[nagdu] Having a bit of trouble convincing my dog toreverse course

[mary wurtzel]

Hello,
The idea of dogs not wanting to walk in a circle caused me to 
chuckle.
We had a picket of Good Will in Dearborn, mi recently.
Two other dog teams were there.  FELIX was thinking, "this is 
nuts, just walking  in this really small circle back and forth." 
We humans get funny ideas!!!
Mary

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: Bryan Jones <opensesame at me.com
>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,	the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users"<nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sat, 13 Oct 2012 11:40:41 -0400
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Having a bit of trouble convincing my dog 
toreverse	course

>Thanks everybody for your feedback and suggestions.  It was good 
to hear that my dog is not the only one who exhibits this 
behavior, and that folks have had success altering the behavior.  
I'm adding the "About" command and additional practice to our 
daily routine and will report back on how things go.  Also, I 
recalled that one of the TSE staff had shared a theory with me a 
couple years ago when Marqi & I were having trouble adapting to a 
new suburban walking route.  The TSE staff person theorized that, 
while humans and some dogs are perfectly content to walk in 
circles -- as one might do when walking for exercise -- other 
dogs prefer to have some sort of destination.  Marqi is 
definitely a "destination" sort of dog, something I need to keep 
in mind.

>Cheers,
>Bryan

>On Oct 3, 2012, at 5:03 PM, Marsha Drenth 
<marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:

>> Bryan, I really like this command.  As you need this when I am 
in a hurry or are looking for something.  Emma would absolutely 
pout if we turned around.  I would cheer, praise, whatever it 
took, but she did not like it.  I would say do it in the way I 
described in my blog.

>> TSE uses the "rest" command.  Although I am so use to this now, 
I say it to my new pup, she will it soon too.  I say stay, give 
the "about" command, while patting my hip.  I would do the same 
but offer treats and praise.  Soon the pup will pick up that you 
want to go back the same way you came and associate the "about" 
comkmand with that.  Its a customization, just like you do to 
teach them to find the chair, or whatever.

>> Maybe I am wrong, but atleast that makes sense to me, in my 
mind.  LOL

>> Good luck and let us know what happens.

>> Marsha drenth


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