[nagdu] Too much petting from roommates

Sat Nov 20 22:14:45 UTC 2010

Hi Laura.

I do not let others pet the dog while she is in harness, and for the
first few months, I was very reluctant to let anyone pet her even out
of harness.  Brie is very friendly, and she gets easily distracted by
people.  She also, like your dog, gets board doing the same roots over
and over again.  Like Rox, I try to make the roots interesting.  We
have been working on some new commands, such as targetting chairs(this
is not always successful), and this captures her interest very quickly
and speeds up her pace.  I have also been able to praise Brie for
ignoring people petting her.  She still slips up sometimes, but
usually if she is working, she doesn't even acknowledge someone
petting her unless it's someone she knows.  We still struggle with
that.  It's difficult.  I guess what I'm trying to say in all this
mess is that maybe you should keep working on your dog ignoring them a
little bit.  Praise your dog for not responding to their commands.
Don't always give him the chance to play with your roommates.  Just a
couple suggestions.

On 11/20/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Shannon,
>
> My original plan with Mitzi was to go that route, since it makes the most
> sense.  Only she is so reserved and so naturally a one-woman dog, I ended up
> having to train her to let other people pet her -- in a controlled way --
> just to keep her from freaking out or melting down from drive-by petters.
> Now she will accept being touched by others in a controlled greet, but only
> if it's reserved, unobtrusive petting.  Every now and then at the dog park,
> I will catch her letting someone pet her and love on her briefly.  Then the
> next day, she might be back into hands off mode.
>
> When I moved in with DD, I stressed a strong non-intervention policy, and
> Mitzi took a long time to warm up enough to let him pet her.  Now, petting
> from the dad is mandatory!  /lol/  They have quite the little ritual
> happening.
>
> With her, I've noticed that she still won't mind him at all, which is
> something I reward her for.  She will sometimes go out to potty for him if
> I'm asleep, but still sometimes I will have to get up to go open the door
> for her.  I can, at need, hand him the leash, so long as I'm in sight and
> sticking around.  Every now and then, he slips up and grabs her handle while
> I'm getting out of the truck (it's new, so I still have days when the long
> way to the ground discombobulates me), and she will start dancing around in
> circles.  Which I reward her for.  /smile/  As I reward her for ignoring him
> when she's working.  So it works for us, even though we get pretty silly
> around here when it comes to the dogs.
>
> Funny thing is that Daisy, who has become very mellow and sweet and
> responsive under operant conditioning, has taken to ignoring me the same way
> when he is home.  Nope!  Dad is the boss of me.  It's very funny.
> Aggravating, but funny.
>
> Heaven help me if my next dog is super-friendly!  I won't know how to cope.
> Although I plan to follow the hands off policy during socialization and
> training, then into the team building phase.  Once the dog is mature and
> experienced, then we'll see.  /smile/  I can't imagine life without Mitzi,
> but I can't help planning how I want to do things with my next dog.
> Realistic, I guess, but kinda odd sometimes.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of solsticesinger
> Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 9:07 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Too much petting from roommates
>
> I have found that, with certain dogs, too much attention from and bonding
> with other people, especially in the beginning, can cause some problems. I
> have a pretty strict hands-off policy when it comes to my dogs, but that's
> just me.
>
> Shannon and Caroline
> Are you a fan of women's music? If so, join me, each Wednesday evening from
> 7-10 eastern, for The Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In Music.
> Point your media player to:
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> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lora" <blindhistory at gmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 4:49 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Too much petting from roommates
>
>
>> Hello
>> Has anyone found that their dog doesn't work for them as well if
>> people pet the dog alot outside of harness? My dog isn't walking as
>> fast and doesn't seem to respond to guide commands as quickly. Any
>> thoughts would be appreciated.
>>
>> I'm also wondering if he isn't just getting bored with the routine.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Lora
>>
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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16