[NAGDU] Fell, again

[Tami Jarvis]

Tracy,

Ouch! And, yeah, I think three times is too many. The dogs are gonna 
flub sometimes, but if one keeps making the same mistake too often, it's 
time to address the problem.

So... The only thing I can think of to do is to find a setting similar 
to the ones where he goofs up and work with him a bit. I would probably 
start by taking a leash walk there, using the cane, to show him the 
edge. I do a thing where I get the dog's attention, then somewhat 
overdramatize my efforts to detect and navigate the problem with my 
cane. Then I show the dog what I want him to do, then get really happy 
when he does it. Okay, so poodles are melodramatic, and I guess it rubs 
off. /lol/ Anyway, once I've pointed out the problem and shown the dog 
how I want him to solve it, I might wander off, then come back to the 
problem spot and let him practice dealing with it, with lots of praise 
and treats if you use them. If he needs repetitions to learn, you can 
repeat the process as much as needed. If repetitions are unnecessary or 
counterproductive, you can walk away, then come back to it.

Once I've practiced a problem spot like that using my cane, I know it 
pretty well and can bring the dog back in harness to practice that way. 
If I can find a second place with the same difficulty, then I'll take 
the dog to that one to practice some more. I'll go by those spots once 
or twice a day for a few days or a week to make sure the dog gets it. I 
can praise a lot, since I've learned the places and know the dog is 
managing them correctly, so soon it will be old hat again.

If you can devise a game or leisure activity involving edges where the 
dog is learning to "see" them better in the course of having fun, that 
might help, too. It can just be a silly little thing on steps in the 
house or whatever, doing a little interactive dance over it or 
something. I guess I see doing that sort of thing as training the dog's 
brain while entertaining the dog and myself at the same time.

I can't think of anything else, really. Maybe your school can send 
someone to do some refresher training on edges or have other ideas how 
to teach Krokus to pay attention to changes in elevation on your side.

hth,

Tami

On 07/11/2016 07:17 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU wrote:
> Once again, Krokus pushed me off the right edge of the sidewalk, so I fell
> down, and got some scrapes and bruises.  I think it was a place where the
> sidewalk narrowed down a bit, and he just kept going straight.  Really,
> though, I don't care why.  This is the third time he's done the same
> thing, missed an edge, or the line between the sidewalk and a parking lot,
> so that I've fallen.  He remembers for a while, then it happens again.  I
> don't know if I'm more clumsy than I used to be, or he's more careless,
> but I don't remember falling so much with any other dog.  I'm losing
> confidence in him.  He can be an excellent guide, but sometimes he's not.
> Not taking me off the edge is basic stuff.  I guess I could start carrying
> my cane all the time, to check him, but then what's the point of having
> him?
> I have a call into the school, to see what they say.  If others know how
> to fix this problem, I'll consider ideas.  Call me crazy, but a guide dog
> should keep me from falling, clumsy or not.
> Tracy
>
>
>
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