[nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?

Tracy Carcione carcione at access.net
Wed Jul 25 12:12:20 UTC 2012


The other day, a friend shared with me the things she heard about at the
ACB convention.  One thing that shocked us both was that GDB is teaching
people, when there is a narrow path, to step *ahead* of the dog!  Say
what!!!  I've done that, and lived to tell the tale and learn from my
mistake, but it's a darned good way to get hurt or killed.  Is this just a
wild rumor, or is it an example of trainers being out of touch with
reality?  Or has GDB become Guide Dogs for the High Partials?  Well, high
partials who never go out at night, because it would be too dangerous and
scary.
Surely this isn't actually what GDB is teaching?
Another thing my friend heard is that, if the dog is unsure of how to go
around an obstacle, the person is supposed to direct the dog using the
leash--give a leash cue.  Great, if you can tell where to go.  Me, I
usually can't, being, you know, blind!

Anyhow, any recent GDB graduate want to confirm or deny this rumor?

I have been pondering a new theory:  guide dogs used to be trained as if
their partners would be totally blind, and now they're being trained as if
their partners will have some usable vision.  I've occasionally thought
that Ben might have done better sooner if he had a person who could tell
faster when he was getting ready to cop a sniff, for instance.  And our
trainer seemed to think I should know when bushes were coming up, though
just how I would know that beats me.  But then, how do these guide dogs
for the visually impaired pass the blindfold test?  So maybe my theory is
full of holes, but it doesn't seem like training is as rigorous as it used
to be, if one can believe books.
Tracy






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