[nagdu] micromanaging your dog

[Steven Johnson]

Hi Julie,
I would have to agree with your insight.  So, with this in mind, can this
result in, or have the potential to impact that bond or bonding process?  I
am really thinking of new handlers with dogs matched within the past year as
this seems to be, and is most often the most critical period.  I guess in
part what I am thinking, is if there is a correlation with unsuccessful
teams and micromanagement, versus successful teams and less micromanagement?
As you noted, our guides are still dogs, and dogs will be dogs, but
management of their behaviors is in part, what we need to be good handlers.
Taking this to another level and micromanaging, from my viewpoint, may have
a potential to have negative consequences on the success of that team.
However, it also, I suppose, has to do with the type of handler one is, but
more importantly the type of dog...not the breed, but how the dog can deal
with this level of management that it has never been exposed to in its
overall training.  I think we all have seen or witnessed how others manage
their dog, and think to ourselves, I would never do that, and realize that
this is a choice that they have made, and may indeed be a part of their
overall training.  I just find this an interesting subject as the last thing
we want as handlers, is to put undue stress on our guides, and from my
perspective, micromanagement has the potential to do this.  

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J.
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2012 10:40 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] micromanaging your dog

Steve,

This is something I've been thinking about and working through lately.  
I think in the beginning of team formation a higher level of management 
on the part of the human is frequently necessary.   Then we sort of get 
in the habit of providing that same level of management not because it's
necessary, but because that is just the way we've always done it.  I don't
think it's a deliberate or conscious thing, like I'm going to micromanage my
dog because he is stupid and untrustworthy.  Nobody thinks I have to control
my dog's every action or he'll go totally nutters, pee on the floor, jump up
on old ladies and steal candy from 
little kids.   Or at least I hope those aren't actual daily concerns.  I 
do think there is a load of pressure on guide dog handlers to keep their
dog's behavior at a level near perfection.  We all know that dogs are dogs
and they aren't perfect, still that is what is expected.  
Micromanaging the dog is a fear response I think.  It's a way for us to try
to  guarantee that no mistakes will happen.  the thing we overlook is that
humans make mistakes too!

I wrote more about this idea in the recent thread about cooperation vs. 
force.  I've been closely examining everything I do with Monty lately to see
what is truly functional and what is just leftover from his earlier training
days.  I'm clearing out what is no longer necessary and replacing it with
what works now.

Julie


_______________________________________________
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/blinddog3%40charter.net