[NAGDU] Fell, again

Tue Jul 12 16:28:47 UTC 2016

Thanks Dan and Caitlyn.  I'll try your methods for checking where I am.

I did switch to a shorter harness handle a few weeks ago.  Krokus is
rather long, and tends to stop short of curbs and such, so I felt I was
walking up a long way to find stuff, and standing awkwardly while waiting
to move again.  I don't think the handle is the problem, but I'll keep my
position in mind.  I'm still back near his hips.

I left a message for the training supervisor I've been working with, but
he's in class.  If he doesn't get back to me in a reasonable time, I'll
try again and take potluck.

I'd think, after 26 years working with guide dogs, I'd have all the
answers, but no, the little rascals keep coming up with new problems.
Tracy

> Also I have taken o bringing a folding cane, and if I need to I stop and
> check. But honestly mostly the big boy is doing it right, it's more my
> anxiety and I'm trying tnot to use the cane as a crutch...I think the
> problem is of course that you don't know in advance where it's going ot be
> narrow and your dog needs to compensate, also wonder if your harness
> handle
> could be too short or too long, sometimes that makes a difference, if
> you're
> walking along side him rather than slightly behind, since he's slightly
> forward pulling or guiding, then if you're along side him you could indeed
> be both of you too wide for the sidewalk--smile.
> Still he should understand and I think you need school help and they need
> to
> take it seriously.
> I've had this issue several times and I got the old party line of:  Oh
> well
> some dogs tend to the right and others don't" well obviously, still you're
> having an issue and it must be addressed.
>
> Yours,
> Dan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Caitlyn Furness
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 9:54 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Caitlyn Furness
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Fell, again
>
> What I’ve done is to stop and stickmy right foot over to the side to
> check.
> If it’s pretty easy to feel the grass or edge of the sidewalk, then I
> correct for that.
>
> hth,
> Cait
>
>> On Jul 11, 2016, at 11:43 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Caitlin.
>> I have used the thigh-slap, and he responds to it.  But how can I know
>> he's too far right before I hit the edge?  Sometimes it's clear, but
>> often it's not, especially in a situation where the sidewalk narrows
> quickly.
>> He ought to see that, and move left-ish, but he doesn't always do that.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> Hi Tracey,
>>> Have you tried kneeing him in the side, shoving him over and slapping
>>> your right side?  then praise when heâ€™s in the correct spot??
>>>
>>> One of my shepherds from TSE did this, and they just said to shove
>>> him over, slap my side, and praise when he was in the right spot again.
>>> Repeat at nausium til he gets it right.
>>>
>>> In our case, it did improve and finally didnâ€™t happen anymore.
>>>
>>> hth,
>>> Caitlyn
>>>
>>>> On Jul 11, 2016, at 10:17 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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/caitlyn.furness%4
>>>> 0gmail.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/caitlyn.furness%40g
>> mail.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/dcwein%40dcwein.cnc.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/carcione%40access.net
>