[nagdu] Dogs walking on the left side

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Lisa,

Yeah, I liked it, too.  It's interesting, because the reason we still
*always* work to the left of the horse is because of their military
background.  So working Mitzi on my right seems very natural, as that's
where my horses have always been.

The reason it's backwards between horses and dogs, I guess, is that it was
easier for a knight to mount from the left because of his sword.  Holding
the reins in the left hand and a few other little things like that left the
sword arm free.

So, horses to the right, dogs to the left.  Fascinating to learn about these
little carry-overs from history.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lisa Irving
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 10:41 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dogs walking on the left side

Quite facinating info!

Lisa and Bernie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Toni Whaley" <blind_treasurer at verizon.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 8:01 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dogs walking on the left side


> Hello!
>
> I just read in a dog training book that dogs were trained to walk on the
> left side, because originally military dogs were trained to walk there sso
> that soldiers  could carry their gear on the right. Consequently, guide 
> dogs
> are trained to guide from that side as well. If, however, a blind 
> individual
> needs a dog to guide from the right side (missing left arm, etc.), a dog
> will be trained to guide from that side. They have to be specifically
> trained to guide from that side. If you just move the dog over to the 
> right
> side, it will initially have trouble avoiding clearances. (I tried this 
> once
> with my first guide dog. Boy I'm glad I was trying this out inside)
>
> Toni
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of jamie crowell
> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 10:48 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] Dogs walking on the left side
>
> Why are our dogs trained to walk on the left side and not the right?
> Jamie
>
>
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