[NAGDU] Cracks and training

Wed Apr 27 18:01:37 UTC 2016

Deanna, I agree about bumping into some obstacles being useful.  But my Amba
slammed me into a metal pole during training, going at a good clip.  She
never did that again, but it was not good. But I take your point. Brushing
into bushes and such, and re-working, show the dog how much clearance this
person needs to have.

Lisa, I totally agree with you about curbs!  I do my best to line up well,
but I need my dog to be able to compensate for any mistake I've made, or an
offset curb, or to pick up his line again if he has to go around something
in the crosswalk.  To me, these are essentials.  I'm happy to say TSE
handles those aspects well, though young, inexperienced dogs still mess up
sometimes.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deanna Lewis via
NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 12:02 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Deanna Lewis
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Cracks and training

Tracy,
I agree with you, I do think that the trainers teach the dogs to work better
with people with some usable vision. There were a lot of times in my
training where the instructor would tell me to pick up my feet for cracked
sidewalks, not wanting me to trip. Or the trainer would give directions to
me, "go off to the left, or right" or ask me to tuck in my body and get
closer to the dog to avoid something. I have mixed emotions about this, yes
it can be a bit helpful, but mostly I want to find these things/obstacles on
my own, even if I do bump into them. It was almost like they were trying to
prevent accidents from happening, but it's very beneficial to the dog when
they do mess up and you can rework obstacles and clearance issues. 
Deanna and Mambo

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 9:55 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: [NAGDU] Cracks and training

Hi Dan.
I too have a feeling that training isn't as rigorous as it used to be, but
I'm not sure behavior around cracked sidewalks is an example.
I got my first dog in 1980.  We didn't have any trouble with cracked
sidewalks, not that I remember, anyway.  But we trained in downtown San
Rafael, which has much nicer sidewalks than Morristown.  And I lived in St.
Paul, which has much nicer sidewalks than my neighborhood in New Jersey.
And I was young and flexible, too.

I have a theory that dogs used to be trained as if their people would be
totally blind, and now they're trained as if their people will have at least
a little usable vision.  But I don't have any one thing I can point to to
prove it.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via
NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 8:46 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Dan Weiner
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Taking really long walks

That's an interesting question, Tracey...I have noticed last few times
around at guide dog school that the dogs were not careful about stopping for
changes of surface or cracks at all, all right, every little crack, that's a
judgment ccall maybe but changes in surface could be a problem or little
steps or raised or falling areas.  I've worked wit my pups when I get home
an dwe have a happy medium but I have wondered about that, I don't think my
memory was failing me, I thin that 22 years ago when I got my first dog the
dogs were made to be more careful.
What do you think?

Dan the man with Parker the nut

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 8:24 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Taking really long walks

I got scraped up, but nothing broken, and now he's more careful.
My neighborhood has a lot of cracked sidewalks because we have a lot of
large trees.  Trees are good; cracked sidewalks not so much.
My dogs have all had to learn how to operate here.  If they stopped for
every crack, we'd never get anywhere, but, if they don't stop for the worst
ones, I trip.  I suppose I could learn to goose-step, picking my feet way
up, but I would feel ridiculous.  So my guys learn what will trip me, and
what probably won't.
I was happy to find a whole section of sidewalk the town had repaired.  Wish
they'd do more, but people around here are more interested in streets than
sidewalks.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of d m gina via
NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 4:46 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: d m gina
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Taking really long walks

Original I am so sorry you fell.
I hope you didn't brake anything.
Maybe the next time you go to that area, your dog will slow down.
Wishing you the best.
message:
> The fall is not OK, but there is no foolproof travel method. I missed 
> a turn in a slanted and broken curb the other day and fell. I have 
> fallen using my dog, too. It happens. What is not OK for me is if it 
> happens because the dog is distracted by, say, other dogs.
> Cindy Lou Ray

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Star Gazer 
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 2:02 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Star Gazer <pickrellrebecca at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Taking really long walks

>                         The fall would not be ok with me. I know, easy 
> for me to say since I don't have any emotions invested in the two of you.
> Is his pace comfortable for you?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy 
> Carcione via NAGDU
> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 1:44 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Taking really long walks

> The hiker says he works his dog 10-15 miles every day.  I was thinking 
> about that.  His dog must have a good pace, or he's got a lot of free 
> time.  Maybe he counts it as work time, keeping in shape for hiking.

> Krokus takes about 90 minutes to go 3 miles, though that includes many 
> street crossings and a lot of cracked sidewalks.  Even so, he's a bit 
> more of a stroller than I'd prefer.  On the other hand, I have tripped 
> over a big crack and landed hard, which isn't any fun at all.

> I think Krokus is just a guy who needs some time to react.  He can 
> dodge someone rushing out from a shop we're passing, but he'd prefer 
> to have some time to plan his moves.  Or maybe I'm making excuses for 
> his
ambling self.

> Tracy

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