[nagdu] which side are you on?

Mon May 27 18:20:27 UTC 2013

Hi all,

I have talked to my school(Guiding Eyes) about this a lot because we
have had some problems always walking on the left.  I was told that it
wasn't part of the training, but most dogs have a natural tendency for
the left side.  They even told me that some dogs are worse about it
than others.  I had this problem because I needed to walk along the
right side of a parking lot in order to find the right path to go to
class.  Brie refused to stay on the right, and I worked with the
school to try and fix the problem.  I got her to the point where she
would stay on the right side, but I could tell she never liked it.

I did receive some pointers from the school.  I would keep her to the
right side, then move her back when she tried to go back to the left.
I would also praise her for staying to the right side.  They also
advised using food, but I didn't do this very often because my dog
acts like a wild animal around food rewards.  :)

I do the same thing as Julie J in stores.  I walk slightly behind and
to the right of my mother or a friend.  This is also useful in malls.

I agree with Marion here.  I really wish the schools would work with
us and our dogs on how to get the dogs to walk either side.  I know
they have the ability to do it.  I'm glad my school was able to give
me some tips on how to make it less of a problem.  But I do wish it
was addressed in training.

On 5/27/13, Buddy Brannan <buddy at brannan.name> wrote:
> Marion,
>
> I really can't think why the school would lie about whether or not they
> teach a left tendency to their dogs. In fact, both GDB and the Seeing Eye
> have told me the same, that this is in fact not taught. Until given
> compelling evidence to the contrary, I'm standing by my previous
> assertions.
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> On May 26, 2013, at 10:10 PM, blind411 <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Daniel,
>> 	Like your friend, I am not very pleased with the fact that most
>> guide dog programs train their dogs to walk to the left. I feel it is
>> very
>> inconsiderate, as the normal flow of traffic moves on the right. When our
>> dogs pull to the left, oncoming pedestrians, bikers, skateboarders, etc.
>> all
>> need to avoid us. When walking through a strip mall, I feel like I am a
>> slalom skier.
>> 	My dog was trained to walk to the left and, despite my best efforts,
>> I have been unable to break him of this very engrained training. I have
>> addressed this with the Guide Dog Foundation and they claim this is not a
>> part of their training, though it obviously is! Why, then does my dog do
>> this. When I was on the graduate Advisory Council of Southeastern Guide
>> Dogs, I was given the explanation that this is so sighted people can see
>> the
>> dog and avoid it. They would not need to avoid it if we were to walk with
>> the normal flow of traffic. I would love to read other's feelings on this
>> issue.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel
>> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 6:51 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: [nagdu] which side are you on?
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>>
>>
>> I have just spent a troubling afternoon with a couple of great friends.
>> We
>> were on a walk in Golden, Colorado, through town and along the river
>> trail.
>> My friend kept telling me to stay to the right on the path because of all
>> of
>> the foot and bike traffic on the trail. The trail is a wide, cement
>> trail,
>> approximately 10' wide. Cass always walks to the left  on any path. My
>> friend became increasingly upset with me because everyone had to move
>> around
>> me to avoid missing me and Cass. I tried to have Cass move to the right,
>> but
>> she insisted to continue to travel on the left side of the walk, as she
>> always does. It is true the path was very busy, but I told my friend that
>> Cass would avoid anyone that was in her way. He became very irate,
>> telling
>> me I should walk with Cass on my right side instead of my left side. I
>> told
>> him that this was not an option, and that I knew what I was doing, and
>> just
>> chill out and let me and Cass do what we do. He said it was absurd that
>> any
>> dog would not be trained to walk on the right side of a path, and I told
>> him
>> that she was following the side of the walk.
>>
>> Does anyone come across any of the same remarks from people. Do your dogs
>> travel on the right or left on a path with no curbs, or buildings to line
>> either side.
>>
>> I must admit I do not remember having ever discussed this during training
>> with Cass. I naturally assumed that Cass would follow along the left
>> side.
>> My friend said that everyone else had to move out of the way for me, and
>> that it was not right that I took up the left side. Just because I was
>> blind
>> did not give me the right to make everyone else move out of the way for
>> me,
>> and that I had to be more considerate of them. Needless to say I was just
>> a
>> bit pissed off at this point.
>>
>> What do you think about this?
>>
>> I told him to forget about ever trying to get me to move my dog to my
>> right
>> hand, it was not going to happen. Other than that, I fell short of giving
>> him a good reason for travelling on the left side of the walk.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Daniel and Cass
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16