[nagdu] anticipating

Fri Aug 13 22:05:10 UTC 2010

Okay, You're definitely right about the schools teaching the dogs to work up
to the curb.  What I didn't say clearly is that they don't tell you never to
allow such turning, as long as you are aware of where you are when you're
back home.  I usually work up to the curb even if my dog has shown me a
familiar turn just so she knows who makes the decisions.  But I still
appreciate the effort, as it indicates the dog is also taking some
initiative.  Often it's just plain helpful!  What I really like is when a
dog learns to pause in anticipation of a street crossing where you're in the
middle of a block, and the street you need to find doesn't go through.  That
way, you don't have to waste time going clear to the next corner, crossing
and backtracking.

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 5:23 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] anticipating

Sherrill,

That's interesting.  I honestly thought most of the programs teach the dogs
to always go all the way to the curb and wait for direction from the
handler.   I was under the impression that auto-turning was a no no.

I can totally understand putting too much faith in the dog's choices. LOL
I'd be visiting a lot of yards with dogs, fire hydrants and the library.  No
clue what's fascinating about the library.

People here think all sorts of strange things about how guide dogs work,
probably no different than the weird things people think in other places.
Monty is amazing because he knows when the traffic light turns green.  He
was hilarious because he turned to show me a doorway when I told him
forward, even though forward was a dead end and the door was the obvious
choice.  Oh and the one who thought he was horrible for taking me to the out
door instead of the in one, like he can read or something?  I'm sure that
there are a fair number of people that are in awe of the dog that takes me
to work every morning. LOL

It's interesting to learn how different people work in different ways.
Julie

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sherrill O'Brien" <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 3:58 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] anticipating

> 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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