[nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?

[Kelby Carlson]

I just graduated from GDB.  We are not trained to walk ahead of 
the dog if a path is narrow, but we may slow down depending on 
the location.  I will occasionally give my dog leash cues around 
an obstacle if he is unsure, but only if I have a good idea of 
where I am and what the obstacle is.  I am totally blind and I 
would certainly not say GDB's dogs are trained to work with enly 
partially blind clients.  (I know for a fact the trainer's use 
blindfolds when they are with the dog most of the time.)

Kelby



 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:12:20 -0400
Subject: [nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?

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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