[NAGDU] choosing a school

Wed Nov 1 21:25:39 UTC 2017

good evening
It is good to see a fellow Pilot owner here.

> On 1 Nov 2017, at 21:19, S L Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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 ā?"
>> 
>> 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 ā?" 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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> 
> 
> 
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