[nagdu] a very bad day and seeking suggestion

[Tracy Carcione]

It hasn't been my experience that dogs do best on routine routes.  Mine have 
all loved going somewhere new.  The only times they haven't is when I've 
been unsure of myself, which of course they catch and feel unsure 
themselves.  Except for Amba, who had enough self-confidence for both of us.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dudley Hanks via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Aleeha Dudley'" <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>; "'NAGDU Mailing List,the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 10:38 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a very bad day and seeking suggestion


> From one Dudley to another, I'm sorry to hear you had a rough day.  For 
> what it's worth, every low is followed by a good day or two, so you've got 
> some good times ahead...
>
> I guess the question I'd like to ask is:  Is the library a place you 
> frequent, following an established route whenever you go there?  Of 
> course, the follow up question would be:  If you go there regularly and 
> follow an established route, does your Guide handle it well under normal 
> circumstances with today's sub-par behaviour most likely due to the rain?
>
> If the library trip is not part of your regular routine, I would just note 
> that dogs are redundant animals;  they like predictability, so they often 
> perform better on routes they travel regularly than they do when we are 
> kind of winging our way to a place the dog is not all that familiar with.
>
> For those open places you need to include in your regular travels, 
> chaining backwards from a given point works well, which is simply giving 
> your dog praise or a treat when he takes you to the door, then going back 
> a bit and have him take you to the door again, with another reward at the 
> door.
>
> By extending, or chaining, your starting point farther from the desired 
> door, your Guide will come to equate the door with receiving praise and/or 
> treats, and he should eagerly take you to it whenever you are in the 
> vicinity.
>
> Of course, this doesn't work so well when your schedule is less 
> predictable.
>
> In that case, chaining can still be effective, but you need to practice it 
> regularly , in different locations, but with the end destination always 
> being somewhat similar -- i.e. the door to a building, a door into an 
> interior room off a hallway, an elevator door, etc.
>
> If you practice the various types of entrances in groups, sooner or later 
> your Guide will become an effective  assistant whenever you need to find 
> your way to a new destination.
>
> But, above all, keep in mind that dogs are mere mortal creatures, just 
> like their handlers.  They have off days, and need the benefit of the 
> doubt every now and then.
>
> Just hang in there, give Dallas a scratch under his chin, and a few kind 
> words.  He'll make up for his off day in spades, very soon.
>
> Regards,
> Dudley, with Michener
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha Dudley 
> via nagdu
> Sent: October-14-14 7:43 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] a very bad day and seeking suggestion
>
> Good evening fellow doggy directors, (ah, playing with words is quite fun)
>     Today was not a very good day for me and my little Dallas boy. It
> was quite rainy here in Ohio and we needed, absolutely needed, to get
> to a meeting by 1 PM. I left in plenty of time to get there, but we
> had a lot of trouble along the way. Dallas was very slow, not wanting
> to move hardly at all. It got worse as the rain got heavier. Soon, it
> was pouring and we needed to get out of the rain. He just kept slowing
> down. He refused to walk through puddles or on wet leaves. He didn't
> want to listen to me at all. Finally, soaked and low-spirited, we
> arrived at the library, where Dallas proceeded to ignore my
> instructions and walk around aimlessly, like he knew where he was
> going. He did not, but I finally managed to get him to an elevator.
> While sitting waiting on my fellow meeting attendees to arrive, Dallas
> whined and shifted restlessly, but I knew that he didn't need to
> relieve as he had just done so. When we left the meeting, Dallas
> absolutely refused to listen to my command to find outside. He danced
> through the tables at the café, turned us completely around, but did
> not want to walk back outside, despite my constant guiding toward the
> door. I knew nearly exactly where the door was, but Dallas kept
> veering away from it. This also happened in the student center last
> night. Both places are fairly open and are not mere hallways. They
> also have a lot of noise and people, so I really don't know what to do
> to try to fix this. Finally, on the way home, Dallas seemed to balk at
> walking through a long stretch of sidewalk covered in wet leaves. Any
> suggestions as to how to improve any of this would be greatly
> appreciated. I am not looking forward to repeating this adventure
> tomorrow morning as well on my way to and from an appointment.
> Aleeha and sweet Dallas
>
> -- 
> Aleeha Dudley and Seeing Eye Yellow Labrador Dallas
> Vice President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
> Email: blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
> Follow me on Twitter at @blindcowgirl199
>
> The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.
> - Arabian Proverb
>
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