[nagdu] clicker training and echolocation

[Julie J.]

Hello all!

I am thinking of learning better echo location skills to help me be a 
better traveler, especially in outdoor off road settings.  I am 
specifically thinking of the technique called flash sonar taught by 
World Access for the Blind.   It's the tongue click technique where you 
listen to the echoes to get pretty detailed information about your 
environment.

I understand that this technique has been met with skepticism in the 
past.  I understand that it isn't for everyone.  I feel though that it  
will give me added information about my environment, allowing me to 
explore and challenge what I previously thought would be difficult or 
impossible.

I am not giving up working with a guide dog.  I plan to use this skill 
to compliment my use of cane and dog, not to replace them.   I am a good 
traveler now, but there are things I would like to do or do with more 
accuracy and ease than I am able to do now, camping, hiking, roller 
skating, archery, moving through airports, outdoor festivals, etc and 
perhaps riding a bike.

So my main question is to those of you who use clicker training with 
your dogs, especially those who use the tongue click.  Am I going to 
confuse Monty with the echolocation clicks since he has been trained 
that is a marker signal that he has done something I wanted?   I'm 
thinking I can go back to the very first lesson of clicker training 
where you teach the dog that click means treat, except this time I will 
mix up tongue clicks with mechanical clicks only giving treats for the 
mechanical clicks to teach him that tongue clicks are no longer rewarded.

I would also like to know if anyone has experience with using advanced 
echo location with your guide dog.  How has it helped you?  Have you 
encountered any problems?  Have you discovered you are able to do things 
you never thought possible?

Thanks for any thoughts or ideas,
Julie