[NAGDU] Following and Forward

[Cindy Ray]

When we were taught the "follow" command, we were cautioned that the dogs
can lose initiative and not work on their own so well. I would say that you
will need to stay out front much of the time to keep him working. I have had
a dog or two do that. I love the follow command, so I would use it some, but
if the dog isn't going to work at all when you are using it, then I wouldn't
use it further.
Cindy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 9:54 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Following and Forward

Hi all,

I'm wondering if any of you have dealt with this problem: my dog loves to
follow other people.  Now, I know some schools and trainers teach the follow
command, and some teams do very well with it.  For some reason, Bill cannot
handle it.  When he follows, he loses initiative, does not guide, and won't
even listen to my commands.  I have not been able to turn follow into
something productive because it is unsafe for us.  I have run into things
because he was following a friend and not paying attention.

My solution?  I stay in front whenever I walk with a friend, trick him so
that if he starts following I give him a command and work with him until he
follows it rather than blindly (haha) traipses on after the other person.
Now his issue has reached new levels because he has recently begun slowing
down to try and follow.  I have to encourage him to speed up and stay ahead.

I would like suggestions so that I don't always have to walk ahead of
everyone.  Yes, I am faster than most people, but sometimes I just won't be
ahead of them.  That's life.  I would also like suggestions for working on
his initiative when we move forward.  I believe this is related to his
following issue, but Bill has been hesitating or refusing to move forward at
all.

Any ideas, suggestions, sympathetic understanding?  :)

Thanks guys!



--
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division, Second
Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri "For we walk by
faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7

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