[nagdu] Adrian jumping on people on street! Considering retirement

[Ioana Gandrabur]

Hi all,

I wish you a great happy healthy 2010 and a wonderful Christmas and holiday
season in general to you and your guides and all your loved ones.

I am however writing about a rather disturbing problem I have with Adrian.
He has started to every once in a while jump at a person passing on the
street next to us. No growling or straining before or after the jump. After
he does it he is perfectly calm and response to me perfectly. Did any of you
ever have to deal with such an issue with any guide? A trainer will come in
January and see us work. I am worried that he will not catch him in the act
because it is not a regular thing. We did get 1 jump on film and will send
it to the school. We are hoping to find out what is motivating him. Fear,
play drive or pray drive or aggression but we think the last one is very
unlikely. I have tried the prong caller (the only thing that made him stop
barking at other dogs and sometimes at people). I fear that punishing the
barking repressed the behaviour and now I am stuck with this jumps with no
warning that are harder to control.
Will try gentle leader again in hopes that I can detect movement towards the
person before he jumps. The frustrating thing is that I have no warning and
can only react after he has done it. I don't want to give up on him and will
try getting him out more giving him more play rewarding him for just passing
people on the street but although this has decreased the problem from 1 2
times  day to 1 in a month I am thinking it is 1 too many. Should I retire
him? He is my first dog and we have worked well for almost 2 years so the
idea of doing so breaks my heart. He did not hurt anyone but it is scary for
people and frustrating for me. The pity is that for the rest he does
outstanding guide work and has a great disposition.
This is confirmed by mobility instructors and school trainers in past
visits.
Am I overreacting? I don't think so and yet the idea of retiring him makes
me feel as if I give up on him too easily. He does not seam stressed while
working and is always ready for it. But what else to try I could not say.

Thanks for your ideas and support!

Ioana