[nagdu] Steps

[Marion Gwizdala]

James,
    Many training programs do not teach "intelligent disobedience" on steps, 
including the program from which I got my dog. I have trained him on this. 
When we are ata down or up step, I give the command "Forward!". If it is a 
up or down durb, my dog proceeds. If it is more than one step up or down, he 
refuses until I pair the "Up" or Down" command with the "Forward" command. 
For instance and especially at a flight of down stairs , I tap the step with 
my foot and praise him. Then I say, "Forward". If he proceeds, I drop the 
handle and correct him. The next time, I give the same command while pulling 
the leash to the right to create a body block, offering lots of praise as he 
does this. I repeat this until he body blocks for me on his own. Then I give 
the command "Forward - Down!", praising him exuberantly when he does! HTH!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Brown" <jbrown321 at comcast.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 11:11 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Steps


>    Hello All,
>
> My name is James Brown, and I have been a guide dog user for six months 
> now.  Locating down steps in unfamiliar places still creates  a little 
> anxiety for me.
>
> Jordan, who has a fast stride, currently stops for steps as he was trained 
> by Fidelco, but stopping could mean plenty of other things as well.  I 
> thought about training him to tap my leg with his nose to let me know we 
> are about to go down steps.  Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
> JB
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