[nagdu] Finding Certain Things

Sun Jan 29 22:04:07 UTC 2012

I would recommend first getting a clicker and teaching your dog to target 
your hand. You could touch Princess on the nose with your hand, click, and 
then give her a treat. She would then learn that
1. Clicking means treat.
2. Touch hand = click = treat
>From there, your hand becomes a pointer. You know that your dog understands 
the target the hand because he/she will usually start trying to touch your 
hand as soon as he/she sees the clicker. At least this is what Lexia does. 
You put your hand on whatever it is, such a chair, and, as the dog comes to 
your hand, you say the name of the object. You slowly take your dog farther 
and farther away from the target. Finally, you remove your hand and just use 
the name. If this does not work, then use your hand again until your dog 
understands the name. After a few times with only the name and the clicker, 
stop clicking, but keep rewarding. Once your dog seems to really get it, 
slowly back off the treats. If you find that your dog is getting confused or 
having trouble after you stop rewarding, you may need to use rewards again.

----- 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: Sunday, January 29, 2012 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Finding Certain Things


> thanks Garry!
> Just a general question for all, are there specific methods you use to 
> teach
> your dogs to find things?
> I don't really no anything about dogs therefore I'm always unsure how to
> introduce things to them. How would one go about teaching a dog to find a
> chair?
> Sorry for asking all these questions but I want to learn as much as 
> possible
> about guide dogs.
> Hannah
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of GARY STEEVES
> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 12:11 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Finding Certain Things
>
> Hi Hana:
>
> Bogart is pretty good at finding seats but not always so good at finding
> empty seats. :) It is something I keep working on with rewards. Luckily he
> enjoys treats so this works good. Really the poodle understands the find
> command so your job is to label  the object you want him to find and make 
> it
> so wonderful to find it for  you that   she'll want to do it again.
>
> Once I got home with Bogart it was easy to teach him to find bus stops,
> buttons for audible crossings, garbage cans and it is a work in progresss.
> The garbage I toght  him to find is the ones that are often around bus 
> stops
> but he seems to sometimes find other types of cans given the chance. Once 
> it
> is found and labelled it  he will find it probably about   80% of the 
> time.
>
> I think with any dog,but especially the poodle,it is imortant to keep
> teaching them new things. They love to learn and use their subpurb brains.
>
> Have fun.
>
> Gary
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Hannah Chadwick <sparklylicious at suddenlink.net>
> Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:56 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Finding Certain Things
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>
>> 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 approachingthe 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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