[nagdu] boredom on routine routes

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Hm...  My first thought is to give him some sort of reward when you get to
work that makes it fun for him to go there.  With Mitzi, who slows down when
we're going home, I used soccer in the yard or shadow ball soccer in the
house to motivate her.  Not sure how that would work in the halls at the
office.  /grin/  Is it possible for you to give him little play or sniff
breaks during the day?  That might make it less boring for him, too.

Or maybe just working on speeding him up with the clicker would do?  I've
had mixed results with that with Mitzi for the going-home foot dragging.

Her latest thing is that she refuses to find the truck.  We do too much
riding in the truck here and there, then going into stores or banks or
whatever, and that is not her style!  She wants to get out and go!  So do I,
frankly.  /smile/  I'm still tearing out my hair trying to figure out a way
to get to places to just get out and go as a team.  Coming up with left over
cash for a bus pass so I can travel to safe areas to gallivant around with
my poodle is just not happening for me.  Sigh.  Three years with no pay
raise while prices go up has not been helpful.  With a proposed move back to
La Grande, I'm not looking for a job, but I am hoping a new computer will
allow me to use my time productively at home so I can maybe generate some
income?  I sure hope so!  /smile/

Anyway, good luck.  I'll be interested to see what you come up with.  I love
Mitzi's go, but when she decides she wants to drag her feet, that is just
maddening.  Goober poodle!  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 6:13 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] boredom on routine routes

Hello all!

Monty has developed a new habit of going incredibly slow on our route to
work.  It started several months ago, but I didn't think too much about his
being a bit slower in the morning.  Now my schedule has changed and he's
slow no matter what time of day I go to work.   His pace has gradually
decreased from his usual really fast, to fast, to typical pedestrian, to
slow.

There is road construction  which means that my route to work has changed a
few times in the past few weeks.  The first time we go the new way he's at
his usual fast pace, but as soon as he figures out where we are going, it's
back to dragging his feet.

My son had to run an errand downtown earlier this week, so he walked to work
with me one afternoon.  This is highly unusual.  I always walk to work
alone, but my son and I do frequently walk in the evenings for leisure.
When my son was along, Monty was absolutely perfect with his brisk pace.  I
think he thought we were going someplace fun.

The places I go on a weekly or less frequent basis, Monty is fine.  I teach
a class one evening a week, go to the middle school one day a week and
attend various meetings and run errands at various locations.  Monty has his
regular pace to all of these places. Some of them are close to where I work,
but he must have figured out where we are going because he doesn't slow.

I have a fairly quiet office job.  Monty has a rug under my desk, where he
generally sleeps.  He shows no signs of stress or fear while at work.  

I'm thinking he's bored with going to work with me.  This is unfortunate
because I haven't won the lottery and plan on continuing going to work for
the foreseeable future.   I don't see boredom as a reason to not work Monty.

I would welcome all ideas, suggestions or things you have done in a similar
situation.  I'm also happy to answer any questions or provide more
information.

thanks!
Julie
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