[nagdu] Finding Certain Things

Sun Jan 29 18:18:14 UTC 2012

Thank you Tami! So did you have a certain method of teaching your dog how to
find a seat?

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tami Kinney
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 10:06 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Finding Certain Things

Hannah,

With Mitzi, it took me longer to figure out how to teach her to find a seat
than it did for her to figure out that I wanted her to find a seat. 
So I have no idea what it was she was actually using to generalize. I get
the impression sometimes that it annoys her when things don't go smoothly,
so she saves me the trouble of hunting all over for stuff so she doesn't
have to put up with me... Or she just wants to show off how clever she is,
especially if she has a nice audience to be impressed by her cleverness.
/lol/

Also, I just praise for a behavior when the dog offers it, or provide some
other form of reward, so then the dog knows the word or words and that I am
impressed. /smile/

The clicker is a great tool for capturing a specific behavior. So once the
dog (or whatever critter) associates the click with the reward, and the
award with approval, you can use the clicker with or without treat
reinforcement. Some clicker trainers disagree and always follow with the
treat. I think a lot depends on personal preference and the animal being
trained or reinforced. I start with constant food reward following the
click, then gradually phase into the Las Vegas style of reinforcement. 
But I will also use praise and other forms of reward in addition to the
click itself. Now I use the clicker for echolocation, since I finally
figured out I'd been doing that anyway. I feel pretty stupid for clicking my
cane, but... It helps. What Mitzi thinks of my clicking for my own self
instead of for her, I have no idea. I think she is just happy because I am
less difficult with the added orientation tool. She performs differently
when I have a clicker in hand, and she seems happier, so... Whatever works
for us, I guess. /smile/

Keeping to what you are learning now and getting solid in that as your bond
with Princess deepens over time and in your real world life after you
graduate is a very good plan. /smile/ Thinking ahead to the future doesn't
hurt, but I think it's neat that you're also aware of how to work towards
that future instead of leaping ahead too far too fast. I had to learn that
myself by beating myself firmly over the head to keep from over stressing
Mitzi in my impatience. Or myself. /smile/ Now that we are both where I
wanted us to be in our relationship and work and partnership, it was worth
all the patience and practice. /smile/

Tami

On 01/29/2012 06:54 AM, Hannah Chadwick wrote:
> Pilot does not teach their dogs to find chairs or trash cans which are 
> two very important things I would like my guide to know how to find; I 
> wouldn't want to sit on someone's lap lol, and it would definitely be 
> great if my dog can find a trash can for me to deposit her poop after 
> picking it up lol. So far I believe that all the dogs are taught to 
> find a curb when approaching the street or stairs.
> They don't do clicker training either, but it sounds to me that 
> clicker is a great way for the dogs to learn; I am interested in 
> looking in to it once I bond with Princess more.
> I've heard and observed that poodles are definitely very smart, but 
> not all chairs look alike so wouldn't that make it difficult to ask 
> them to find a chair?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of marilyn
> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 5:15 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Finding Certain Things
>
> Hi Hannah,
> GDF teaches there dogs the find command. All we do as guide dog users 
> is enforce what the dog is already taught. Anna can find seats, trash 
> cans , elevator, steps , doors and etc. just by telling her. If its a 
> place your going back to and there the first time , pat what it is 
> name it , give her a treat and tell her find it. Then give your dog  
> lots of praise. I am out in the field a lot going to different 
> buildings that I have never been before from my job and she is great 
> finding things. It can be confusing for the dog if there are lots of 
> door or elevators. I have had that happen in the NY State building.  I 
> also use the command find the way a lot. When leaving a place we back
track our steps .
> Marilyn and Anna
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hannah Chadwick"<sparklylicious at suddenlink.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 3:24 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Finding Certain Things
>
>
>> Hey All,
>> I was just wondering what your experiences have been in terms of 
>> teaching your dogs new commands such as finding things - an empty 
>> seat, trash cans, doors, etc. I have heard that it is possible to 
>> teach your dog to find certain things, and I'm definitely interested 
>> in doing that once I get settled with my dog.
>> Cheers, Hannah
>>
>>
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