[nagdu] How Things Are Going With My New Dog

[Sean Robertson]

Thank you Carmella for sharing with us on all the things your trying with 
your dog.  I love learning about how people work with there dogs.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carmella Broome via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 11:16 AM
Subject: [nagdu] How Things Are Going With My New Dog


>
> 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
>
>
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