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

[Ioana Gandrabur]

Thanks so much Tracy!

It is nice to hear encouragement. When you say Ben is jumping on people is
it on friends or total strangers out of the blue? does he give you clues
that he's about to do it?

I am trying to work him more often. In fact I think I could live with this
it is just that I feel bad for people being jumped at by guide dog gone
nuts. Also I am wondering what image I am sending as a guide dog user with
this kind of behaviour. But in my heart I feel he is safe to work and would
not like to give up on working on this.

Best,

Ioana

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: December 24, 2009 8:36 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Adrian jumping on people on street! Considering
retirement


Hi Ioana.
Happy holidays!

In my experience, dogs have 3 basic kinds of problems--ones you can fix,
ones you can live with, and ones you can't live with.  Only you can decide
if your particular problem is one you can't live with.

But it seems to me like a jumping problem is one that can be fixed, and it
sounds like you're on the right track.  I'd try to work him every day, if
you can.  I know my dogs have gotten a little squirrelly if they haven't
gotten regular work.  Even a long snowy weekend can get Ben a bit sloppy
or sniffier than usual when we first go out.
The prong collar or gentle leader also seem like good possibilities.

I know what you mean; dogs know when that trainer is around and act like
little angels!  But you do have the deed on film, so that may help, too.

Ben jumps on people sometimes, but only when he's saying Hello.  With him,
it's a playful, excited kind of thing.

Anyway, I'd say Don't Panic!  There are still plenty of things to try.
Tracy

> 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
>
>
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