[NAGDU] Softer Dogs?

[Jordan Gallacher]

I got yelled at by my field rep from GDB at one point because nobody
bothered to tell me that September was as soft of a dog as she was, and
since I never needed a correction during training.  So, I got home with her,
and proceeded to be giving her harder corrections than she needed.  I got
yelled at by my field rep at Leder Dogs for being to strict with Belto, and
that went in one ear and out the other quite literally.  The Pinch Collar
now makes all the difference with Belto, and until he decides that he wants
to behave more appropriately, the pinch collar is clearly the way to go with
him.  He is definitely way more responcive than he ever used to be.  
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 1:31 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Softer Dogs?

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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