[nagdu] Leash guiding WAS: re3 ,Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs

[Raven Tolliver]

Leash-guiding comes naturally to the golden guy, though I do it a bit
differently, I think. I hold the middle of the leash. I can still feel
his head and body movements even though I'm not holding the leash so
close to his neck. Also, we've gone walking for blocks while
leash-guiding. The streets we crossed were in residential
neighborhoods, so there's not much traffic. The golden Guy still stops
at curbs, stairs, and will take me to doors on cue.

On 2/21/14, sheila <sleigland at bresnan.net> wrote:
> thank you for this post. I wondered about the reasons for teaching leash
> guiding and also when it should and should not be used.
> On 2/21/2014 9:26 AM, Jenine Stanley wrote:
>> To my knowledge, Guide Dog Foundation is the only school to formally teach
>> leash guiding. We do so with many caveats.
>>
>> 1. Leash guiding should only be used in familiar, preferable indoor areas
>> or in extreme emergencies such as a harness breaking.
>>
>> 2. Leash guiding should never be used to cross streets on a regular basis
>> because when doing it correctly and efficiently, you are much closer to
>> the dog's shoulders, giving it less stopping time/distance.
>>
>> 3. There are right and wrong ways to safely use leash guiding and if your
>> dog wasn't trained to do it, the process can cause more problems than it
>> helps. Yes, many of you do use the leash to work your dogs and no one here
>> is dead yet but is it the safest, most efficient way to work the dog?
>>
>> 4. Leash guiding should never be used or at least should be used in
>> conjunction with a harness being worn, when entering businesses, moving
>> about a hotel or other public place. We say this because the public has a
>> difficult enough time trying to tell what a real service animal is without
>> the confusion of a dog simply on leash working. Yes, it's perfectly legal
>> and all that but sometimes just because a thing is so doesn't make it
>> right or easy. :)
>>
>> For me coming to GDf from Pilot Dogs, learning to work my dog using only
>> the leash was the hardest part of class beyond the different harness feel.
>> When done the way we teach it, you can leash guide through Manhattan
>> crowds, not recommended but doable, without hitting anyone.
>> Jenine Stanley
>> jeninems at wowway.com
>>
>> http://www.twitter.com/jeninems
>>
>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 11:15 AM, Alyssa <alyssahenson95 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Leash guiding means the dog is working as a guide even out of harness.
>>> I've secretly allowed my girl to do this as it has helped me in many
>>> situations. I generally only do this indoors and not around stairs as LDB
>>> didn't train the dogs for this skill.
>>> Alyssa
>>>
>>> Sent From My iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 9:41 AM, Daryl Marie <crazymusician at shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I have never heard of the term "leash guiding".  Can someone tell me
>>>> what this is, or what it entails?
>>>>
>>>> Daryl and the sleeping Jenny
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Alyssa <alyssahenson95 at gmail.com>
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 08:38:11 -0700 (MST)
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] re3 ,Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs
>>>>
>>>> I personally like the idea of leash guiding. In fact, when I was at LDB,
>>>> Sophie girl did this often to keep me from hitting walls. LDB
>>>> disapproved this method but I'm glad to see that doesn't apply to all
>>>> the schools.
>>>> Alyssa
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 8:09 AM, lizzy <lizzym0827 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Shannon,
>>>>> It's funny that you say that about the maturity level of your dogs
>>>>> because I've heard a similar comment from another GDF handler.  She
>>>>> said that in general, GDF's dogs are a bit better when it comes to
>>>>> manners and behavior.  She seems to believe that it has to do with GDF
>>>>> teaching their dogs more commands than other schools, and also leash
>>>>> guiding.  Has anyone else heard or seen this?
>>>>> Just curious,
>>>>> Lizzy
>>>>>
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-- 
Raven