[nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?

[crystal redick]

I am a graduate from GDB and I was never told to walk ahead of my dog
if there is a narrow passage. We were told to encourage our dogs if
they are unsure about an obstacle.

Crystal and Lexie

On 7/25/12, Juanita Herrera <juanitaherrera1991 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Tina, I believe that they have had classes with students of partial
> vision, but I don't think they have purposely planned it. I'm a total
> and they did not train me differently than my other classmates who
> were partials.
> Juanita and Anise
>
> On 7/25/12, Tina Thomas <judotina48kg at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Tracey- That could be true. I know in the past GDB has had classes
>> with
>> just partials.
>> Tina
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Tracy Carcione
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 8:14 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?
>>
>> Hi Juanita.
>> I don't think you need to ask, unless you want to.
>>
>> I have heard that GDB now gives individualized instruction (though it
>> seemed
>> pretty personalized when I was there years ago.)  I wonder if they are
>> telling high partials one thing, and totally blind people another?
>> Though, if they are, it's still a rotten idea to step in front of the
>> dog,
>> even if you think you see well enough.  It would limit the person from
>> using
>> the dog in situations where he or she wasn't seeing well.
>> The whole thing seems screwy.  Which is why I thought it might be a wild
>> rumor.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> Tracy, that is totally a wild rumor. I just graduated from GDB six
>>> months ago, and not unless things have changed since then, we are not
>>> to walk ahead of our dogs at any time. The dog is called a guide dog
>>> for a reason, to guide. Also, we may give leash Q's, but only if we
>>> have an idea of where we are. Not if we are absolutely unsure of our
>>> surroundings. GDB is actually going to be having a presentation at my
>>> job on Friday. I can ask if things have changed if you'd like me to.
>>> Juanita and Anise
>>>
>>> On 7/25/12, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>>>> 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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>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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