[nagdu] [nard] The Differences in Dogs and Canes

[Carol Osmar]

OK, I was concerned that using a cane might confuse your dog, but 
I understand it is the process of switching from the harness to 
the leash that basically tells them that you understand this is 
an unfamiliar place and you don't expect them to find the way.

Thank you for explaining.

I should probably keep quiet for now.  I'm sure all of my 
questions will be answered when I am at the school.

Carol ----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:17:29 -0600
Subject: Re: [nagdu] [nard] The Differences in Dogs and Canes

Carol,

I carry my folding cane with me all the time.  It is always in my 
backpack.  I will use when I find myself in a situation where I 
am somewhere that I have not been before, and am very unfamiliar 
with the layout.
To explain better, I got off the bus yesterday and was going to a 
community center I have not been to.  I found there was no 
sidewalk.  I thought I could follow the curb with Cass, but there 
were cars parked on both sides of the street.  Rather than stress 
out Cass because I was nervous, I heeled the girl, whipped out my 
cane and used to guide me through the cars and other dead ends 
along the way.  I don't like to not be able to give good 
directions to the girl if I don't know where I am.  It is 
different if it is somewhere we have been before and I get 
confused, she can figure it out.
Like someone else said earlier, I use the cane to pattern the 
girl in every new situation.  The difference is, I do not use the 
harness handle when I do.  I will always heel her.  After we have 
done that, I will return to the beginning and pick up the harness 
handle and go ahead like normal working time.  Oh, I almost 
forgot, I will also give her kibble rewards along the way when we 
are patterning the route so she will remember where I want her to 
go.  It has worked each and every time I have done this.
This is the way she was apparently trained by her trainers at 
GDB, and the way they instructed me to train her.
When I am a good papa, I try to remember to use my clicker too.  
The only problem is I am not very coordinated all the time, no, 
make that most of the time.  I do good to put one foot in front 
of the other most of the time.  But sometimes I will remember to 
use the clicker and she responds wonderfully to this.
So, to make a long story short, I strongly recommend using the 
cane with your guide, just not when working.

You can always contact me off list if you have any questions, and 
I would happy to explain further.  Hope this is helpful