[nagdu] Pilot Dogs training

[Julie J.]

Thanks to all the Pilot grads who have offered information.  It helps me 
to understand things much better.  I didn't know about the hand 
signals.  That's an important thing for me.  I definitely want to have a 
dog who knows them and the freedom to use them.

Julie
On 6/23/2012 9:56 PM, Criminal Justice Major wrote:
> Hi, julie J,
> Yes, Pilot has the students do basic routes all together.
> In the very beginning however, one instructor will be with one student so trainy and dog can get used to each other.
> After that, they increase it up to doubles with two students and dogs.
> I do remember back when I was in training with Odie, there were two other retrains as well.
> One night on our night walk, all three retrains and dogs went out together and did the same route like during the day time.
> We did do some work inside of a pet store, Columbus shopping mall, a couple of drug stores and training on the buses.
> Because Columbus, Ohio doesn't have a monarail system, no training was able to take place on that.
> When I did train there with freedom, the trainer that did prepare him didn't have us doing any country sidewalkless routes.
> The second time, that was included.
> Yes, I do agree with you that each trainer does things differently.
> I experienced that with my first guide dog at GEB.
> I'll admit during my three times of training, I found myself getting annoyed after a while because of being told so many different things bgy different trainers than the one who trained the dog directly.
> I just had to go with the flow and abide by instruction.
> For the test walk at Pilot, you end up doing the same basic route that you worked on during class.
> Instfuctor is with you, but they try to keep their distance  and will step in if need be.
> Ultimate goal is for guide dog team is to do their best and if both pass the achievement walk, then they can go home.
> When I did it though twice, I managed to pass the first time around with flying colors.
> I had the nervous gut in my stomach that I was going to fail.
> Once I found out that I passed, the butterflies were all gone.
> I am curious to hear about the training from those who've attended TSE, SEGDI, GDB, GDA, GDDI, Fidelco and Leader Dogs.
> Although students do basic routes together or for instance if there are some that have customed needs, are the dogs trained by one instructor or do others take over?
> I remember back when I was at GEB, I had to have different instructors work with me because Orleans became a big wheeny when it came to his trainer Andrea Martine/Gardner.
> If she was around, he would not stay focused or on top of his guide dog work.
> Thankfully when it came to Freedom David Berry and Odie however, they didn't have any dificulties with their instructors around.
> They worked fine and stayed on top of things for the most part.
> As far as the differences of the trainers at Pilot though, yes, I had one instructor who didn't like the idea of me teaching Freedom hand signals and she claimed that he didn't like my hand moving toward his face.
> After we went home, I continued using the hand signals and Freedom did just fine.
> The instructor who trained Odie was all for the hand signals and encouraged them to be used.
> His explanation was that they come into play when you have to step outside of a classroom during lecture to avoid inerupting the teacher and when leaving the building like an apartment complex early in the morning to not disturb other residents that may be asleep.
> I do like the hand signals and greatly used them during
> I couldn't talk and it hurt if I tried.a nasty lung infection.
> Since Odie's instructor Mike Tesmmer encouraged me to use them again, they were helpful.
> Even so, I'll gladly teach them to my next dog.
> *Smiles*
> Bibi
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.com
>