[nagdu] Update, Trouble with Tugging

[Danielle Sykora]

Hi Kristen,

I'm happy to see another guide dog user using positive reinforcement!
Using obedience commands to refocus a dog is definitely a good idea.
Have you tried putting him through puppy situps every time you notice
he is distracted. This may seem monotonous initially; however, it
might teach him that each time he tries to pull, he ends up needing to
stop. If he doesn't think pulling will get him there faster, he might
stop trying. Also, is it possible for you to set up similar situations
in unfamiliar locations?

Danielle and Thai





On 10/11/14, Kristen via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi, all--
>
> Last time I posted here, Corvette was unwilling to jump out of
> cars, becoming one with the car floor and not budging at all. I
> am delighted to say that, with the suggestions of many list
> members here (especially Raven), he is getting out of the car
> perfectly almost every time. It took lots of practice and praise
> with the clicker at different locations, but our accomplishment
> feels so rewarding. Clicker training works wonders!
>
> However, maybe someone here can think of more solutions than I to
> a smaller issue we're currently having: This mostly happens when
> he is unfamiliar with our surroundings or sees any car (it
> doesn't have to be ours) and wants to jump in. He immediately
> begins looking for our car among parked cars, even when we're
> nowhere near it. Corvette will tug forward or to either side if
> he's in a hurry, making me drop the lead and pull him back by the
> leash. I make him do puppy situps (sit, down, sit, down...) to
> refocus his attention on me. Within a few minutes, though, he
> will revert to pulling me again to bolt to wherever he wants to
> go (usually, anyplace where he knows he will get to lay down) at
> the time, often not watching out for whatever is ahead of me.
> Sometimes, I think it is just that Corvette is skiddish and
> unsure of where we are. I try using the term "easy," which he
> knows means to slow down after a few situps, then clicking and
> rewarding when he goes slower, but that is usually only a few
> minutes or so until his attention is unfocused on our current
> task again.
>
> I'm looking for a better way to set up this situation during
> obedience routines to practice. However, he is fine when we pass
> the car in our driveway, and I say "leave it." He does, and I
> reward. It's not bad at all at home because he's familiar with
> the surroundings and knows where we're going and what to expect.
>
> Any suggestions to correct this using positive reinforcement? (I
> would like to mention that he will not take a treat on the lead,
> which I am happy about after reading recent threads about food
> refusal problems. I would like to keep it this way with him.) He
> is a "soft" dog and lives for praise/love, which worked well
> after clicking to get him out of cars. I've tried a simple leash
> correction after the refocusing, but it seems not to last long.
> He does use a halti at all times.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice!
> --
> Kristen
>
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