[nagdu] {Spam?} First week of training

[Star Gazer]

			Sounds like the trainer does indeed listen to you so
long as he's got time to distance himself and think about what you've told
him. 
Send the email about the bushes and the leash to him, the one you sent to
the list. 
Also, when you have something to say, say it before a break or at the end of
the day so he can process what you're telling him. 
He may not be a warm and fuzzy guy, andthat's fine. I'm also not sure it's
worth complaining to a higher authority since he produces good dogs, and
since you are obviously comfortable enough to handle a tough situation. 
Remember, you aren't here to like this guy. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisa via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 10:38 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/pickrellrebecca%40gmail.c
om