[nagdu] Questions About Guide Dogs

[Tami Kinney]

Yeah, giving crazy commands to your poodle just to see what happens will
achieve surprising results, which are very cool and useful. The
important thing to do is to try not to think about it too much because
you will suddenly realize that everything you've thought you've known
about dogs is just bunk. /lol/ Well, observing more guide dogs at work,
including a pale yellow lab that I can visually observe somewhat in the
sunlight, is a good way to realize that dogs in general, especially
those who make the grade to become the few, the proud, the Guide Dogs,
are far more completely not stupid than existing theories of animal
intelligence can give them credit for. It tends to show more in poodles
because they are just so dramatic about things. /lol/ And I can't help
but conclude that Mitzi's level of verbal comprehension and abstract
problem solving and decision making are, well, over the top. So I still
give her crazy commands or suggestions every now and then just to see
what happens. Then I just try not to think about it because I don't like
admitting that my dog is that much smarter than me. /lol/

Tami

On Wed, 2011-08-31 at 13:55 -0700, GARY STEEVES wrote: 
> Hi Larry:
> 
> Yes, I have bogart trained to do the push buttons, bus stops, benches, garbages. The funny thing is I never trained him how to identify bus stops with no shelter. If there is a shelter, he will go to the bench inside. If not, then he will go to the bus stop pole. I think when I first got him I didn't trust him and moved us to the left 20 feet. The bus rolled up, stopped (thank god) but was actually where bogart had been. So then I decided to trust him about this. He's a poodle so just so smart though. :) My favourite thing I've noticed he knows how to do is find where to cross at T intersections. Say I'm walking along a road on the sidewalk and I know there is a road off to the left I need for us to get on I  tell Bogart "Bogart, Left, find the curb." I just tried this once to see what would happen. At a point, he turned left onto the grass beside the sidewalk and stopped at the curb. I listened for traffic and when it was safe, told him forward, find the curb. I was so surprised when we ended up at the corner of the T intersection right at the curb cut. Very cool!
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
> Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 6:47 pm
> Subject: [nagdu] Questions About Guide Dogs
> To: doggie <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> 
> > My neighborhood is very walkable as well.  My mobility is 
> > pretty good.  I like working with my Holly for a few 
> > reasons.  We can move really fast and not have to worry 
> > about bumping into anything.  For instance, I have to 
> > transfer busses often.  I try to run to catch the next bus 
> > and bump, bump, bump!!  I would have to have a head like a 
> > musk ox to survive all of those posts I bump into.  And a 
> > 30 foot cane to hit them in time to stop!  I haven't hit 1 
> > post with Holly!  Also, Holly is just a great 
> > companion!  I forgot, she also will go around those cars 
> > who insist on sticking out in stopped traffic and finding those 
> > curb cuts quickly.  And she also finds the push button 
> > lights and now, the sheltered bus stops!  I'm trying to 
> > think of a way she can find the bus stops that are not 
> > sheltered.  
> > Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
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