[NAGDU] Softer Dogs?

[Tracy Carcione]

All that writing, and I for got something.
This time, when I was at TSE, and we were walking to the dining room for
the first time, trying to make our dogs heel, Krokus was being a total
jerk, pulling as hard as he could.  I tried the mild things my trainer
said to do, and they were useless, so I gave him a good jerk to try to get
him to stop pulling.  My trainer came down on me like a ton of bricks!  I
was shocked.  All my other dogs were expected to do at least some
reasonable version of heel right off, and got corrected if they didn't. 
GDB particularly made a big deal of it.  Heeling up and down the halls was
one of the first things we did with our new dogs.  But that was long ago. 
And I still expect some reasonable behavior right off the bat. But my
trainers didn't seem to.
But wait till next time.  The dog will be acting the fool, and I'll get
yelled at for not correcting him; just you wait and see.
Tracy

> 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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