[nagdu] Intelligent disobedience

[Larry D. Keeler]

Yah, I know that poodle smirk!  Holly uses it on occassion.  Sh4e also 
blocks me with her body or just stops!  When she stops, there is no way 
you're going anywhere! But, when I release the harness and check out what;s 
ahead, she will surrender responsibility!  This is really useful in the 
winter.  She thinks all snow drifts are obstacles!  She hasn't learned we 
can go through or over them!  So sometimes I have to take control!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tami Jarvis" <tami at poodlemutt.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Intelligent disobedience


> Tracy,
>
> That's something I've wondered about off and on about guide dogs in 
> general. They're all trained in intelligent disobedience... But how 
> stubborn is the average guide dog about applying that training?
>
> Mitzi is stubborn and has developed a number of ways of letting me know --  
> correction: trying to let me know -- that I am being a complete dumb head 
> and would get myself hurt or done in if she didn't go to extraordinary 
> lengths to protect me from myself. /lol/ She is also very good at saying, 
> "I told you so," once I figure it out.
>
> So now I'm really spoiled, of course. But as Mitzi moves toward the 7-year 
> mark, I do find myself wondering about that trait of hers. I think the 
> major reason I want to do some basic guide dog training with DD's pup Zay 
> is because she is naturally a more obedient type of dog, in the classical 
> concept of obedience. Very eager to please, etc., etc. So I want to find 
> out, using very safe places, if she can take the basic skills and develop 
> some general responsibility, then bump it up to the next level and refuse 
> to let me walk into the street or something. Hm...
>
> My secret fear for the future is that I will inadvertently end up with a 
> guide dog that does what I tell it to, just because I tell it to... 
> Probably because of all the people who take it upon themselves to question 
> Mitzi's fitness (or even ask smart questions in a sensible way) as a 
> guide, since they thought guide dogs are supposed to be totally obedient. 
> /lol/ I used to get really annoyed by that sort of thing, but now I just 
> stare at whoever might bring it up these days in horror, then burst out 
> laughing. OMG! I would be soooo doomed! /lol/
>
> Tami
>
> On 01/30/2013 10:02 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>> Sometimes I get mixed up about exactly where I am, and tell Ben to do
>> something dumb, like turn to cross the street before we get to the
>> crosswalk.  He says No, and I insist, and he insists back, and, after 2
>> or 3 times, I finally get it through my fat head that this time he is
>> right and I am wrong, and I tell him how great he is.
>> I know all guide dogs do intelligent disobedience, but do they all
>> insist when their silly user persists in wrong-headedness?  Or is this a
>> special feature I need to remember to mention, when it comes time for
>> New Dog? Actually, I did just tell Seeing Eye to put it in my record
>> that I need a dog who insists, but I wonder if it really goes without
>> saying.  But then, some things I think go without saying apparently 
>> don't.
>> So, do all guide dogs insist in disobedience, even in small things like
>> the right place to cross the street?
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/tami%40poodlemutt.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/lkeeler%40comcast.net