[nagdu] Adjustment from working with a king to a dog

[Tami Jarvis]

Elisabeth,

I get the impression that the change in feedback from the environment is 
a pretty universal adjustment, as is learning to trust the dog and go 
along with the guidance. It is definitely a learning process for both 
partners.

As others have said, there is nothing wrong with sticking to a cane if 
you are the most comfortable with it. But if you think you will prefer 
using a guide dog, then it's simply a matter of practice and patience.

I use my hearing a lot to figure out what is around me while working 
with the dog and have worked to develop my echolocation and all that. 
I'm most comfortable and confident when I have enough of a clue what is 
around to take an active part in working with my dog. The downside is 
that I am apt to micromanage her sometimes because I feel like I know 
what is what. When I am in a place where sounds are confusing or just 
not helpful, my dog seems to enjoy getting to do her job while I just 
cruise along with her. Once I adjust to being disoriented and clueless 
and just give over to her guiding, I enjoy it, too. Sort of. /lol/

As you get used to moving with the dog, I think it becomes more natural 
to feel changes in direction as the dog takes you around obstacles, so 
you know something is there. I also feel the ground more under my feet, 
which gives me a lot of clues and helps me know where I am on a route.

The dog will take you from curb to curb on the sidewalk, so that helps 
in keeping track of where you are. I chronically forget to count blocks, 
but I still have the sense of intersections to keep track of where I am. 
Usually. Indoors, my dog will indicate cross corridors and 
intersections, which also helps with navigation and orientation.

I prefer navigating by noting landmarks at random intervals, so I don't 
miss the more constant feedback from cane travel. Since I'm used to 
navigating with dog now, I can get lost in familiar places with the cane 
because of all the extra feedback and being distracted by all the new 
things that have appeared from out of nowhere. /lol/

hth,

Tami

On 06/29/2014 08:33 AM, Elisabeth Clark via nagdu wrote:
> Hi guys,
> I haven't got a dog yet, but have done several walks with a few dogs
> through three different schools and am looking at getting a dog.
>
> One thing I don't understand is the fact that I feel most confident with
> my cane vs the confidence I have while walking with a guidedog.  I feel
> that my cane gives me more feedback on my surroundings and I can sense
> the unevenness of the ground better than what I can with a guidedog.  I
> also know they try to pull you around obsticals, but I'm not good with
> following a dog. With my cane, I can use the tapping technique and echo
> location to get around obsticals and find that much easier.  Did any of
> you experience the same problem?
>
> Cheers, Liz.
>
> Sent from my Braillenote Apex.
>
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