[nagdu] motivation update

Sun Jun 5 16:26:35 UTC 2011

Lexia, on the job and in charge!  The reward of being reunited with a
favored human is just the best!  /smile/  I like going off on my own, then
putting Mitzi on find so I can just focus on moving with her while she takes
me to him.  I have to step quick and pay attention!

I also let her be the one to find the door for all of us, because she likes
to show off for him, too.  /grin/  I do need to remind him every now and
then still not to try to direct her from behind.  His job is to follow along
and approve; she's got the rest under control.  /lol/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nicole B. Torcolini at Home
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 9:08 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] motivation update

It's not just poodles. Lexia loves finding my mother.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] motivation update

> Dried lamb lung!  Tasty.  Very good smelly treat.  /smile/  I use low cal
> treats around here because of Daisy's age...  But maybe I'll get me some
> more of the lamb lung for jackpot treats.  Then I can go around with my
> pockets smelling like salmon *and* lamb lung.  How extra classy is that?
> /lol/
>
> I give Mitzi sniff breaks, now that I think about it, when she's lagging.
> Also pets and talk.  Anything to keep the poodle happy.  When we're out 
> with
> DD, I can always take her off for some solo work around wherever we are,
> then have her find him, which gives her a real thrill especially when they
> are reunited in joy!  Silly poodle.  /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Jenine Stanley
> Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 3:16 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] motivation update
>
> Hi Julie,
>
>
>
> Sorry I didn't chime in on this one earlier, but it sounds like you've 
> found
> a good motivator for Monty. One of my dogs had a similar issue with routes
> and I did pretty much the same thing, stopping to "pet her up" which 
> sounds
> obscene outside of a training context. <grin>
>
>
>
> Btw, it's not that unusual in the realm of guide dog instructor advice.
> Granted, the full body contact might be, but then again, most instructors
> would say if it's working, you don't mind and he doesn't jump on anyone 
> else
> unbidden, why not?
>
>
>
> Can you discover a way to pet him up during play that doesn't involve him
> jumping up on you to avoid the muddy paws, dusty paws, etc.?
>
>
>
> Swap will slow and stop, turning to poke me. If I don't acknowledge this
> either with a sincere petting session or a full stop, he will pout. I find
> the second or so it takes to do the full stop and scratch under the chin 
> and
> smile at him is well worth it later.
>
>
>
> You also might leave the really high value treat for a point on the route
> where there's no place else to go but work, then another one at work. This
> way, from anywhere you vary the route, when he gets to that point of
> recognizing it's work, he gets a prize, a big prize, high value prize. 
> Then
> another one when you get to work.
>
>
>
> I've heard instructors recommend cat treats as high value easy to stow
> training treats. I personally use the Baa-Baa-cues, dried lamb lung, 
> broken
> into small pieces. Stays dry, doesn't smell or spoil.
>
>
>
> Jenine Stanley
>
> jeninems at wowway.com
>
>
>
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J
> Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 5:12 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] motivation update
>
>
>
> I thought I'd update yawl on my efforts to motivate Monty on the trip to
> work.
>
> I tried the dog and cat noises.  the first time he stopped at looked up at
> me.  I imagine he thought I'd gone right round the bend.  Subsequent 
> animal
> noises got no acknowledgement what-so-ever.
>
> I tried varying the route as much as possible.  This helps a bit, until we
> get close and he figures out what's up.
>
> I tried treats, just the ordinary ones though.  I need to get some
> dehydrated meat or something that won't spoil for a higher value treat. 
> The
> treats seem to inspire him for about 6 feet.  I'm not giving up on them
> altogether though.  I think if I had something extremely tasty that I
> brought out only on rare occasions it might be more motivating.
>
> I tried petting him while walking, but I'm not very coordinated.  also he
> was a bit unsure about what I was doing.  It felt clumsy and awkward.  I
> don't think this will work for us.
>
> What I did find that works pretty well is something I used when I was
> training him.  I stop and invite him to jump up.  I then rub his head and
> neck vigorously.  Not a conventional reward/motivator for a guide dog, but
> it works amazingly well.  I have no idea what I'll do if it rains again. 
> I
> can't show up to work with muddy footprints on the front of my shirt!
> *smile*  For the moment it's working and I'm content.
>
> Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!  It helped me to really think 
> about
> what motivates him.
>
> Julie
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