[nagdu] Regarding Recent Messages

[Tina Thomas]

Your absolutely right Debby. A lea correction is not a yank on the leash
just as positive reinforcement isn't all about giving the dog a treat for
any and all behaviors and or tasks. The more I have read on this list, I
feel like I am dealing with the general public and their misconceptions and
attitudes concerning the use and care of a guide dog. Seriously, what is
going on. Rather you have a program trained dog or an owner trained dog, it
is crucial that you familiarize yourself with different training methods so
that you can make an informed choice on what works for you and your dog.
This one size fits all model does not work in all situations. All this back
and forth about whose right and whose wrong and which method is the best is
ridiculous. It has been proven that both leash correction and positive
reinforcement based methods  work depending on the situation. At the end of
the day, all that matters, is that you and your dog are a solid  and safe
working team.  JMO. 
Tina and the girls                          

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
via nagdu
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2015 9:16 AM
To: Abigail Marie Bolling; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of
Guide Dog Users; sheila.leigland at gmail.com; nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Regarding Recent Messages

This is my last time to write on this, but I say again, leash corrections do
not equate to "yanking" our dogs.  I don't think any of us who use leash
corrections view that as our sole way of interacting with our dogs.  If it
were, I doubt that we would be altogether successful as teams.  Just like
children, dogs need boundaries, and they need to know what those boundaries
are.  
Dogs are pack animals, they need to know where they stand in the pack.  If
my dog responds to verbal commands, then that is awesome, and I'm happy,
she's happy and we go on our way.  But if she doesn't respond to verbal
commands, then she needs to know that I'm serious about what I've commanded.
We also have times of fun and play, and times (because I have a fenced yard)
that she gets to run free with my retired guide.  Just because we don't
always use "positive" reenforcement doesn't mean that we don't love and care
for our dogs.  And to say that it's harsh to use corrections is just plain
wrong.  Now I'll go lurk under my 
rock.    Debby and Neena

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