[nagdu] Yoga Mountain vs parking meter

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Tami.
I was reading your description of being a yoga mountain while the puppy 
dances madly at the end of the leash, and wondering, and hoping, that that's 
different from what a GDB instructor aptly calls "parking meter", where the 
handler just holds on to the end of the leash while the guide dog does 
whatever it likes.  Parking Meter really bugs me, when I go somewhere where 
there are other guide dogs, and someone's dog is spinning around happily at 
the end of its leash, while its person stands there apparently oblivious. 
Tell me this is not a positive-training technique to be used in public!
One of the TSE trainers felt strongly about what she calls the 5-second 
rule.  (I forget if it's 5 seconds, but that's pretty close.)  The 5-second 
rule is, if you're going to be standing somewhere for more than 5 seconds, 
have the dog sit, so it's under control.  It's not a bad rule.  Not that I 
always follow it, but I must follow it enough, because Ben often sits 
automatically if I'm just standing around waiting for something or 
gossipping.
Tracy