[nagdu] Fear of a crossing and the area around it.

Tracy Carcione carcione at access.net
Fri Jan 3 19:29:47 UTC 2014


Hi Brandy.
Your triangle crossing might be a good candidate for an audible signal.  I 
have a T intersection where I need to cross all the time, and an audible 
signal made it a whole lot easier.  At least now I know when I have the 
light, instead of making my best guess.  I still have to listen up for 
idiots, of course.

A friend told me that drivers in large vehicles like buses and trucks can't 
see people who are closer than about 10 feet.  I guess they get hidden by 
the bulk of the vehicle.  So be extra-careful around those big things.  I 
hate trucks.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brandydp" <brandydp at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2014 12:37 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fear of a crossing and the area around it.


> Hi dena,
> With you on this one. There is a crossing by work that is a triangle with 
> three streets going across. It's hard to judge because the cross walk is 
> set up weird and the traffic is at an angle. It is the end of a bus line 
> and buses pull up to the edge and gun it and turn right in front of us and 
> then the elevated train is above us. I get very nervous and when I had my 
> previous dog who lacked confidence I would get nervous he would get 
> nervous I would get more nervous and he would stop. Pinta picks up on it a 
> little. Not too bad. What I have found works is not focusing on the dog 
> but yourself. Tell yourself it will be fine, make sure your hand is lose 
> on the handle. Keep breathing. Sometimes I just talk to myself slash pinta 
> saying, here we go again. We are a great team though and we will make it. 
> At one point of the crossing we have had some close calls so she would 
> cross it super slowly, which also isn't a good thing because it's a wide 
> intersection. So I make sure I keep talking to her, but not in a forced 
> nervous way just in a calm way and then when we get to the other side 
> throw a party! Eventually, it isn't the crossing I was scared of but 
> whether or not my previous dog would freeze in the middle or not. And of 
> course when this worried me with pinta she would freeze. So I would 
> breathe, tape a step back and give the command again. With pinta this 
> works. Ricky not so much. Keep us posted. I know the feeling. We feed off 
> their confidence sometimes and when it's lacking we get nervous. Well, I 
> do.
>
> brandy pinder
> Alumni Council -  second vice Chairman
> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc®
> and America's VetDogs®, The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc®
> Providing "Second uSight"® since 1946
>
> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike smith town ny 11766
> Cso: 866-282-8047
> Email: brandydp at verizon.net
> Cell: 304-685-4499
>
>> On Jan 1, 2014, at 10:51 AM, barbandzoe at comcast.net wrote:
>>
>> Hay Deanna,
>> I know that people feel they should be able to go were they want, but if 
>> I really didn't feel safe,  I would walk on the other side of the street. 
>> I know sighted people who don't walk places because they don't feel safe. 
>> You need to make sure you and your dog don't get hurt.
>> Give your team a break and walk on the other side of the street.  Maybe 
>> not going there for a couple of months, Pascal will calm down a bit, and 
>> you guys can go back to the driveway and work  on the problem.
>>
>> Avoiding an area isn't a sign that you are not a good team, you have to 
>> be safe.  Getting fit isn't something you want to do.    I would bet a 
>> mom and kids don't walk there, and older people who walk slow, also don't 
>> walk on that driveway.  People don't pay attention when they drive, so 
>> you have to be the one to make sure you are safe.  Getting the police 
>> involved to look at that area is a good idea, but you don't need to get 
>> hurt to prove a point.
>> Barb
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> From: "Darla Rogers" <djrogers0628 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 11:49:29 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fear of a crossing and the area around it.
>>
>> '/do you have a friend not a o&m specialist who might do the same thing 
>> and
>> sweet Pascal would not be so bothered; it is possible he is seeing 
>> something
>> beyond your hearing; what we need to know is what the sound is, and does 
>> id
>> pose a dangers to the team.
>>         By all means call GDB; this is a matter of safety for the team, 
>> and
>> you have already done what you have been taught to do.
>>         Do keep us posted, Deanna; let's  hope a little work with the 
>> right
>> people will help you and Pascal be the treat team I already know you to 
>> be.
>> Darla & Sleepy Huck
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deanna Lewis
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 2:55 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fear of a crossing and the area around it.
>>
>> Thanks Aleeha,
>> I've had my O & M instructor get a video from the distance, but it wasn't 
>> a
>> good one and GDB couldn't see much. If they can come out for a follow up, 
>> I
>> will ask that they watch from a distance and hope he doesn't know they 
>> are
>> around.
>> Deanna and Pascal
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha Dudley
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 3:33 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fear of a crossing and the area around it.
>>
>> Hey Deanna,
>> I'm wondering, if all else fails, if you could possibly have someone 
>> follow
>> along, far enough back for Pascal not to know, and video what he does. 
>> Then
>> send that video to GDB. Dallas behaves perfectly with a trainer around, 
>> too,
>> so this is what I've almost had to resort to at points.
>> HTH,
>> Aleeha
>>
>>> On 12/31/13, Deanna Lewis <DLewis at clovernook.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>> Here is some info about a situation that I am having difficulty with
>>> and would like suggestions and help on how to work past this...
>>> I live in a suburb that is very walkable. I can walk to work, a
>>> grocery store, pharmacy, bank, and a few restaurants. I love to get
>>> out and walk, but this one area is causing a big problem for us. I've
>>> been walking in this area for almost a year, but have only lived here 
>>> for
>> about 8 months.
>>> At this one intersection, which is pretty busy there is a McDonalds
>>> attached to a gas station. The intersection itself is not bad, there
>>> is an audible pedestrian signal, which helps a lot. But, just past the
>>> intersection is the entrance to McDonalds. There are several cars that
>>> turn in and out of that driveway. I treat it as a street crossing,
>>> having Pascal stop when we reach the driveway, then we listen and make
>>> sure it's ok to cross. Even though I have very good mobility skills
>>> and pay close attention, we have had some traffic checks and close
>>> calls at that entrance, due to drivers not paying attention. I try to
>>> stay calm and cool when doing this crossing, but it's really affected
>> Pascal.
>>> When we head in that direction and approach the main crossing, he will
>>> start to balk up. He will walk super slow and pretty much refuse to
>>> walk. I've tried Hopp up, praise, leash gestures forward, food
>>> rewards, and much more but it doesn't seem to help. Sometimes, the
>>> only way to get him to go is to drag him. I've even tried to use my
>>> cane and heel him past this area. We haven't had any close calls
>>> lately, but the problem appears to be getting worse.
>>> I've called GDB and worked with my field rep and an O & M instructor
>>> on this a few months ago. Of course, when someone is with us, he is on
>>> his best behavior and works perfectly. I really would like someone
>>> from GDB to come back out and work on this with us, but I don't think
>>> they will consider it very important. They wouldn't send anyone a few
>> months ago.
>>> If I could, I would avoid this McDonalds entrance at all costs, but I
>>> need to pass by it in order to go to several places. And now Pascal is
>>> slowing down and refusing to move several hundred feet from the area,
>>> so I don't think I can walk on the opposite side of the road to avoid
>>> it, he still seems to fear that general area. I'm at a loss. It really
>>> restricts my mobility as I would like to take him with me, but with
>>> his reluctance of this area, I am tempted to leave him at home while I
>>> do my shopping. A lot of times we go this way after work, so I can't
>>> just leave him at work either and use my cane.
>>> Any ideas on how we can get him past his fear? Or things I can try?
>>> Thank you all so much! And Happy New Year!
>>> Deanna and Pascal
>>>
>>>
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>>
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