[nagdu] anticipating

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Lyn and Julie,

When Mitzi was younger, we would spend time on certain street corners
arguing about which way we were going to go. /lol/  Especially if turning my
way led home and turning the other way led to the playground.  Actually, she
wanted to be out and about, not going home to the boring old apartment.

When we started going out and about on new routes to farther places, she
still tended to want to make the decisions...  Since downtown Portland was
being all torn up and you could pretty well count on having to go around
construction, the trait came in handy because it turne dout she was really
clever at taking me around the problem areas in the right direction.  Whew!

She hardly ever argues with me anymore, of course, except to make it clear
she would rather be going to the playground, but oh, all right, if I insist.
Big sigh and reluctant walk for a bit to make sure I hear her loud and
clear.  /smile/

Still, the last few real arguments we've had, when I finally just had pull
out the boss card and be all insistent and stuff, guess who turned out to be
right?  /lol/  Sure enough, we would have to find our way back to that same
corner and go her way.  Smug poodle!  /lol/

Anyway, I agree with the many people who say the important thing is balance.
Achieving it is not always as easy as it sounds, but it's fun when it
finally happens.

I actually shoot towards the approach Meghan described so well...  Only I
don't quite achieve it because I'm not as adept with my own anticipation all
the time, so my dog ends up way ahead of me with knowing what's up ahead and
how to deal with it.  Which is very nice, but I always try to remind myself
not to get lazy and just stop learning to do better.  Otherwise, I would
easily become the lazy handler of the universe, just letting the poodle take
me whereever she thinks we should go...  /smile/

Interesting discussion.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lyn Gwizdak
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 2:43 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] anticipating

Hi Julie,
Monty is doing the same thing as all my guides did and do. This is 
initiative in the dog and it "asks" you if you want to turn because you've 
been there before.  This is a great thing for the dog to do!

What you DO NOT want is a dog who insists on trying to drag you to where it 
wants to go.  Soounds like Monty is doing the right thing by looking at you 
to "ask" you if you want to turn here. If yes, give the command.  If not, 
praise him for showing you the place.  I'll say to Landon,"Good boy!  We 
don't want this now, hup up." Landon then knows that he did the right thing 
to show me the place but understands that I don't want it then and all is 
happy in his world.

Lyn and Landon
----- 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: Friday, August 13, 2010 12:14 PM
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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