[nagdu] issue with guide dog eating snow that is fresh

Sun Jan 4 20:57:44 UTC 2015

Sorry, but no matter the school's training methods, it is wrong to
give anyone a physical correction if they don't know better, provided
the situation isn't dangerous. It would be like slapping a child for
eating toothpaste. It is overkill and completely unnecessary.
Nicole provided constructive criticism, which handlers of any kind
need. It must be known and spread that there are more effective ways
of communicating than yanking on the leash. It takes some handlers,
especially new ones to learn and understand this. There are many
situations in which the way you are taught is not the most effective
thing to do, or at least the most effective thing in all instances. I
completely agree with Nicole's guidelines for deciding when to and
when not to use leash corrections. There is always an alternative,
even if you don't know what it is.
Eating snow is fine, provided the dog isn't working. If you personally
don't want your Molly eating snow during relieving time, use verbal
cues such as "leave it," or whatever pilot uses. Remind her to do her
business. Reinforce what you want so that your dog is less likely to
do what you don't want. This has been proven to be the most effective
teaching technique. Every dog is different, but most catch on very
quickly, and it doesn't hurt to start out using the least invasive
correction, which is a verbal correction.

On 1/4/15, L Gwizdak via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I would just give her a very slight tug on the leash with a reminder to get
>
> busy (or use the word you use for her to relieve).  Not a correction, just a
>
> reminder of what she's out there for.  Is the dog new to snow?  I would
> discourage her from eating it because you never know it it is clean.
>
> Lyn and Oliver
> "Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like
> asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Danielle Burton via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the
> National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2015 9:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] issue with guide dog eating snow that is fresh
>
>
>> Snow's just water so I doubt it would make her sick. And be careful about
>>
>> correcting while you are trying to relieve her. Is she doing it when
>> guiding? If not I wouldn't worry about it. Correct her if she is doing
>> this while guiding but it's not going to hurt her.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jan 4, 2015, at 12:28 AM, Nicole Torcolini via nagdu
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> The only affect that fresh, clean snow will have is making the dog need
>>> to
>>> urinate  more if too much is consumed. If you allow your dog to eat
>>> snow,
>>> you need to make it where she will stop on command because you do not
>>> need
>>> her eating dirty snow that may have chemicals. Given that this was her
>>> first
>>> time and she did not know any better, I would say that you may have been
>>>
>>> a
>>> bit harsh. Most dogs absolutely love snow, and, if they grew up where
>>> there
>>> is some but not a lot, then they go absolutely crazy in it. If you can
>>> tolerate being out in the snow for a while, I would do things to get her
>>> used to it, such as doing obedience in the snow. You could do something
>>> where you let her eat it for a minute or so, then, with something more
>>> tempting than snow, such as a treat, you get her to stop. Praise and
>>> reward.
>>> Also, in terms of corrections, I am not sure what the school taught you,
>>>
>>> but
>>> you should really consider a few things before giving a correction:
>>> 1. Does the dog know better?
>>> 2. Is there a different way besides a correction to stop something or
>>> get
>>> the dog to do something else?
>>> 3. Is the situation dangerous?
>>>
>>> HTH,
>>> Nicole
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John Sanders
>>> via
>>> nagdu
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2015 8:41 PM
>>> To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
>>> Subject: [nagdu] issue with guide dog eating snow that is fresh
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> I have a question:  when I was taking my guide dog outside today, she
>>> started eating the snow off of the ground.
>>> I gave her a leash correction.
>>> It wsa fresh snow.
>>> She is only a year.
>>> Should I not allow her to do that?
>>> Can that make her sick?
>>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>>> Sincerely,
>>> John an the always beutifull, always gorgeous Mollie
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>>>
>>>
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>>
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-- 
Raven
Stop being a victim, and choose to be a victor.

Naturally-reared guide dogs
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