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

Sat Feb 22 02:23:48 UTC 2014

Not "on the clock"? For some dogs, that just does not exist. Okay, maybe it
does when they are laying  down at home or something, but, if it is just you
and your dog and your dog is on leash, some dogs never stop working, even if
you try to tell them that they can. I think that the
understand...well...something. That you are blind? I don't know. Maybe. But
I am 99% certain that Lexia knows something. Either that or she just loves
doing her job.
I went to GDB, so I was never formally taught leash leading. A while back, I
started noticing Lexia moving in the general direction that we were going
when I was heeling her, so I started following, but more for directions than
for obstacle avoidance. Once I confirmed that she was actually doing
obstacle avoidance as well, I started actually following her movements more
closely and letting her do more of the driving. I don't have any formal
commands for it. I think that Lexia knows based on the way that I hold the
leash that I want her to leash guide. Also, I only really do it in one
place, so she knows that, if we are going on this route, she leash guides
me. I don't do it in public. I generally only do it in places that I would
go without my cane anyway.
She will also try to do it when I am heeling her if she feels that I am
making bad judgments. One time, I was in a hurry and in a familiar place and
Lexia was not walking fast enough, even with encouragement, so I dropped the
harness handle and heeled her. Lexia by no means considered herself off
duty, though. I got a little too close to an object on my right for Lexia's
liking, so she pulled sharply to the left, even though I was heeling her,
and she was correct.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daryl Marie
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 11:55 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Leash guiding WAS: re3 ,Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs

I think Jenny intuitively picked it up... leastwise my training didn't cover
it and my trainer didn't mention it at all.  While we were in training, if
Jenny was with me without the trainer, she had to wear an "I'm in training"
jacket, and I was not allowed to give her guide commands, but I had to use
my cane.  I went shopping in a mall the week before graduation, and she did
everything as though she were in harness.  I started to go down a path I
don't usually go, and Jenny turned her head toward my leg and started
walking slower, as if to say "I'll go here if you want, but are you sure
this is where YOU want to go?"  It isn't something I actively encouraged,
but I always praised her when she found bus stops and escalators and doors
when on leash like that, giving her big pets and joking with her that she
wasn't "on the clock."

Daryl
----- Original Message -----
From: Jenine Stanley <jeninems at wowway.com>
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 12:36:35 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Leash guiding WAS:   re3 ,Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs

This really depends on the student, the dog and the student's prior
experience. Initially it took me all of 3 weeks during a 3.5 week class.
I've seen people getting their first dog though pick it up right away.
Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com

http://www.twitter.com/jeninems

On Feb 21, 2014, at 2:22 PM, Darla Rogers <djrogers0628 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Jenine,
> 
> 	Thank you for explaining that so well; can you give an average or 
> approximation on how long it takes a student to learn it?
> Darla & Happy Huck
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine 
> Stanley
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 10:27 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Leash guiding WAS: re3 ,Age of Qualifying Guide 
> Dogs
> 
> 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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