[nagdu] walking your dog

[Buddy Brannan]

Don't worry about messing her up. Well, I mean, be mindful of her training, because it really is possible to untrain them. Witness Chet, my previous guide, who is now thoroughly untrained, but I digress. If you follow what you're taught in school, and by this I don't mean "absolutely, to the letter, with no deviation", you'll be fine. I actually expect you'll do well with your dog, because you *are* bothering to think about these things. But really, relax and enjoy your dog. While it is, as I say, possible to untrain your dog, it is also true that they are very resilient. She will make mistakes. You will make mistakes. You'll make a mistake and your dog will correct you. Usually by doing something like causing you to bang your shins into a cement planter or something when she's right and you insist she's distracted. Yep, been there, done that. She'll make a mistake and you'll correct her. Sometimes you'll both make a mistake at the exact same time. Guess what? It's OK. She'll get over it, and so will you. It's all part of the process. A working error really won't break your dog. Consistently allowing bad behavior will, of course, but regular working mistakes won't, because they're just working mistakes, and we all make 'em. Really, don't be afraid to get out with her and try something. If the trip isn't perfect, so what? Probably better if it isn't, because there's probably some useful thing you'll take away from it. So, yeah, think you're doing fine. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 27, 2011, at 10:26 PM, B Avila Guerrero wrote:

> Thanks buddy,
> I was told that while we were in training the dogs were getting more
> exercise than when they were training with the Trainers. Now that she is
> with me at home, we have a lot of work to doo, but certainly not getting in
> the walking we did while in training together.
> 
> I am fairly new to my city and started O&M in January. We spent most of the
> time working on street crossing because the last time I had O&M I could see
> much more and your right the traffic and lights were different even then.
> 
> So now we will learn the routs together. The school was aware of all this
> before they accepted me. I just don't want to mess her up. I said as much to
> our Trainer/Instructor, and he assured me I wouldn't because we are what is
> best for each other.
> 
> Bertha
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Buddy Brannan
> Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 7:41 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] walking your dog
> 
> Hey Bertha,
> 
> Don't sweat it. Remember that part of what you were matched on was your
> lifestyle and activity level. Just do enough work to keep your dog sharp.
> Yep, four fingers pointing back at me. I didn't get out at all last week,
> and it showed today. Leno was very distracted and definitely not on his
> game. Oh, sure, still safe, worked fine, but not as sharp as usual, for
> which I take full responsibility. Seriously though, don't sweat it. The dogs
> of today aren't the hard pulling, hard driving, hard headed dogs of a
> zillion years ago. BTW, I do think they may have had a bit of an easier
> time. While there weren't as many traffic lights, remember that most of them
> *were* timed and you could figure the cycles. And, back in the '20's and
> '30's, while cars were heavier than they are now, they didn't move as fast,
> so I expect our dogs did have an easier time with that. 
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
> 
> 
> 
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