[nagdu] How to encourage dog initiative

[Ioana Gandrabur]

HI there,

Thanks this is quite thoughtful. I'll apply this to the new dog. Adrian, my
first guide, is now retired and I am waiting for the new one. I think I was
pretty positive about the things he did great. I was just sometimes
frustrated because, when I thought I'd like him to show me anything of
interest to help me orient myself e.g. a door or even go back to the curb he
would sniff around once we got off track. I'll be as patient and positive as
I can with the new pup.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Ioana

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Joy Relton
Sent: February 16, 2010 2:11 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] How to encourage dog initiative


Iona,

It sounds like Adrian could be one of those dogs who does lots more than you
realize because he's a more subtle worker. I have often found out things
later than my dogs have done which were good but, because their work was so
smooth I didn't realize it. Then, if I wasn't paying attention they might
get distracted. It was almost as if they were saying "fine, if she's not
going to appreciate what I'm trying to do, I guess it's not that important."
I know that your tension will be picked up by your dog and that it will have
an impact on his/her work just as it has an impact on how you receive any
messages sent to you through that harness handle. On the other hand, your
dog's skills might be heavier in another area. If your dog guides you
effectively, professionally and safely he's earned his pay. My third dog had
an natural ability to retrace our steps after we had gone twisting and
turning down isles in a store on through the halls of a shopping mall. It
was not something that he was taught to do. I really praised him for it and
loved being able to get back out of an area with his skills, but my last dog
had other skills and natural abilities which did not include this skill. I
found myself getting frustrated a couple of times when I couldn't ask her to
take me out and have her do it, but I learned to talk to myself and remind
myself that it goes both ways. I'm probably not skilled in all of the ways
that my dog's puppy raiser or trainer are skilled but we worked successfully
nonetheless. I would recommend that you keep working as a time and keep it
positive for both of you. It's easy to compare your dog with others, but
it's not fair. Just think what your dog might being saying about you.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ioana Gandrabur
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 12:54 PM
To: NFBnet NAGDU Mailing List
Subject: [nagdu] How to encourage dog initiative


Hi all,

I find this topic fascinating. When reading about great initiative of dogs I
think that Adrian was not really doing this too much and I wonder if I
somehow discouraged it.

He did great to guide around people and obstacles that people would tell me
about and I had not even known were there. He was very safe and good about
finding his way in crowds etc. However I found that when I was not sure
exactly where I was going he would not be too reliable especially when we
were outside. I would ask him for example  to find a land mark that he knew
from before but  we were not facing the right direction he would either stop
or walk but just sniffing around often disorienting me further. I admit I
was then a bit frustrated. It kind of felt like he thought "ok I'll mess
around until she figures out where she wants me to guide her" but this might
be the projection of my frustration. then naturally I would tell him to stop
that so he would then again just wait for instructions. I would always make
a big party and give treats when we finally found it but I'm not sure what
else I could have done. Any ideas how I can as you put it encourage
constructive initiative?

Ioana


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