[nagdu] families and our dogs

Thu Feb 19 18:31:27 UTC 2015

Great suggestion, Becky!
I was not taught the "short leash" in training, or I just never used it (I can't remember), but after the followup visit from hell, the trainer recommended it.  It has worked wonders, not only for scavenging, but keeping Jenny close to me if she is wanting to pull away.  I use this regularly in tight spaces, or on the way to the dog park, and it has saved me much frustration.

Mary, I am also wondering if his collar is too loose?  Most dogs who scavenge, you can feel before they get anything, because their head moves down or to the side.  If the collar is loose enough so that more than two fingers can fit beneath it, that will likely prevent you from feelign his head dip down or sideways.

Daryl
----- Original Message -----
From: Becky Frankeberger via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: 'Mary Wurtzel' <marywurtzel at att.net>, 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:20:31 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: [nagdu] families and our dogs

Mary don't give your dog so much leash. Tighten up on the leash and if you
feel that head drop give him the hup up or whatever get moving command your
school or you taught him.

Becky and Jake  

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary Wurtzel via
nagdu
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 6:49 AM
To: 'Daryl Marie'; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] families and our dogs

Hi Darrell,

Here is your message about clickers.  
I will try to pay more attention to whether there is a signal before the
scrounging behavior.  It has been going on since I brought him home.  It
happens mostly at restaurants.  He did get a Nutterbutter off a lower shelf
at our grocery store.  I do keep him on close watch knowing in that store
they keep lots of stuff at his nose level.
The thing is that yesterday he was guiding at an eve vent and did a flawless
job.
Thanks again.
Mary and Felix
P.S.  The thought of giving Felix up is so painful.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daryl Marie via
nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 12:01 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] families and our dogs

Hi, Mary,
I agree with Cindy's advice; if the criticism is helpful or useful, take it
as it is intended and leave the rest.  How is the criticism being handled?
Is it simply a comment that someone notices things aren't going well, or are
there suggestions offered?  Either way, take what is useful and the rest can
go away.

Jenny, like Felix, can be a bit of a scavenger.  We have worked on this a
LOT over the past few months.  I have copied and pasted a few things that
have worked for us, from previous archives of the list, modified for Felix.

Are you able to take him to an unfamiliar place and play the Leave-it game
with him?  I tried doing this with Jenny and it made a big difference; at
home/work, she won't try and pick up the popcorn/bread/tomato, but in an
unfamiliar environment she might, so it was a great training exercise for
her to go somewhere she's never been (a friend's apartment, etc.) and work
with her on that.

Are there certain things he does that indicate to you that he's about to
scrounge?  Once you stop him before he starts, the behavior should improve.

Has this been an ongoing issue for him, or is it new?  Has he had success
scrounging somewhere before?  Have you kept him on the same food, switched
food, or given him vaccines or medications recently? Are there certain
foods/items that are a particular struggle for him to resist?

The Halti is a good tool, but is definitely not to be used all the time.
Are there particular places he scavenges more than others?  For example, for
some reason I will never understand, there's a one-block bit of sidewalk
where Jenny has always had trouble (I think there's apartments there); if we
walk north, she's fine, but walking south is a whole other matter.  There's
all kinds of good ground candy in the grass verge...  Perhaps you could take
him to a place like that and walk with him there, with the Halti, and praise
him for not picking up the food (I know it sounds like you're praising for
nothing, but really you're not).  This worked wonders for Jenny, and now all
I have to do for the most part is talk her through that sidewalk and
occasionally tell her to leave it if she goes for something (which she
does).  Also, are there certain things that trigger the scavenging (i.e.
boredom, weather changes, after a good rain)?  Once you figure out what, if
anything is triggering it, then you can be a lot more prepared and less
frustrated when it happens. 
Ultimately, you can greatly reduce the use of the Halti.  Over the past six
months I have used the Halti nearly daily, then once a week, then less... I
think the last time I broke it out for her was when we were at the vet's six
weeks ago, but I always carry it in my purse.

Jenny  knows when she's been set up for food refusal drills.  I have tackled
this in two different ways:
1) Gone somewhere unknown (a friend's apartment, for example).  This tends
to trigger scrounging behavior in her, so it's a perfect time to work with
her on it.  She doesn't feel set up, I get to actually work with her on it,
and everyone's happy.
2) use the clicker for food refusal.  Even if Felix knows you're doing it.
With Jenn, I found that treats tended to make the food much more
irresistible, so I have been clicker training her with praise.  This has
greatly reduced the scrounging.

I have by no means arrived, but those are things that have worked for us.

Mary, if you would like me to walk you through how I have used clicker
training with Jenny girl on this, I would be more than happy to describe the
process and how ti has worked for us.

Good luck!

Daryl
----- Original Message -----
From: Mary Wurtzel via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:54:46 -0700 (MST)
Subject: [nagdu] families and our dogs

Hello,

Felix and I just celebrated our third anniversary together.

My family remains rather critical of my handling of my dog.  It is true that
we still have a pretty major problem with scavenging.  Our field rep came
and worked with us.  I am realizing that I must practice food distraction
training on a daily basis.

It is a real problem for us to work a whole lot especially outside.  I have
a balance problem with falling on ice.  Our temps have gone below zero also.

I am quite discouraged right now.  I know I should probably go practice at a
mall.  I seem to be just venting on this list, but if anyone has ever felt
discouraged and can offer a word of cheer, I would appreciate it.

Mary and Felix

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