[nagdu] Freedom for guide dogs

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Gary,

Exactly!  Are you sure Boart is not Mitzi's secret twin?  /grin/  I do a lot
of the random recall with treats and party (overly excited praise), then
happy play, before she goes off again to do her thing.  That way, recall
doesn't mean time to go.  When we started on boundaries, failing to follow
boundaries meant going back on restriction -- aka the leash and heel --
using the clicker to reward boudnaries, as well as continued freedom.  If
there's one thing Mitzi hates, it's having to have her stsyle cramped by
such inconveniences as a leash and insistence on good manners when there's
running and sniffing and playing to be done!  /grin/

Getting to know people at the park is also helpful, as you say, plus it's
fun to hang with other dog people while you're there anyway.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of GARY STEEVES
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2010 12:21 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Freedom for guide dogs


Hi:

Bogart is pretty good off leash. As Tamara said, this might be a bit of a
breed  thing since poodles tend to go out and come back and check in. But in
the off leash area at the school I worked on this recall from the first time
he was off leash. I always had a treat in hand  and made sure that I called
him back many times without it meaning it was time to go and the fun over.
At the off leash park by where I live I track him by his unique jingle of
his tags. Also, he is often the dog barking at others  to get them to play
with him. So I'll be standing there starting to wonder where Bogart is and
then  I'll hear him bark and I can re focus to where he is at. He pretty
much always comes when called but in a pooodle  way which means he gives it
much thought be fore coming. My friends who have labs say they do not have
the same luck so cannot go to off leash without a sighted person. I don't
know if bogart realizes that it is  his good recall that allows me to take
him off leash by myself at a place we are comfortable at. also, we are
starting to know some of the other dogs and owners so that is helful as
well.

Gary

----- Original Message -----
From: The Pawpower Pack <pawpower4me at gmail.com>
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010 8:08 am
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Freedom for guide dogs
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> Agreed about free running.  Recall is important and needs 
> to be a big focus from the moment you begin work with a dog.
> We go to the dog park on the levee and it is not fenced.  
> However my dogs come when cued.  This is great because I 
> can let them run off some of their zoomies and they really enjoy 
> being at the park.
> 
> Rox and the Herbal HenchHounds:
> Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide Dog, CGC.
> "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and 
> I'm not sure about the universe."-Albert Einstein
> http://www.pawpowercreations.com
> pawpower4me at gmail.com
> AIM: Brissysgirl
> 
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