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

[Tracy Carcione]

Ben doesn't jump on people while he's working, but he does if we're at
home, or if he's on leash outside being relieved.  He jumps on people he
knows.  It's his way of saying "Hi! Great to see you!" I am trying to get
him to say Hi without jumping, and he is slowly getting better.  I scold
him and give him a bit of a leash correction, if he's on leash.

I understand what you mean about giving a bad impression
of guide dogs.  We all want to leave a good impression.  But sometimes you
just can't worry about it all that much.  Dogs aren't perfect, just like
people aren't.  You do your best and get on with your life.

Hope you can figure it out.  But, so long as his work is good otherwise, I
don't think you need to make yourself crazy about it.
Tracy

> Thanks so much Tracy!
>
> It is nice to hear encouragement.When you say Ben is jumping on people iss
> 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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