[nagdu] What's up with all the scavenging anyhow?

[Debby Phillips]

Vivianna, there is some merit to what you write.  I don't use 
food much, I'm still kind of old school.  But I will say a couple 
things here about it.  Seeing Eye is using clicker training for 
some things, like "country work".  This is great, because the 
dogs seem to do better with it, and there is less need to check 
that the dog is walking along the left side.  I have used it to 
target bus stop poles, and Nova is great about finding them, 
except for the one that I needed when leaving my former job.  For 
some reason, she just didn't like finding that pole.  However, in 
general I'm not very fond of giving my dogs treats while working 
either.  Even so, I have had issues with dogs scavenging.  I 
really don't know what the answer is.  It is the one non-guiding 
thing that will totally earn my displeasure.  I have dealt with 
dogs being sick because of something they ate and it is one of 
the most unpleasant experiences I've had.  I'm very glad that 
Nova seems to be pretty compliant.  She doesn't like to get in 
trouble.  (Not that she's perfect).  This is just not something 
that has a simple answer.  I have never let my dogs carry stuff 
with them (it looks unprofessional to me).  Artie did it without 
my knowledge.  Cleo never carried stuff while working.  It was 
only after she retired that she carried her monkey around.  Or 
when she was off duty.  Well, I need to think about this more, 
and look forward to hearing other people's views.  In the 
meantime, I guess I'll be grabbing stuff out of Nova's mouth when 
she does snatch something that I don't want her to have because 
it wouldn't be good for her.  I'm outa here, we're going for a 
walk now because it's only 70.  It will be 94 or 95 today, and I 
have a hard time with that kind of heat myself.    Debby and Nova