[nagdu] owner training and pulls

[Julie J]

Okay it's official I'm losing my mind, I'm replying to myself! LOL

I wanted to add that I also like to owner train because I get to pick  the 
dog.  While this is the toughest part of the process, it's also very 
important to me.  Monty is a Boxer mix and  right now I can't imagine 
working a nonBoxer dog.  I also like really big dogs, which aren't very 
available through most of the programs.

In addition I have total, complete ownership from day 1.  All the gear is 
mine too.  I also like the ability to choose everything about the care and 
training of my dogs.  anything from the dog's name, what gear I use, what I 
feed, what vaccinations to give, what training method I use and how I work 
particular guiding situations is 100% up to me.  What sort of flexibility 
you get with all of these points varies from program to program.

Oh and I also like training in my home environment.  I really don't have the 
ability to go away by myself for even 2 weeks, let alone the usual 4.   Also 
training here allows me to customize the training to what I need from day 1. 
Just this past weekend Monty leash guided me through the draw next to the 
corn field, down a dirt driveway and then through brush around the edge of 
another cornfield.  All I have to direct him is the sound of the irrigation 
motor in the distance.  It's quite different than I think most guides are 
trained. *smile*

Julie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J" <julielj at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] owner training and pulls


> Jordan,
>
> I really have no idea about question #1.  They have all just pulled in 
> harness, and a lot.  I can't remember teaching them I wanted them to pull, 
> just a lot of work on moderating that pull to something manageable.
>
> Dogs are hardwired to pull against resistance.  that's why most dog 
> trainers will tell you in order to teach the dog not to pull on leash, you 
> have to stop pulling on the leash to get them to stop.   My personal 
> method is to just turn and go a different direction.  Yet another reason 
> why I start in my front yard.  I get pretty dizzy the first few sessions! 
> *smile*
>
> As for question #2, why I decided to owner train in the first place...I 
> had been training dogs since high school for obedience, flyball and 
> agility. I've always had dogs and my first guide was more of an experiment 
> just to see if I could do it.
>
> Also I have to admit that at that time my thoughts about guide dog schools 
> weren't very positive.  Not having a ton of information I sorta lumped 
> them all together and assumed that what went on at one was par for the 
> course.  I had heard countless horror stories of canes being taken away, 
> not being allowed to leave and trainers with poor attitudes of blind 
> people. I didn't know very many blind people with guide dogs.  The one I 
> knew the most from college had a horrible dog that constantly ran him into 
> things.  It was pretty awful.
>
> I know I've stated other reasons in the past and those are true too.  I'm 
> just not remembering them at the moment.  Mainly though, it looked like 
> something that I could do and that would be fun.   It turned out that I 
> was right I could do it and the rewards were well beyond fun.
>
> Julie
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jordan Frances Ortiz" <ortizj32 at students.rowan.edu>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 12:44 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] owner training and pulls
>
>
>> Hey Julie:
>>
>> I was reading your email on how you train your puppy and work a guide at 
>> the same time, and I'm actually really interested in this process.  With 
>> the Seeing Eye puppies we have to keep a pull in the leash constantly so 
>> they can go into harness once back at the school.  This is where I run 
>> into the problem of working Viola and handling a puppy at the same time. 
>> If they are both pulling in my left hand Viola can't work and we'd 
>> probably never make it anywhere hahaha.  My question is how do you teach 
>> the puppy how to pull in harness when its time?  The only way I can walk 
>> 2 dogs together is to make Viola heal and have the puppy lull.
>> my second question for all onwer trainers.  What made you decide to train 
>> your own?  How did you decide what kind of dog you wanted?  Sorry 2 
>> questions.
>>
>> Jordan and viola
>>
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>
>
>
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