[nagdu] Dogs finding things here and abroad

[Dan Weiner]

Now here is a question.
Having looked over the archives I see Viviana asks about the differences
between guide dogs here and abroad.
This  queery, , coupled with our thread about finding the light poles or the
button etc brings me to a question:.

Dog guide handlers, users, whatever you want to say from other countries
tell me about their dogs being trained to find seats, poles, really all
sorts of things and it does seem from talking to them (some of them I do
trust as I've known them for years) it seems that the dogs are successful at
doing this and really are good at it right out of training.
In the case of all of my dogs, they have learned but it has taken me halling
butt and working really hard at it to get it  to be consistent.
This is not only the case with me but with most or all of my dog guide using
friends here.

Also the web sites and literature from the guide dog organizations abroad
talk about the dogs being trained to find myriad things, seats, bus stops
mail boxes, doors (the dog putting their nose on the handle), benches, many
many things.
So, are the dogs in Europe say taught in a mmore consistent way to dfind
things and then why isn't it that our dogs aren't?

Curious to hear points of view on this or maybe say, from our Swedish guide
dog user here as to how things aare there and opinionions from everyone on
this subject.

Cordially,

Dan and the Parker Pup

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Craig Heaps via
nagdu
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 12:01 PM
To: Daryl Marie; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalk light success!

Yay!

I taught Chase "Find the button".  He likes that game because it means
treats.  But now he finds every button, even when I don't give the command. 
Better all than none, I suppose.

He also sometimes gets locked onto the dog urine odors at the base of the
pole and doesn't look up for his treat.

Craig and Chase



----- Original Message -----
From: "Daryl Marie via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 7:10 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Crosswalk light success!


> Hey!
> Ever since training with Jenny, we have struggled with scrounging (I've 
> posted about this).  One of her favorite scrounging/sniffing places is at 
> the base of crosswalk light poles (where you push the button to change the

> light).  On a whim on Monday night, I got off the bus one stop early to do

> some work with her on finding these posts.  It wasn't pretty.
> Me: Jenn, find the post.
> Jenny (misses the post entirely and goes around the corner)
> Me: Not quite, my  girl.  Let's try again.
> We turn around, Jenny goes right past the post while I flail around trying

> to find it.
> Rinse, lather, repeat.
> Third time:
> me: Jenny, find the post.
> Jenny finds the post but starts scrounging.
> Me: Good post, nose up.
> We take the corner again, turn around.
> Me: Jenny, find the post.
> Jenny finds the post, her shoulders right below the button, her nose is 
> up.
> Me (throwing a fiesta): YAY!  Good girl!
>
> Now for the past three days, every time I ask for a post, she has found it

> perfectly and kept her nose up!  Her tail wags even before I praise her, 
> because she knows she's done good!
>
> SO proud!
>
> Still need a little work on scrounging in general, but this is SO good!
>
> Hope this encourages those who are struggling with distractions or 
> scrounging that it can be done.
>
> Daryl
>
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