[nagdu] anticipating

[Nimer Jaber]

  Hello,

I've had Abbie for a little over a year now. She anticipates turns all 
the time when we're doing familiar routes. We also do one-time routes or 
unfamiliar ones quite often, but she does anticipate the ones we don't 
go to that often as well. I encourage her anticipation because if I were 
to pass up a turn I could be wasting time backtracking. Also, if I don't 
want her to turn, I just tell her to leave it and praise her as she 
keeps walking. I know there are some dogs that would take longer to 
refocus, so I'm not sure what I'd do if I had a dog like that, but with 
her, she will immediately do what I ask her to do.

Thanks
Nimer J

On 8/13/2010 2:14 PM, Julie J wrote:
> 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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