[nagdu] anticipating

Julie J julielj at windstream.net
Fri Aug 13 19:14:20 UTC 2010


Heya all,

I will have had Monty two years tomorrow. We have worked together as a team for about 10 months of that.  I was reflecting back on all the progress we have made and how smoothly we are working together, at least most days. *smile*

Anyway this morning on the way to work I was pondering the issue of guides that anticipate turns.  My understanding is that most of the programs discourage this.  I'm talking about a dog who makes a turn on a regular route without direct direction from the handler to do so.  

Monty does this all the time.  I have actually cultivated the skill because I appreciate it.  Of course if I feel him begin a turn and I want to go another way I simply stop, praise him and give the new instructions.  Also if we pass a place where we have turned in the past, but it's not a really regular place, he'll sort of do a half turn with a pause and look back to see if that's what I want.  I absolutely love this and can't imagine working it differently.

My route to work is basically straight west with only a deviation of one block north.  I vary the route as much as is possible.  It really makes no difference where I choose to turn north, he always figures out where to go at the next corner.  

I'd love to hear how all of you balance the initiative of the dog, anticipating turns, indicating possible turns and the like.

Julie



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