[nagdu] Adrian jumping on people on street! Consideringretirement

Thu Dec 24 17:54:08 UTC 2009

Andrew, that is a classic case of how our dogs know how to make "liars" out 
of us!  They seem to have "trainer radar" and know that they better behave! 
Getting a friend to walk way behind you with a video camera is a great idea. 
They can walk far enough behind you so the dog forgets they're there and 
they can just zoom in on you and your dog.  Pick a person your dog isn't 
crazy about seeing - use a more casual friend!

Linda and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew J. LaPointe" <alapointe89 at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Adrian jumping on people on street! 
Consideringretirement

> Hi, how did you get that on film?  Elliot does things at times that I 
> would
> like to get on tape to show Fidelco.  for example, last October, Elliot 
> was
> working horribly downtown and was sniffing up a storm, missing the curb 
> cut
> by two, three and more feet and a bunch of other things.  Well, Eric came
> and picked us up brought us downtown and witnessed Elliot work almost
> flawlessly.  Elliot was working so well, that you could not expect a guide
> to do any better.  So, taping could help catch things.  Andy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
> Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Thursday, 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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