[nagdu] {Spam?} First week of training

Sat Sep 13 18:26:25 UTC 2014

Yikes. Of course, it is up to you how you handle this, but I would not
tolerate being treated that way. You are an intelligent, responsible adult,
so you have the right to understand what is going on. If you think that it
might make the trainer a little more open and would not cause the dog to be
taken away, you could try telling the trainer that, if he tells you to do
something without explaining why or without giving a thorough enough answer,
you are not going to do it. You could also try telling him that all of his
criticisms are making you nervous. There is more than one way to say
something, and people don't have to use the bluntest way there is. Just
because this man is good at training dogs does not mean that he can lack in
his communication skills with other humans.
	As for why he did not let you see the dog the first two days, maybe
he was kind of doing what some of the American schools do. When you attend
one of the programs in the United States, the first few days, The trainers
watch you walk and you do obedience and kind of guide work by telling the
trainer the commands and the trainer kind of pretending to be the dog,
including sometimes not following the commands.
	Why can't you tell us about the training harness? Why is the harness
different for training?

Nicole

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisa via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Julie J.; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] {Spam?} First week of training

Wow, you guys are quick with your replies! :-) Thanks so much for your
encouraging words everybody!
I  certainly would speak to the school about the trainer. Problem is, he
_owns_ the school.
But I've come to the conclusion that all his negativity doesn't prevent him
from training the dogs very well. I already noticed how Taylor never gets
distracted when he is in harness, no matter what happens. Alot of people
start talking to him and looking at him because he seems to look as bright
and joyful as he is but a tiny leash correction is enough to make him focus
on work again. And he doesn't even know me for a whole week.

Larry, the harness is one that the trainer only uses for training. He says
in the end I'm going to get another one. I'm sorry I can't describe it at
this point. I will do so when I have mine.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "Lisa" <dreamymarmot93 at yahoo.de>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the National
Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] {Spam?} First week of training

> Lisa,
>
> Lord have mercy, that man needs to find a new career.  Perhaps 
> something where he collects taxes or works in a prison would be better 
> suited.  I'm sorry you have to endure his negativity.
>
> Taylor sounds like an awesome dog though!  I'm so relieved he is happy 
> and energetic.  I don't really think a trainer can tell you when you 
> are bonding well to a dog.  I think it's more something you feel.  The 
> trainer could certainly tell you when you've worked a particular 
> situation well, though. Knowing what you're doing right is probably 
> more helpful than being told what's wrong.
>
> Only two more weeks, then you will be free of the negativity and can 
> get on with your life!  Best of luck!
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lisa via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 9:38 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] {Spam?} First week of training
>
> Hello everyone!
>
> Well, the first week of my guide dog training is over and I thought 
> I'd tell you a bit about it. It's a rather long e-mail. But maybe 
> you're interested anyway.
>
> The beginning was incredibly rough and stressful. My boyfriend and I 
> had spent the whole Monday waiting excitedly for the arrival of the 
> trainer and Taylor. When they came in the evening, the trainer entered 
> the apartment with Taylor on leash and told him to lie down 
> immediately. I was not allowed to say hello to him in any way. At this 
> point I thought well, he must have his reasons so I waited.
> Then, after we talked a little while, he gave me the leash and said we 
> should go for a short walk so Taylor could relieve himself. We went 
> outside and Taylor pulled so hard on the leash, which was not 
> surprising for me because at this time, we still didn't have any 
> contact with each other. I expected the trainer to advise me on how I 
> should react best and stuff but all he did was criticize me for 
> everything I did without giving me any suggestions of alternatives. It 
> was terrible. I was so hurt and stressed out after this. Then the 
> trainer set up the crate and told me I wasn't allowed to take Taylor 
> out of it. He left for the night and I was so disappointed.
> I
> really thought I couldn't make it through these three weeks of 
> training with this horrible guy.
> The next day, he took Taylor on leash and kind of chased me through 
> town for three hours. He said he wanted to see how prepared I was for 
> the graduation at the end of the training. I had to go with my cane 
> and he just followed me and criticized me for numerous things.
> At the end of this day, Tuesday that is, I finally started a serious 
> conversation with him. I told him I wouldn't understand why I wasn't 
> allowed to touch my future dog and all the other things. I was so 
> exhausted and disappointed. He made a few attempts on explaining his 
> behaviour but nothing was really new to me. Like "the new environment 
> is stressful for the dog"
> and "I have to know how prepared you are for the graduation". And I 
> kept
> thinking: "Well, guy, I thought we would work for three weeks so I'd 
> be prepared for the graduation afterwards." But I didn't give in and 
> told him I'd need more structured announcements from him. Like when we 
> start training in the morning and in the afternoon and what we are 
> going to do -- so far he had just shown up at our place and started 
> whatever he wanted to.
> I was desperate.
> But Wednesday morning, everything changed. Well, not everything. Not 
> his way of talking to me, which I still think is with a lack of 
> respect and courtesy. But he started telling me how long our training 
> session would be each morning and afternoon and what we were going to 
> do. And finally, I was allowed to take Taylor on leash with me through 
> the apartment. So I finally got in touch with the dog and everything 
> looked alot brighter then. Okay, this is a good moment to tell you 
> about Taylor.
> He is so full of joy and lust for living. He behaves like a puppy in 
> the apartment -- stole stuffed animals, knocked over the milk pot and 
> started licking the milk from the table.... But during the short 
> period of time that he is with us, he has learned so many things 
> already. In the living-room he is very relaxed and sleeping most of 
> the time by now. The other rooms?
> Well,
> we are working things out. ;-)
> And the day before yesterday, I worked him for the first time. So, I 
> walked with a guide for the very first time in my life. And 
> surprisingly, it worked brilliantly. I was so sure that it would take 
> ages for me to trust the dog and get used to the feeling of walking 
> without a cane in my hand. But it went so well! I keep thinking there 
> has to come a big change next week or so, where I suddenly feel 
> insecure because I just can't believe it.
> And since Taylor and I are working together during the training 
> sessions, the trainer is much better to endure. Even though I'm kind 
> of scared of the next week and the week after that, because we will 
> have to be at the central station and take busses all the time then. 
> And he is just so not the kind of person that encourages and validates 
> you, unfortunately.
> But Taylor is so great. In harness, he works with all that joy I 
> mentioned before. You just notice with any step how  much he likes to 
> work. And I think we bonded very well so far. I say "I think" because 
> the trainer never tells me things that are positive. So I have to 
> think of what's positive myself instead.
> OK, that's my update so far.
> best wishes from Germany
> Lisa
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/julielj%40neb.rr.co
> m
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 4015/7704 - Release Date: 
> 09/13/14

_______________________________________________
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/ntorcolini%40wavecable.co
m