[nagdu] Doggie distraction... success?

Tue Oct 7 15:57:19 UTC 2014

Hi, Raven,

I think I have gotten a bit more insight into this issue, and why Jenny acts the way she does.  I know that part of it is her seeming easy distractability, and my response to it.  Yesterday, while waiting for the bus, another dog came walking down the sidewalk in our path.  She basically lost her head (this seems to happen more with smaller dogs), and I will admit that I didn't handle it well.  After a moment of clarity, I figured that next doggie distraction, I would act calmly but decisively.
This morning, on our way to a meeting at work, Jenny was excited about 20 feet from the office door.  Whether this was because she had to relieve, because she saw a coworker she really likes, or because of the little spitfire of a dog that really wanted to see her, I can't say for sure.  Jenny sniffed the other dog briefly, I told her to leave it, and off we walked toward her relieving spot.  Jenny did her business, but kept looking back at the other dog.  Got her refocused, and on we went.  VERY proud!

Daryl and Jenny
----- Original Message -----
From: Raven Tolliver via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: L Gwizdak <leg1950 at cox.net>, NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:42:24 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doggie distraction... success?

The Golden guy has a moderate to strong dog distraction. Compared to 2
years ago, we both have improved tremendously about handling this.
Most days, the Golden Guy will pull toward or look back at other dogs.
For the looking, I just snap my fingers rhythmically to keep him
focused, and it works. When he's pulling, I do restrain him just with
the harness and drag him in the right direction.
The days are increasing though where we'll pass dogs, some of them
being vocal and pulling toward him, and he will walk by them without
even speeding up as I have taught him to do to get passed the
distraction faster. On those days, I praise the hell out of him. It's
just such an improvement. I don't think this distraction will ever go
away, but every small success means a lot to me, and I let him know
it.
Daryl, it's good that even in the presence of the distraction, and
even when trying to go for it, Jenny will listen. That is a wonderful
thing. I've pretty much lost the Golden Guy when he starts pulling and
trying to get at a dog, which is why I have to drag him away. I hate
doing it--it just goes against my force-free philosophy. But I haven't
found a work around yet.

On 10/2/14, L Gwizdak via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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)
>>
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>
>
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-- 
Raven
"if God didn't make it, don't eat it." - John B. Symes, D.V.M.
http://dogtorj.com

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