[nagdu] Skipping driveways

[Jennifer Woods]

Julie,
I am hoping that the dog will be one that takes initiative, but I will have to wait-and-see when I get the dog smile. I already tried to rely on environmental smells and sounds to figure out where I'm at That is partly how I find my way to Starbucks :-) or past Starbucks in some cases. I will let you know how it goes as far as counting my steps.

How long did you have to use your cane for when patterning the dog? 

Hope you have a great day!
Jennifer



On Aug 21, 2015, at 3:53 AM, Julie J. via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

You are having home training right?  This is something you could ask the trainer to work with you on while he/she is there.  Most dogs pick up on places you go to frequently and will suggest the turn, or in the case of home, just turn in.

Other methods include: using other landmark information, like the feel of the slope of the driveways, traffic sounds, windchimes, sounds of shopping carts, smells of particular shops like coffee or cleaners and having a sense of how far to go.   Once you are close you can ask the dog to do a moving turn, meaning you suggest to the dog that you'd like to take the next available left turn.  You can pattern a dog to something you need to find frequently like a specific turn, a mailbox or a trash bin.  Patterning just means you show the dog what you want and offer lots of praise and/or treats. You will probably need to use a cane when initially patterning.

For me, I've noticed that I tend to rely most heavily on information from the environment.  What is useful to me has changed, somewhat, since using a guide dog.  The next most useful thing is paying attention when my dog suggests something.  I was up at the middle school a couple of days ago.  It was in the evening, so no typical school sounds of kids coming and going or playing outdoors.  Typically I listen for the kids outside and parents coming and going through the parking lot.  It's a good long walk up there and by the time I arrived, I was off daydreaming.  Jetta remembered the turn and started to go that way.  When she made the right turn, it pulled me out of my daydreams and I realized she had remembered where to go.  I indicated to her that she should continue and praised her for her effort.

I don't correct for my dogs suggesting a turn.  I either confirm their choice or redirect the way I want to go, but I strongly encourage this kind of initiative.  Some people don't want the dog to suggest though.  It's up to you.

Julie
Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now available! Get the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
-----Original Message----- From: Jennifer Woods via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2015 9:47 PM
To: National Association Of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Jennifer Woods
Subject: [nagdu] Skipping driveways

Hi All,

This may be an odd question but I hope not.
With a Guide Dog how do you know where exactly you are? For example right now I know that there are 2 driveways then a stretch of sidewalk until I turn to go up the hill to get to my apartment, however since dogs don't stop at every driveway or alley how do you stay oriented to where you are when using. Dog if you originally learned a route by using landmarks so to speak such as driveways or alleys?

Thanks
Jennifer
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