[nagdu] Labs and other things

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Jenine,

Thanks for the info.  I've noticed that about Mitzi, too.  If I try to deal
with a behavior with a correction, it suddenly gets worse and she can head
for meltdown fast.  I'm all about positive training, but I will admit there
are times it would be nice to have a quick means of saying, "Stop doing
that!"  Arabian horses are very much the same way, so I've had plenty of
practice finding alternate ways to dissuade a stubborn beast from unwanted
behavior.  /smile/  It's just a little weird having to finesse and jolly her
along at the front of a crowded bus or in the middle of a meeting.  /lol/

Somebody did tell me that poodles don't really reach psychosocial maturity
until 3 or 4 (horrors!), and I'm finding that she's still growing up and
settling enough to be quiet and out of the way when she needs to, without
popping out of a downstay like a curly black jack-in-the-box every 30
seconds.  /smile/  She will actually do a down stay at home now just because
I happen to mention it.  Could it be she's becoming obedient?  /grin/

She does have a back off look when she's working that's fairly effective
when she choses to use it.  When she's in super-flirt mode, all bets are
off.  Every now and then I think she's growing out of that one, too.  I joke
about it a lot, and we've met all sorts of people -- most of them
interesting and very nice -- that way.  But when she's drawing them in like
flies to molasses and I'm wanting to go about my business without drama, it
all starts to seem pretty ridiculous.

Don't worry about the Dobie/poodle cross.  /grin/  Or even the
shepherd/poodle cross.  I like to play with the notions in my head,
especially when I'm watching Mitzi, then watching a nice dobie, and I start
to think, "hmm...."  Then I watch some more and think, "er...  probably
not!"  If you get the right mix of temperament traits, you would probably
have a fairly awesome dog.  On the other hand, you could find yourself with
an adorable, curly Cujo.  No thanks!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 5:48 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Labs and other things

Tammy, 

As I understand it, when teaching concepts, Poodle raisers need to be
infinitely patient and relatively gentle. Though GDf does use praise and
positive training methods for the most part, young Labs can require some
physical intervention from time to time. If you correct a Poodle in the same
way or at the same intervals you might correct a Lab, the Poodle may lose
any initiative or become fearful or suspicious. 

That's about all I know, not being a puppy walker. <grin> It's probably not
unlike the differences in raising shepherd or collie puppies and retrievers.


GDF is toying with the idea of a Lab/shepherd cross. Mike Sergeant used them
when he was at Southeastern and really likes the combination. I know Seeing
Eye and Leader have also used them and Seeing Eye has bred a few
Golden/shepherd crosses as well. 

As for the cute factor, good luck finding a dog people won't glom onto.
<grin> I had a small male Golden who was cute as anything when he wanted to
be, but when he was working, actively guiding me somewhere or waiting at a
bus stop, say, he was all business and gave people that look. 

"Do not even think about touching me. I'm busy." 

Sorry but I can't even imagine what the dreaded Dobe/Poodle cross would look
like. Given some of the Poodle's eccentricities, I'd really be careful with
crosses of it and anything. <grin> 


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