[NAGDU] Clicker training curbs and traffic

[Yiska]

It was an interesting discussion in class today so I figured I could ask on
here for clarification.

On Jan 18, 2018 20:43, "Tami Jarvis via NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Yiska,
>
> Sorry, I don't know of any tutorials. Here's how I use clicker training to
> teach my owner-trained dogs to stop at curbs. I'm starting at a different
> place than someone with a working guide.
>
> From the first walk around the block, I teach the pup to stop at curbs
> using clicker (or verbal marker) and treats. This is also the beginning of
> teaching curb-to-curb travel and basic directional commands. For the most
> part, I give the pup a lot of freedom to sniff and explore as we go along,
> with some minimal expectations in addition to stopping at the curb.
> Eventually, the pup begins to stop without reminding, even when it is out
> ahead of me, so then I start using clicker-training to work on positioning
> a bit more, gradually teaching the dog to stop in guide position at the
> curb and wait for the forward command, since we're crossing streets by
> then. I tend to click without the treat for a straight crossing, since the
> reward is going on for more exploration and sniffing. We're still quite a
> ways from harness training at this point, just gradually putting in the
> building blocks as we go.
>
> Once we're crossing streets, I make a bit of a deal about listening for
> cars, talking to the pup to get its attention and so forth. I think the pup
> begins to pay attention to what I'm paying attention to before we go on
> because standing at the curb is boring, so the pup wants to help move
> things along. I've also started phasing out treats at the curb by this
> point, giving them intermittently to reinforce positioning as well as the
> stop. Both of my dogs have more or less phased themselves out of the
> treats, since what they really want to do is to go and explore. So that
> makes it easy for me. With a more food-oriented dog, I would have to pay
> attention to the phase out process, I guess. Anyway, the pup is now trained
> to stop at curbs in position, or close to it, to travel curb-to-curb and to
> watch for something. It just seems like in the process of crossing a
> gzillion streets over  however many weeks and months, the pup figures it is
> cars we are watching for and starts giving me indications about cars and to
> figure out that moving cars are dangerous.
>
> By the time I get around to getting a guide harness and taking the dog out
> in it the first time, he knows pretty much what to do, so I click and treat
> to reinforce his good decisions and begin refining. So I'll be giving
> treats at those curbs again, until the dog lets me know he's more
> interested in watching to see if it's safe to cross so we can go on to the
> adventure of the next block.
>
> Anyway, that's pretty much what has worked with both of my poodles. By the
> time they're really learning to watch for traffic, they're pretty much past
> thinking about treats at curbs. Loki was funny. He would sometimes turn his
> head for a treat just for reassurance or something at the beginning of
> harness training. Other times, I would offer a treat, and he would decline
> it. But even when as he was taking a treat when he wanted one, he would be
> watching, so I didn't worry about it much.
>
> hth,
>
> Tami
>
>
>
>
>
> On 01/18/2018 03:05 PM, Yiska via NAGDU wrote:
>
>> Hello there,
>>
>> I had a question for those who owner train their guide dogs. Is there a
>> way
>> you clicker train curbs and still get the dog to pay attention to traffic?
>> I would think they wouldbelooking back for treats. Is there a guide dog
>> clicker training facebook page? All I am finding is beginner clicker
>> training tutorials thanks.
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