[nagdu] How Things Are Going With My New Dog

[Carmella Broome]

Hi everyone, 

Brooklyn and I have been home  two months  tomorrow.  We've had our ups and downs. I've been reading back through list archives and doing other research as I   was getting my brain around having a new young dog again and various ways to think about, and approach our bond and  work together.  We both  experienced  some issues in our   outdoor work early on that set us back confidence wise some.  I figured out several important things about  what was going on. I'd like to try and articulate what I'm discovering because it helps me to put it into words and  in the hopes that it will promote  discussion and perhaps help others. So, here are some of my thoughts for anyone who is interested. 

I've come to realize that developing a philosophy of  how to work with  her, or with any guide,  and the proper mindset, is perhaps just as important as actual techniques. I also  believe self-awareness and an honest look at myself and my strengths, weaknesses, and expectations of myself and of Brooklyn is crucial.  I need to maintain good perspective on both of us as individuals and  on us as a developing team.

I realize that her  initial training and our work together under trainer supervision laid the vital groundwork for what we are doing now.  I also realize that she practiced guide skills with her trainers, and with me, in a familiar setting. Of course, that home court advantage is a big help and  the feedback I received  and what I learned  about her during that time  was so  extraordinarily important.  I knew we had some things we would continue to need to strengthen, but I also knew we could  work well together. As I mentioned in a previous post, Brooklyn just turned  one in  February.  She's very eager to please and is an old soul in many ways, and she's  very smart.   They told me she's very soft, though, and that she can become a little uncertain and need reassurance and help with her confidence. I  was perhaps a little overly confident myself when I was matched with her that I  knew my  home turf really well and could give her the time and  specific
 encouragement she would need once we got home.  I believe I still can, but  I've had to rethink some things and realize some things. the focus and critical thinking abilities I'm asking of her  in a new environment while adjusting to a new home and  workplace is a lot for any dog, much less one who is still practically a puppy and a little on the sensitive side.

I have a stressful job and finding my own balance again has been a challenge. Again, she picks up on my stress and preoccupation, I'm sure.  The  busier things became at work, the  more difficulties we both seemed to have when out walking. Part of that, I'm sure, was my  being  distracted or a little anxious about  all the new clients I was seeing,  finances being tight due to being gone, worrying if she was getting enough from me, and other things.  I knew these things would make our transition more challenging but hadnt been sure  exactly how.   She sits under my desk at work, but is exposed to  people expressing various  emotions throughout the day and  its a long day for a young dog who would probably like to be out and about more.  She settles well, but she does get restless by the end of the day.   We don't have time at work to do much  outdoor work, plus its way too hot here in SC right now to do much in the middle of the day and  the area I work 
 in is not  very walkable.  So,  most of our walks are in the morning when I'm not as alert or as cheerful as I could be.  We've done evenings, but walking around where I live after dark isn't the best idea.   
 
So, I've tried to take all these factors into account as I think about our work and  what is best to do. I think the  idea that any dog can land in any  new environment and  just  automatically do everything as confidently and precisely as they did in class with just a  little encouragement is  simplistic and that   a new dog  in a new environment is likely to present some challenges for dg and human.  This does not mean  we need to panic.  It should be expected.  Obviously, some dogs will handle the transition better than others based on personality and the area they're working in when they  go home. How well the human part of the team knows their environment and how good their O&M and  dog handling skills are will come into play, as well. 

Helping her  confidently  know what I need of her in  a new environment means I am not only a guide dog handler. I am also a trainer.   I have to reinforce what she already knows, but also  go beyond that and do what is necessary to help her understand when she is doing  exactly what I want. Especially when a team is new, I don't believe thinking of ourselves as handlers or "users, (I've never really loved that word) is enough.  This phase of the process is much more active and nuanced.  This would also be the case when  moving to any new  environment later on, but  would still be easier because the team is more solid.  This first   few months requires  a lot of attention to details and   intentionality. The training and bonding process is  a journey and it continues long after graduation. We talk about the bond part a lot, but we maybe don't always talk about the  ongoing training part as much. We need to know our dog and how to best communicate with
 him or her and  we need to be open to various other methods besides what we already learned that may be helpful. I've added tongue clicking and treating for certain things, for example.  
 
So, being a trainer and feeling confident in that role is one thing.  Being a confident enough traveler in whatever environment we're in to  be able to  reinforce  our dogs for doing  things right is another thing. I'll be the first to say that I don't view getting lost as a fun adventure  like some of you do.  I'm not a very brave traveler and like to stick to the familiar whenever possible.  Yes, I've had O& M training, though not until high school.  When I did get it, I was terrified much of the time and  getting out there and doing it more didn't really help with that. I went back later as an adult and got additional training just to help me get over  being intimidated by  city travel when I knew I would be moving to a larger city for grad school.  I can get  disoriented rather easily and my brain will scramble and  that's an ongoing struggle for me.  So, I know my strengths and weaknesses as a traveler.  I'm pretty confident in familiar areas,
 though.    

I live in the city so its blocks, curbs, and lighted intersections.   Before coming home, I realize I was overconfident in my knowledge of  the  details of the routes I take. My  previous dog and I worked this area for a long time, and I stopped having to keep track of things like exactly which kind of curb  was at each intersection and how far back from the curb the intersecting sidewalk was and all that a long time ago.  Those fine details are  important once again now and I quickly realized once we got home that I would need to   refamiliarize myself so I could be sure Brooklyn was doing what I needed her to do.  I was surprised at how much I just didn't remember that  suddenly was so important. If she wasn't sure, and I wasn't sure, then how could I  help her be more sure? Maybe  that won't always  be true, but for now, as  we're working as a new team, it is. We need small successes and to gain  confidence in  each other by  having lots of chances to
 do things right early on as we continue to work out  our teamwork and bond.

So, I  did some walking with a friend and asked a lot of questions.  I taught this same person how to follow over my right shoulder and  give feedback similar to how trainers do it.  I've  heeled her and walked with him sighted guide at certain points to show her certain things and I  take my cane with us now in case I feel I need it to double check something. I want her to do things right the first time rather than doing something different than what I'd prefer and  me not realize it because I'm not exactly sure myself if she's at the right spot to cross or  whatever.  We do rework things as needed, but the more  sure I am  of what she's doing based on what I know, the more I can  confidently reinforce what she's doing or calmly rework knowing exactly what happened and what I need to do to redirect her to get the better result. This helps me to stay calmer and less nervous, too.    

So, I scaled things way back and  gave us both permission to start small and  be successful. Once I knew some places where I was very sure  I'd know if she was  right at the curb vs a little to the side or a little too far back, or where I would want her to turn, etc., I  began  my plan to really  make a big deal over these things so her confidence would be a little more solid and in case she'd picked up on any previous stress from me and was being a little more tentative about working.   The good thing is that we can go half a block and encounter  tables and other obstacles, drive ways,  entrances to buildings,  pedestrians and dogs, etc. There are curbs just  a little ways from our front door and chances to practice crossings  at curbs that have the bumps on them.  We go further than this, of course, but  I'm just saying that we're  doing good work even when I take her about a block from here to go potty. I began  using a tongue click and a treat 
 (Oyster crackers) as well as praise,  petting, and tapping with my foot or whatever. I had her sit and did these things at certain places and   did some right abouts and reapproaches to  reinforce yet again.   This meant doing what I was already doing but just adding some things.  She was not trained with clicks or treats but I  just added them in and didn't get hung up on  it. I figure the more  auditory,  touch, and  taste cues she gets that she's doing right, the better for her confidence and for her focus. I haven't  eliminated leash corrections, and don't plan to, but Brooklyn is not the kind of dog who needs may of those.  She gets one if she  gets too sniffy or  completely blows a down curb, which  has only happened a couple times.  

We've been at this for several weeks now and it seems to be helping a lot.  There are still some things we're working on, but overall, we both seem more relaxed and   we're  enjoying the process together.  If something happens, I stay calmer and  feel more in control of  the situation. I see her using her reasoning skills, and  we go on little adventures that are going more positively.    I still have  my friend walk with us sometimes as I slowly work outward from where I'm most comfortable and I know I can use my cane, too. She seems comfortable with the cane since I've had her around it in the house.  Sometimes, I just have to pretend  we're invisible and that no one might be watching as wondering what people walking or driving by might think is  a little distracting. I'm aware it isn't always fluid like  I'd want it to be  yet but  things are coming along nicely.     

I do indoor work with her  in my building and at my workplace, too, of course.  Lots of stairs and doorways and things.  She's great at finding  in and finding out and  knowing  how to find my  apartment door, office door, my friend's door at his building, and so on.   She knows how to find the trashcans outside and is great at going to her place (either crate at home or under my desk at work) when asked to do so.  I'm clicking to tteach her to stand when I brush her instead of sitting down. I've used click and treat to  keep her from wiggling around so  much when I'm trying to put her harness on and she now sits nicely for that each time.  Other things, too.   I'm pleased.  I feel we'll be at this for a while, but so far so good. She's doing much better with  accuracy at downcurbs and  not veering on sidewalks.  She's very responsive and  I'm learning a lot, too.   

There's lots more I could say, I'm sure, but I have to get ready for work.   Thanks  to those of  you who've read all this.   This is just me and what is working with my new dog, so if you disagree or do something different, that's fine.  Just know that I'm sharing for information and discussion not  argument or debate about methods or whatever. Each  team is different and  the uniquenesses of each dog and each person and the particulars of their situation go into what they do and how they do it. Being a team that is well bonded and that  works efficiently and safely is what  we all want, I think. 

Best to all.
Carmella and Brooklyn