[nagdu] loves working, but hates work!

Tue Mar 24 15:42:42 UTC 2015

Hello:

I used this kind of positive reward with my last dog.  For some reason after 
we had been working together for two years, Tara seemed to have lost her 
confidence.  It was so bad, her trainer thought we'd have to retire her.  I 
began using treats to reward any sign of positive attitude to her work.  She 
had gotten extremely slow so, any time she picked up her speed, I rewarded 
with a treat at the end of that block or even in the middle if necessary.  I 
gave treats for any achievement such as finding the curb, crossing the 
street, finding seats, stairs, or doors etc...  I also broke a guide dog 
rule and let her be petted by people.  For instance, If she took me to the 
bus and went up the stairs the driver could pet her.  When Tara would 
successfully take me to the pharmacy, a check out counter or the bank teller 
counter, I would allow them to pet her.  This made work fun for her and 
gradually her work improved.  Six months later her trainer said he was 
amazed at how well she was working and that she seemed like a totally 
different dog.  It took a lot of love and patience but, the reward was that 
Tara gained confidence and when on to work another four years until hip 
dysplasia and cataracts caused her retirement.  I remember telling her 
trainer that in my attempts to build up her confidence and love of work, I 
broke every rule the trainers had ever written.  His response was sometimes 
we have to ignore the standard rules and do whatever works.

Sandra

-----Original Message----- 
From: Amber H via nagdu
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 9:51 PM
To: 'The Pawpower Pack' ; 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of 
Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] loves working, but hates work!

Hey Rox!

Don't know if this is something you have tried, but. Here goes.  And it's 
all positive reinforcement, so yea!  I dreamed this complicated idea up all 
on my own!  Tell me I'm crazy or you've tried it and it didn't work, or 
something.

1-find a food you can feed her that is not messy.  Something that can be cut 
into treat-sized pieces.
2-Figure out how to carry it with you to work.  Don't feed her before 
leaving home.
4-The whole way, as you're moving along parts of the rout she does well, 
c/t.
5-Do this to a spot just short of problem spot.
6-Jackpot at that spot, but keep plenty back. Sorry. I know I'm being vague. 
But.
7-Keep moving forward.  The instant she slows down, stop c/t.
8-Any increase, however minute, and you already know how to break this down; 
I don't have to explain. But the instant she acts remotely interested in 
speeding up, c/t.

Some notes:

Have you tried doing your walk on a day you're not actually required to go 
to work?  Maybe you try only a few steps down the block where she starts 
being slow?  Maybe you stop and go back like the reward is her not having to 
walk all the way there.  Like removing the thing she for whatever reason, 
doesn't want, like the last two blocks before your office.

I would try to do it on a day you aren't already having to go in, that way 
you don't have to make her go all the way, and even if the progress seems 
slow, perhaps it will get a little better each time you try?

Keep us up-to-date on what's going on.  Sorry you're having such a hard time 
with this.

Amber

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of The Pawpower Pack 
via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 11:32 AM
To: Tracy Carcione; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide 
Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] loves working, but hates work!

Hi Tracy,
Lol, I am picturing my dog ripping into a huge whole chicken in my cube.
She eats first thing in the morning otherwise she will vomit.  But I will 
dehydrate some jerky for feeding at work this weekend in my dehydrator!
Thanks for the idea!

Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 19, 2015, at 10:02 AM, Tracy Carcione via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
> wrote:
>
> Hi Rox.
> We discussed this possibility in class, and the trainer's suggestion was 
> to feed the dog at work instead of at home.  I know you feed raw, so this 
> may not be practical, but I throw it out there.
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle Burton 
> via nagdu
> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 10:12 AM
> To: The Pawpower Pack; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of 
> Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] loves working, but hates work!
>
> Hi Rox, I wonder if there's something is bothering her on those 2 blocks. 
> However, do you ever have the I don't want to go to work mood? I know 
> Willa will sometimes pick up on the I don't want to go to class mood if 
> I'm in a particularly bad mood about it. Just a thought.
> Danielle and Willa
> Email: danielleburton94 at gmail.com
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Mar 19, 2015, at 9:55 AM, The Pawpower Pack via nagdu 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Good Morning,
>> I'm hoping to pick y'all's brains on an issue I'm having with Soleil, 
>> that I've not had with any other dog.
>> She loves working, Is excited for the harness, and goes at a great 
>> speedâ?" fastâ?" and with a nice firm pull.
>> Except...
>> for the last 2 blocks before I get to my office in the morning.  We walk 
>> between a mile to three miles before work daily, depending on if we take 
>> the fixed route bus or walk the whole way, then we walk that same amount 
>> after work, plus we frequently do canicross and or 
>> bikejoring/scooterjoring in addition.  So she's not lacking in exercise.
>> But the 2 blocks before work, she goes at a crawl!  I mean my grandma 
>> could outwalk her.
>> I cannot change up the route of those last 2 blocks because my office is 
>> on the levee so is bordered by warehouses etc.  This is the only way to 
>> get to work on these last 2 blocks.
>> I've tried cheerleading her along, and stopping for a break and getting 
>> her all amped up, and nothing!  Once we arrive at work, she seems happy, 
>> but those last 2 blocks are torture.
>> She's a lab, so I've thought of bringing out my treat pouch, but am open 
>> to suggestions.  I will not correct her for it because even if she were 
>> trained with this method, it would just slow her down even more, because 
>> that's just how she is.
>> Any thoughts?
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
>> Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
>> Pawpower4me at gmail.com
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/danielleburton94%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/pawpower4me%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/thetraveler87%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comcast.net 