[nagdu] anticipating

[Sherrill O'Brien]

Julie,

I was at TSE less than a year ago, and this really wasn't mentioned.
Perhaps if a particular student is not very well oriented, and depends too
heavily on the dog rather than taking their own initiative, something will
be said to the student about not letting the dog take charge of the team.

Just saw Meghan's post, and I echo what she says.  College campuses are
certainly places where our guides really think they know best (lol.)  I
remember, though it was long ago, having to work with my dog to get her to
go the opposite way from my biology class.  It always gave my friends a good
laugh, though, as they said they'd love to borrow my dog so they wouldn't
have to think about anything while walking to class.  Of course there's the
other amusing habit of our dogs trying their best to get us to go into
favorite restaurants or other haunts.  At the University of Illinois, there
was an Irish bar my friends and I often frequented, and my dog loved it,
since she knew she'd be seeing lots of her people friends.  Students were
always chuckling when I would be passing this bar at, say, 8 in the morning
on my way to class, with  my dog trying her best to convince me to go in
(smile.)  But through the years, I've always appreciated my dogs' pausing or
turning at familiar places.  I just cheerfully say "Good girl, but not
today" and go on my way.  I can understand the schools wanting their
students to stay away from the "take me to the store" mentality with their
dogs.  I'm afraid I've known people who pretty much let their dogs take
over, and then get upset and angry with the dog when they get lost.    I
know the public perception is almost always that the dogs take us where we
want to go, so it's unfortunate when handlers themselves fall into this same
line of thinking.

Anyway, I'd say you and Monty have it worked out just about right.

Sherrill


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Julie J
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 3:14 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] anticipating


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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