[nagdu] motivation update

Sun Jun 5 18:07:54 UTC 2011

Yes, leading the group doesn't really work. Even if there is one person 
behind us, it does not work. Lexia always has to look back and make sure 
that everyone else is okay.

----- 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: Sunday, June 05, 2011 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] motivation update

> 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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