LEASH RELIEVING AND CLEAN UP
Relevance:
Leash relieving allows you to track that the dog has sufficiently emptied and is prepared to work without a distracting urge to eliminate. During class, you will receive techniques to know whether or not your dog has relieved and how to properly clean up afterwards. There are many clean up laws that exist for pet ownership. While some of these laws exempt guide dogs, we encourage our graduates to becourteous, responsible handlers that pick up after their dog in public places.
Class relieving schedule:
Dogs commonly need to relieve first thing in the morning, after each feeding, following exercise or excitement, and after long periods of rest or sleep. The class relieving schedule was designed to reflect these needs:
- Soon after the dog’s first feeding and watering (7 am)
- Before the morning workout (8 am)
- After the morning workout (11:30 am)
- Before the afternoon workout (1 pm)
- After the afternoon workout and feeding (4:30 pm)
- Before bed time (8 pm)
By the time you go home, you will have a good idea of your dog’s individual relieving habits, and consequently, you will feel prepared to adjust this schedule to your lifestyle and environment.
Unscheduled relieving:
When first leash relieving in class, it is not uncommon for dogs to refuse to relieve during scheduled times. They will acclimate with time, but until they do, it is helpful for you to know the signs of a dog that needs to relieve between the scheduled relief times. These signs include a dog that is uneasy, panting heavily, whining, or pulling towards the door. If this happens overnight, please inform the Resident Assistant. A dog that really needs to relieve will do so quickly. Do not give the dog a long time outside or they may learn that their unsettled behavior results in a chance to daydream outside which would be an especially unpleasant habit to create in the middle of the night!
Accidents:
Hesitancy to relieve for a new handler can result in an accident. Being prepared to clean up an accident is part of having a dog. Even once you are home and an established team, you should have clean up supplies on hand at all times as guide dogs are not immune from sudden illness or the occasional off days!
Clean up:
It is a good idea to prepare for clean up by placing a bag over your hand before giving the dog the cue to relieve. An important step to the clean up process is to understand the precursors to relieving. These include sniffing, moving back and forth, and/or circling.When a dog comes to a sudden stop after moving about, trail your leash to step up close to the dog’s body. Gently run your bagged hand down the dog’s back to the base of the tail. A dog’s back will be flat, typically with a straight downward slant, when he or she is peeing. When defecating, the dog will round his or her back while in a hunched position. If you feel a rounded back, leave your hand hovering over the dog’s tail or align your feet in a way to mark the spot the dog is relieving. When the dog is finished, bring you bagged hand down to the ground to locate and pick up the feces. Invert the bag and tie it off before placing it in the trash can. Practice during class will make this a smooth process.