[NAGDU] choosing a school

Wed Nov 1 21:19:14 UTC 2017

Jean:

I have been to a few schools.  In all cases the trainers emphasized never to 
step out in front of your dog.  As you said there is no way for you to know 
if it is a curb, steps or a ten foot drop off.  Sometimes when people return 
home with their dogs they change things.  All the schools teach the dogs to 
stop at any curb, step or drop off.  During training some trainers will have 
you test your dog by asking the dog to go forward so corrections can be made 
if necessary.  I would not take a dog home that was not careful with drop 
offs.  With all curbs and steps I expect my dog to stop and let me tell them 
when I want them to move forward.  With steps, I want the dog to stop and 
show me to the hand rail if there is one.  Once I have my hand on the rail 
then I give the forward command.  Many trainers will teach the dogs to put 
their body across in front of you to indicate a drop off.  I think that is 
the safest way to do it and I have made sure all my dogs worked that way. 
My current dog is from Pilot and she is extremely careful when indicating 
curbs,  steps and drop offs.Good luck as you go through the retirement 
process and choose the school for your next dog.

Sandra Johnson and Eva
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jean Menzies via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2017 12:10 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Jean Menzies
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] choosing a school

Hi David,

Wow, Clare Rose sounds like a dream dog. Thanks for sharing the skill set
from GDF. The only thing that concerns me about GDF is step refusal. Good
idea if it is a set of stairs, but not so good if you are inadvertently
steppping off a ledge or other drop off thinking it is stairs. I can't get
my head around going ahead of the dog. How do you manage that?

Jean and Bode

-----Original Message----- 
From: David via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 5:09 PM
To: Jean Menzies via NAGDU
Cc: David
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] choosing a school

Hi, Jean.  My GDF pup finds chairs, doors, entrances versus exits,
return to entry points in large department stores, elevators, elevator
buttons, traffic buttons, escalators, counters, empty chairs, men's
rooms, checkout registers, up/down stairs, and trash cans.  I'm not sure
how much of that she came with, but she had these down in the first two
weeks at home.  She is not great with the follow command, because she
likes to lead. She is an absolute genius in crowds.  She is invisible in
restaurants and keeps her nose out of food in grocery stores, less so at
home out of harness.  Onsite training in Smthtown, NY, even for newbies,
is only two weeks.  She is a lab golden cross.  Food rewards are your
choice.  I use rewards randomly and for outstanding responses.  She is a
70 pound female and a total goofball out of harness.

*David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL*
*david at bakerinet.com

*
On 10/31/2017 2:09 PM, Jean Menzies via NAGDU wrote:
> Hello all,
>
>
>
> Without going into the details now, I am looking at dog retirement, and 
> getting applications started for dog  number 7. Even if I end up delaying 
> exceptance, the paperwork will be good for two years, and there are 
> reasons to get going on it now.
>
>
>
> My current dog is from Leader. He is wonderful, and I really like the 
> skill sets that LD puts on their dogs. But in deciding if I stay or change 
> schools, I want some information on the Seing Eye as well.
>
>
>
> For anyone who has been to either school recently, or for those who have 
> been to both, I would like your thoughts on the following points:
>
>
>
> Food rewards used or not used
>
>
>
> If food rewards are used, are they phased out or maintained
>
>
>
> Skill sets â?"
>
> Is Find the ... taught? If so, what objects or items are the dogs taught 
> to find initially? E.g., empty chairs/benches, stairs up/down, pushbutton 
> poles, doors, inside/outside, etc.?
>
>
>
> Traffic work â?" exposure to quiet cars
>
>
>
> Application process: Number of references, home video
>
>
>
> I'm interested in comparing the skill sets and working styles of the dogs, 
> so please, no info on meals, rooms, etc. That's not important to me. Any 
> info anyone can provide on current training from the two programs would be 
> appreciated.
>
>
>
> Jean
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