[NAGDU] Softer Dogs?

[Cindy Ray]

I have certainly noted a change to click and treat. When I ot my first dog,
there were not treats given at all. That gradually changed. I think at some
level soft dogs are created by soft discipline, and I think the "old school"
is often better. I, like you, Joe, am not mean or really rough, though I've
been accused of it. The animal rights folks create headaches for us for sure
because many of them don't even think the dogs should be doing this work.
However, now there is a lot more leaning toward click and treat or treat; I
still do not do it. I do what I must at the school; then I go home and do
what I always did and it works. If something is working well that I was
taught during the training, I would retain it, of course. But I think that I
would prefer not to be a slave to clickers and treats.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joe Orozco via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 11:35 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Joe Orozco <jsoro620 at gmail.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Softer Dogs?

Hello,

The recent thread on obedience got me thinking about the way it feels as
though guide dog schools have grown softer in their approach to correction.

I received Gator from The Seeing Eye in 2004. I trained under Pete Jackson,
a no nonsense instructor who worked very hard at understanding where the
canine was coming from but not cutting any slack where a hard correction was
warranted. High collars, while not eagerly encouraged, were a standard
recommendation.

I went back to TSE in 2015 and received Matthew. The training atmosphere was
noticeably more relaxed where corrections were concerned. If high collars
were mentioned at all, it was probably because I asked about it. It felt as
though there was a greater lean toward clickers and treats.

So, my question: For those of you who have handled dogs for a while, have
you noticed a similar trend, and if so, how have you adjusted your own
handling practices? I sometimes feel mean for running a tight ship with
Matthew, but I feel in some ways as though my first guide dog instruction
set the mood for my discipline philosophy moving forward. I was never one to
be unnecessarily aggressive. It looks publically awkward, and I think such
tactics have diminishing returns.
Yet, I am quick to leash correct for what may otherwise be considered small
infractions. How much of your own philosophy do you retain after bringing
your guide dog home?

Thanks for any ponderings on the subject.

Best,

Joe

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