[nagdu] Learning new routes with a guide dog.

Tue Oct 9 13:09:57 UTC 2012

You could ask people along the way.  Sometimes I call the business 
itself and ask directions from some nearby thing like a bus stop that I 
know.  A lot of towns in the U.S. have addresses that will help you know 
where it's located.  For example often the odd numbered addresses will 
always be on the same side of the street throughout the whole town.  
Sometimes the bus or public transportation company will have scheduling 
information available via telephone.  Sometimes that person will be able 
to help with some additional information about the area.

If I'm in my home town I just go and figure it out along the way by 
asking other pedestrians or if I need to step into another shop and 
asking directions.  If I'm traveling out of town and don't know the area 
at all, I often ask the clerk at the front desk of the hotel.  In these 
situations I will generally use the free hotel shuttle or take a cab 
instead of venturing out on a long route in an entirely unfamiliar town, 
unless it's only a couple of blocks or something.

When I travel  and will be staying for longer I often plan time to go 
out and explore in the first day or two.  I also try to get as much 
information as I can from the internet before I leave so I generally 
know what is in the area.  when I went to Alaska I asked the owner of 
the Bed and Breakfast where we stayed a lot of questions about the town 
and what was within walking distance and the availability of cabs.

When I first moved to this town I asked my husband a lot of questions 
about where things were.  He's not very good with directions though.  
Mostly I had to go and explore on my own.  Now that I know the town well 
my husband's directions are more helpful.  He will tell me things like, 
"it's across the street from where that Christian bookstore used to 
be."  *smile*  Not very helpful if I am clueless about some old and long 
gone bookstore.

Of course you know that I owner train my guides.  So there is no guide 
dog school to call to help with learning new routes.  I also do not have 
any sort of rehabilitation person who could come out and help me learn 
new routes.

Occasionally I get lost and it's frustrating, but no one stays lost 
forever.  I try to keep calm and keep thinking so I can logically work 
my way back to where I wanted to go. People are generally nice and 
helpful with enough information about streets or nearby shops so I can 
figure  out where I'm at and where I went wrong.  the more practice you 
get the less you will get lost.  Or that has been my experience.

HTH
Julie

> Hi all,
> thank you for your helpful information you have posted so far, I 
> highly appreciate it.
> My another question is what to do in case you wanto go somewhere on 
> your own and you do not have any friends or O.M. instructor where you 
> live so you cannot get descriptions from them, plus descriptions your 
> family provide are not very understandable and clear.
> Is there any other way how to get the information I need?
> Maria
>
> On 9.10.2012 14:28, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) wrote:
>> Wow.
>> So you're saying in Sweeden you have to get someone to help you 
>> before you take the dog? What happens if a friend says "There's a 
>> great sandwich shop" and gives you directions but can't go with you 
>> when you want to go for the first time?
>> I'm curious to know if cane users have the same rules?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nadja Öberg
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 6:37 AM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Learning new routes with a guide dog.
>>
>>
>> BS"D
>>
>> Maria,
>>
>> In Sweden we owners first learn the new road with help of our low 
>> vision therapist, family member, friend or guide dog instructor. 
>> After that we walk the road with the dog in her lead and show her the 
>> road and what we want her to mark, lampposts, steps and zebra 
>> crossings with more. After that we work the dog in her harness.
>>
>> We can also 'free work' our dogs and that means that we haven't work 
>> the dog that road before and often the road is even unknown for the 
>> owner. The school don't recommend this method because all guide dogs 
>> aren't made for it. I've done it with my dog; she loves new 
>> adventures and thinks known roads are boring. You can use a GPS when 
>> you work your dog. You need to remember to praise the dog even if she 
>> doesn't find the 'right' lamppost; it's your fault when it goes wrong 
>> not the dog because she doesn't know what you expect from her.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> Nadja and Hera
>>
>> Webpage: http://www.nadjaoberg.com
>>
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