[nagdu] Doggie distraction... success?

Thu Oct 2 18:07:58 UTC 2014

Hi folks,
I've been a longtime guide dog user since 1973.  I have pretty much seen 
everything in guide dogs and their handlers.

When I want to let my dogs do something, I ask myself, "How will this impact 
my dog's work in harness?"  Sometimes behaviors can spill over into work in 
harness.  An example would be say, I want to let my dog play with dogs alot 
and I let my dog do that.  It could be possible that I may find I have an 
increased problem in dog distraction while working.  If I find that my dog 
cannot handle certain freedoms, well then I'll have to curtail things either 
forever or until the dog "gets it" that it can do some things off harness 
and not working and not do them in harness.  This takes maturity in the dog 
and consistancey in the handler. I NEVER allow people to feed my dogs people 
food.  This WILL spill over into work in the form of trouble controlling the 
dog in a restaurant or picnic situation.  I had a friend who ruined someone 
else's guide dog that became a real pill in a restaurant.  He did this ONE 
time to my dog and I ripped him a new one over that.  He didn't do that 
again with any of my dogs. Another person feeding your dog a meal because 
they are dog-sitting your dog is totally different.  It is the dog's meal in 
his dish.

I do pet-assisted therapy with my guide dogs.  The dog is out of harness but 
on leash and under my control at all times.  we deal with frail and/or 
senior people at nursing homes mostly.  Wwe visit places with disabled kids 
or psych wards of hospitals.  I tailor what I let my dogs do on leash in all 
these different environments.  With some of the younger folks, I'll let my 
dog get a bit silly and roll on his back but always, always on leash and 
under my direct control.

As to petting in harness, I do allow it with friends but do not encourage it 
with the general public on the street or bus.  I teach my dogs to look at 
people petting them in harness on the streets like any other distraction. 
If my dog responds to the petting, I tell the dog to "leave it" and continue 
on my way.  I used to try to explain to people why they shouldn't do this 
but they act like idiots mostly and makes me angry.  So, I say nothing to 
the person and correct the dog just like I would for a loose dog or bird or 
other animal.  When my dog doesn't respond to the person, they give up and 
go away.  I have found that people like to distract our dogs due to their 
childish need to play with a dog regardless of what that dog may be doing. 
Sometimes they get mad when I correct the dog (mostly verbal correction).  I 
just calmly say, "I don't know what your problem is, you caused the dog to 
get the correction."  They mostly then shut up and go on their way. LOL! 
This is to the general public who are just on the streets.  With friends, my 
rule is no petting or interaction of any kind IF I am holding the harness 
handle and walking.  If we stiop and talk, I will drop the handle and let my 
dogs say hello -  usually with a command to my dog of "Say hello".

Each team has to do what is best for them and their dogs.  There's no real 
right or wrong.  I would recommend that interaction with others be limited 
if you just came home with a new guide.  The dog needs to learn you and your 
rules first.  That way, bad habits don't happen while you are out working 
the dog in public.

Lyn

"Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like 
asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Abigail Bolling via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Daryl Marie" <crazymusician at shaw.ca>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the National 
Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 7:37 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doggie distraction... success?

Jada is the same way. today she decided to run me straight in to one of my 
friends who has a service dog. Thank goodness Alex understood why Jada 
wanted to say hi to his pup, Carlos and he watched me while I corrected 
Jada. Then he offered to let me try to walk by again to make sure the 
problem was taken care of.
There are certain dogs on campus, including the new puppies who are in 
training, that jada will walk past with no acknowledgment, but there are 
others which make the tail wag wildly and she will whine a bit. Still others 
she will bark and and quite frankly growl. (that dog did try to attack her 
though)
I think it really does depend on the dog and the relationship your dog has 
with the strange, or sometimes not so strange other pup.

Thanks,

Abby and Sleepy Jada

Abigail BOlling
Wright State University: Social Work
“Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart, and just let the music 
play.” (Julie Anderson-Diamond, Nov 15, 1962-Feb 22, 2014)
On Oct 1, 2014, at 9:42 AM, Daryl Marie via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi!
> Jenny has an inconsistent dog distraction; sometimes she will completely 
> ignore another dog, and sometimes she thinks that even though she's 
> working that it's a great idea to say hello and not listen.
>
> Yesterday was definitely a "greet every other dog!" day... but I don't 
> know what to make of today.
>
> This morning we got on the bus, and there was a little dog in a carrier. 
> Jenny took me right to the dog, but she was very calm and listened to my 
> command to find a seat on the crowded bus.  She sat on the steps and 
> calmly waited, but sniffed the air around the other dog, who was sitting 
> across the aisle and down a couple of rows. She did stay calm, no whining, 
> no tail-wagging, or anything.  When it was my stop, then - and only then - 
> did she try and check out the other dog.  She sniffed some, wagged her 
> tail, but then listened when I told her to leave it and find the door.
>
> I'm not sure what I think about all this this morning... I know others 
> have spoken to me about dog distractions...
>
> Daryl and Jenny (who is playing with her food puzzle)
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/violingirl30794%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/leg1950%40cox.net 

---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com