[nagdu] Pickup The Poop

[Lisa]

Thanks, Julie, that does help!
Taylor is very trusty and I think it won't take very long to get him used to 
relieving on-leash. Especially because he's already used to do it on a flexi 
leash. I think I could just start with making the flexi a bit shorter and 
then, step by step, shorter and shorter until he's next to me.

Lisa
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J. via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Pickup The Poop


> For those of you who have dogs who have been taught to relieve off 
> leash...
>
> the first step to be able to pick up after your dog is to get them to 
> relieve on leash.   It's a process and it can be frustrating, but with 
> time and patience it is doable.  My Belle had never relieved on leash 
> before I got her and was opposed to doing so for a good while.  This is 
> how I worked through it.
>
> First I had to take her out in my fenced yard off leash.  she would always 
> go as far away from me as she could.   At first I stayed put and just let 
> get her used to me being there.  this is probably not a step you will need 
> to do.
>
> Next I would move a foot or two closer to her each day or couple of days, 
> whatever seemed to not interrupt or disturb her.  She was a rescue dog and 
> I think she had been housebroken roughly.  She did not like anyone even a 
> little close, so it took time.
>
> Next I put her on a very long leash. I used a flexi and I think it was the 
> 26 foot version.  I let her sniff and circle and do whatever she liked.  I 
> stayed put and turned away from her so she didn't feel I was looking at 
> her.
>
> As with the off leash portion, I gradually shortened the space between her 
> and I, until I could use a regular leash of 5 or 6 feet or whatever.
>
> Finally, I got to the part where I could touch her while she was going to 
> determine what she was doing where.  At first I talked to her softly, then 
> touched her neck and shoulder.  Eventually I was able to touch her back. 
> I also practiced with moving around just a bit so she wouldn't be startled 
> when I would bend over to pick up after her.  I also had to work in 
> getting her used to the bag because sometimes it would crinkle or move if 
> the wind blew just right.  If she seemed unsure about anything I backed up 
> and spent more time on the previous step and then tried again, splitting 
> down the progress into tiny doable steps.
>
> This was ten years ago now, but I'm remembering it took a few months, like 
> 4 to 6 probably.  Also she was a rescue and I believe had previously had 
> negative experiences around relieving.  I doubt a dog raised from an early 
> age to be a guide would have these issues.  You could probably get through 
> all these steps in a matter of weeks.
>
> HTH
> Julie
>
>
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