[nagdu] Distracted by other dogs

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Hi Julie,
What I've found over the years of working guide dogs is that they really do 
need interaction with other dogs.  I belong to a blind center where there 
are several other guide dog handlers.  This is my observation only:  The 
dogs who have handlers that absolutely REFUSE to allow interaction between 
the dogs have a harder time in keeping their dogs under control and are more 
distracted.  I have found that when the dogs have a chance to greet in a 
controlled manner, they are satisfied and will go back to work.

I find that so many blind folks are so strict and never stray from what 
their school says and the dog is denied from ever socializing with another 
dog.  Some of these folks NEVER let their dog interact with another dog - in 
or out of harness.  Then they wonder why their dog goes nuts when it sees 
another dog!

At ouor center, many of us will let the dogs briefly greet when we come in 
and greet the handlers.  The dogs all know each other and after much tail 
wagging and sniffs, the dogs are happy to flop down under the tables 
together and snooze.  It's funny how they don't bat an eye when a known dog 
enters the room but they all react with curiosity - head and ears up - when 
a new dog arrives!  This happens when a new person comes to the center or an 
existing member gets a new dog.

To me, the key is to allow the dogs a brief hello and then they are expected 
to behave and settle down.  As for dog distractions, well, some are more 
distractable than others.  I always know when Landon sees a dog and 
sometimes I have to get after him about that!  Landon does get to play with 
his guide dog friend, Bernie and a couple of service dog friends - out of 
harness, of course.

Lyn and Landon
"Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 6:09 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Distracted by other dogs


>I agree with what everyone else has said about distractions while in 
>harness, but...I wonder if there's something else going on.
>
> Guide dog puppies spend their first year essentially in a constant meet 
> and greet with people, places and new things.  They attend group classes 
> where they often interact with the other dogs, if not during the actual 
> class then before or after.  It seems fairly common for there to be more 
> than one dog in the puppy home.  Puppy playdates are not unheard of.  then 
> the dog goes off to the program for more training, where they are with a 
> bunch of other dogs.
>
> Enter the blind handler and a new home.  Sometimes there are other dogs in 
> the home and sometimes playdates are arranged, but mostly it's solitary 
> work for the dog.  All the doggie socialization comes to a complete stop 
> or is cut down to a trickle.
>
> I like dogs a lot and enjoy spending time with mine, but I also need 
> people.  I need to talk and share ideas and do people things.  I wonder if 
> dogs feel the same way?  they need some dog time to socialize in the dog 
> way.
>
> All that to say I wonder if spending a Saturday morning at a dog day care 
> with other dogs or arranging play dates with well behaved neighbor dogs 
> could help?  Perhaps the slow increase in dog distraction over the past 
> few months while in harness is a symptom of a need to interact with other 
> dogs.
>
> I'm not saying that the distracted harness behavior is okay because it's 
> not.  I'm just suggesting that meeting her dog needs out of harness might 
> help her not to crave that interaction while in harness.  I also freely 
> admit that I might be totally off here and increasing dog socialization 
> time out of harness will increase her interest while in harness too.  I 
> don't know your dog and won't presume to know how she might react.  I do 
> know that for my guide, Monty, it has helped a lot.
>
> all my best,
> 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/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net