[NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes

Tue Apr 19 02:21:14 UTC 2016

I completely agree with you on the navigation mode of travel. That being said, I ran into some situations where streets don't angle correctly or have islands in the middle... things that some might find scary or worrysome if they hadn't known about.

As for the guide dog in unfamiliar areas, I agree with what's been said... with a caveat. My guide dog does guide well, but in unfamiliar areas she acts very uncertain until I give her something basic to target (a bus bench, a door, anything, really). Because she doesn't know what's expected of her, she needs something reassuring that she can do a good job. Once I figure that out, that giving her one or two short-term targets, she calm down and guides very well. I don't think that's unreasonable; it's knowing my dog.

Daryl

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Hingson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Michael Hingson <mike at michaelhingson.com>
Sent: Mon, 18 Apr 2016 19:24:39 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes

Hi all,

A guide dog guides. This means that you need to know where you are going and to direct the dog.

I travel to unfamiliar cities all the time. I ask for directions to a location or I use my GPS. If I take Africa then I use Africa. I may get lost because I was not given proper directions including relevant land marks, but I still use my guide dog.

I do use a cane especially when I am going to be traveling in an area quite a lot. The purpose for my cane use is to find all those relevant land marks I won't find with a guide dog. However, after using the cane I use Africa again.

Frankly, I think we spend way too much time talking about routes and not enough time learning how to be aware of our surroundings and how to travel to any general place. O&M instructors have gotten too many of us into a route mode of thinking and so we get lost when we leave familiar areas. While new places may be unfamiliar they should NOT be daunting.

Best Regards,

Michael Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
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-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha Dudley via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 5:54 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes

They suggest I use a cane. But here’s the thing. If the route is just going down sidewalks, crossing streets, and such, isn’t it to be expected that a dog would listen to such directions as left, right, straight, etc? If it is a problem to expect this, how does a dog enhance independence? 
> On Apr 18, 2016, at 7:49 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> You would likely do this with a cane. It can be a little hard if you don't get good directions. When you receive push back on this, what do folks suggest you do?
> Cindy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha 
> Dudley via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 7:41 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NAGDU] guide dogs and unfamiliar routes Hey all, I’m writing 
> to seek your opinion on something that I’ve been pondering for a while. Do you guys find that it is reasonable to go to a brand new city with your dog, get directions to go somewhere, and get there, while still using the dog, even if the area is unknown? Am I wrong in thinking that the dog should listen to what you need, and not have a massive panic? I’ve gotten some push back from people on this and wanted to see your thoughts.
> Thanks
> Aleeha
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> 
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