[nagdu] GDF's step refusal

[Jewel S.]

b


On 5/20/10, Steve Johnson <stevencjohnson at centurytel.net> wrote:
> Now, if a dog is properly trained and not with this particular skillset,
> shouldn't they essentially be doing this anyway?  I can tell you that my dog
> and my past dogs would never take me down or up something that is just
> simply too much.
>
> JMT
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Jenine STANLEY
> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 11:13 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] GDF's step refusal
>
> since there seems to be a little confusion about our step refusal procedure,
> let me try to explain it.
> Step refusal is a procedure used when you come to a downward flight of
> stairs. The rationale is this.
>
> Usually when you are walking and your dog stops at a change in elevation,
> say a curb or single step down, You pause, maybe investigate if necessary
> and give the “forward” command, assuming that the next step you take after
> stepping down onto the lower surface will be in the same plain, in other
> words, on flat ground. This may not always be the case.
>
> Have you ever been, say, outside or exiting a building and what you thought
> would be one step down turned into 2 or 3? It’s not a fun feeling as you
> skid down those unexpected stairs that you just told your dog you were OK
> with and knew about.
>
> Step refusal is a check and balance, a command process that has been taught
> to both you and the dog to use as you wish. More on that later though.
>
> Step refusal as it’s taught during class, and I know, some GDF grads’ milage
> may vary here, begins with you and your dog stopping at the top of a flight
> of stairs. Even if you have asked your dog to “find steps down” and your dog
> has taken you to the right side hand rail if there is one, something GDf
> dogs are taught to do, Your dog technically is not supposed to move until
> you have investigated the space and put your left, not right, foot down on
> the next step. This, in theory anyway, shows the dog that you are not just
> blithely stepping out into space because you are in a hurry.
>
> During class this is taught by having the person swing the right foot
> forward as if to step out. The dog should not move. If it does, a slight
> verbal correction is given.
>
> Then the person steps down with the left foot, issues the “forward” command
> and the dog moves down the stairs as usual.
>
> People who have their dogs trained for balance work on stairs do this
> differently and I won’t detail that as it’s different for each team.
>
> OK, you ask, but in the real world, do people actually use this? Truth be
> known, many GDF grads either do not, or change the foot from left to right.
> It’s there if you need it though but only if you routinely practice it now
> and then and actually use it once in a while.
>
> How is it different from, say, just stopping at a change in elevation?
> Albert was correct in that once you stop, the dog is waiting on you to
> reposition yourself then give a command. It’s really another form of
> intelligent disobedience in which the dog is waiting for you to be in a safe
> position, one foot firmly planted on the next step, before moving forward.
>
> It’s not unlike the stop the dog would make at, say, a train platform edge
> or edge of a hole. The dog wants you to investigate and be sure of your
> footing before moving. We just added downward steps to the list of obstacles
> for such intelligent disobedience.
>
> Can you break your dog of this command? In a heartbeat. You can also untrain
> your dog to stop at any change in elevation by simply forcing the dog enough
> to just go up or down without even a pause.
>
> A well coordinated team can almost look and feel as if they don’t pause, but
> I know I at least try to pause slightly at an upward change and if not come
> to a complete stop, at least do a longer pause at a downward change.
>
> I hope that better explains step refusal. It’s often misunderstood, by both
> grads and others and is a lot more subtle than it sounds.
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/stevencjohnson%40centurytel.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>