[nagdu] training update

Fri May 21 16:49:32 UTC 2010

Iona,

Fun stuff.  Your pup sounds like a very happy handful.  I love the
exuberance and joy over success.  And, yes, Mitzi has gotten so excited
before to get something right that she's totally missed the next thing...
/lol/  We didn't even need for evil instructors to set us up. 

Keep up the good work and sending us the updates.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ioana Gandrabur
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 6:57 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] training update

Hi all,

Thanks for your good wishes.

I never did blogs so I am not sure I want to get into it now but I am taking

a moment to give you some updates. Know from my own experience how fun to 
read these accounts can be.

Today we did some building work and got the official licence to start 
working them in the dorm. Hurrah! He still tries to go where he thinks I 
might want to go rather than where I tell him but with encouraging 
clarifications he gets it and listens better.
Did a buss to lounge (meaning that we are dropped off and have to find our 
way back on a predetermined route where the instructors are spread out at 
all intersections. He showed me an obstacle and I chose to go around it the 
wrong way ending up on the street but stopped and tried the other way. He 
was so exuberant that we cleared it that he slammed me in the next one. 
(they are all set-ups by the cruel instructors!) Reworks are going well and 
he remembers from one day to an other. I was relieved to catch him sniff and

be just simply a bit distracted for a second. Looking forward with a bit of 
trepidation to when he'll start showing his true colours when he relaxes 
into the work.

All in all things are great. tomorrow escalators with boots.
And God knows what else.
Oh we clicker trained them for finding chairs and he's doing well. I think 
he head already some idea from training though because he also showed me the

trash-can. so I can't take the credit for it.

Very rough player. I will never win at tug of war wit him. So I am working 
at having him release the ring when ever I want him to. He's not too happy 
about it but I keep giving it back so it is not always the end of the game. 
Quite a work out this strong pup.

Still wines a bit when I put him on tie-down but responds well to "quiet"..

I think that in 3 days we came a long way. Mainly because of good feedback 
from instructor and clearly longer routs then in the big classes of GDB. BTw

someone asked me about where I got the dog form last time and the answer is 
that Adrian was fro GDB. I begin to miss him. First days I could not really 
understand how come I hear him bark on the phone when I have my guide dog 
here. Now I am more aware that they really are 2 diffren dogs.

Well, sorry for the jumble of ideas. No time to edit too much.

I guess something chaotic is better than nothing. :)

Take care,

Ioana at San Rafael.

PS: someone asked where I got Adrian from. The answer is same place. gab 
California.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] My new boy!

> Hi Iona,
> Good luck with Loyal.  I've seen quite a few large Labs from GDB.  One of 
> my friends has a yellow Lab around Loyal's size from GDB.  The dog also 
> helps with the man's balance as he is quite elderly.
>
> Hey, I'd LOVE a big black Lab like that!  Landon is almost as big - 24 
> inches and now 80lbs and is a red Lab/Golden cross.  Good luck on the rest

> of your training!
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ioana Gandrabur" <igandrabur at gmx.de>
> To: "NFBnet NAGDU Mailing List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 5:48 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] My new boy!
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have a moment in this crazy schedule so I thought I'd tell you a bit 
>> about my new dog and first impressions of training here.
>>
>> His name is Loyal and he's a 75 pound black lab 25 inches tall at the 
>> shoulders. About the same as my first guide. In fact my sister saw a 
>> picture and she things she might confuse them often. Should be fun for me

>> to try and make sure who's in harness when I come home.
>>
>> We are still learning to communicate but I feel he is very willing to 
>> please and support can get him a long way. In fact I do believe that most

>> errors are happening because of miscommunication. He's 18 months old so 
>> that also makes a difference. And when he knows what to do he's very 
>> precise.
>> Great fast pace and lighter pull than Adrian. All in all I am very happy.

>> Kind of on the lookout to see when he'll beginn to test me.
>> Other than work he's a big Teddy bear. I have to refrain from patting him

>> in official settings because he'll flop for a belly rub harness and all. 
>> Very cute but not quite what is appropriate at times. Also  he wines 
>> something awful when I prepare food. One should think his heart is 
>> braking in despair at my slowness. I am ignoring him for now but if it 
>> gets worse I'll try to get him to stop by interrrupting the preparations 
>> as long as he is crying. I think it would be too cruel though so if he 
>> does not wine when on the job I might let it pass. we'll see how things 
>> go.
>>
>> The 2 week program feels good so far. Small classes are nice and we 
>> progress fast from one route to an other. I will however only know if two

>> weeks are enough when I see how I feel at the end.
>>
>>
>> That's it from GDB training marathon!
>>
>> All the best to you and your puppies,
>>
>> Ioana and Loyal
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>
>
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