.

Donna

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From: psan...@nagdu.org <psan...@nagdu.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 1:20 PM
To: dis...@nagdu.org <dis...@nagdu.org>

Subject: [NAGDU-Discuss] February Question Lessons only our guide dogs can teach?

 

Hello list,

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