[NAGDU] unfamiliar places

[Jean Menzies]

This is an interesting discussion.

I think another factor for me at least, is the fact that my husband is now 
retired. Not intentionally, I think he is a bit protective simply because he 
is more around and available to run some of those more challenging errands 
to locations I don't know. It has been easy to fall into the rut of only 
going to places I know.

But a positive thing is that we got rid of our car, and are now using public 
transit. That's a big step for a sighted person. lol. So, now when we go 
somewhere together, at least I am learning a lot more about areas rather 
than simply driving there and walking in from a parked car.

As someone so rightly said, the only way to regain that confidence for both 
dog and person, is to just get out and do it.

Jean and Boomer

-----Original Message----- 
From: Andrew J. LaPointe via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 7:24 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Andrew J. LaPointe
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] unfamiliar places

    Hi, my problem is when I am traveling with my guide, many come up to me
and ask, does your dog know what to do?  I like to give my dog time to
figure what I want and he does a great job.  I also like to stand at a new
area to study the traffic pattern and figure out the surrounds but, someone
will come up to us and try to help.  I truly appreciate the offering but,it
makes it difficult at times.  Andy and Shubert

-----Original Message----- 
From: Vivianna via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2019 9:30 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Vivianna
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] unfamiliar places

Oh, yes, i go exploring new places all the time. Especially now that we have
all of this awesome GPS stuff available. I just put BlindSquare in my ear
and, off i go.
I recently moved to a completely different city and, i have been exploring a
lot with my 11 month old pup in training. I think it helps our teamwork a
ton. For example, yesterday, i wanted to go, right, but, there was not a
sidewalk there. I give the command, right, my pup looks over there but
refuses to go. I give the, Right, again. She still won’t go. I turn around
and try a few, lefts, for a couple feet. nope, still no go. OK, i figure
there’s no sidewalk and, we continue another block where we turned right.
I would say, the most difficult thing about exploring can be running into
crazy street crossings. You know, the kind where several streets come
together? Or, the ones that are T intersections. And, also, trying to figure
out which streets have lights, 4 way stops, or, just nothing. That’s where
those good O and M skills come in.
But, it’s great when i can just ask my phone or my watch, where am i? And,
it tells me.
Vivianna


Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 3, 2019, at 7:43 AM, Daryl Lang via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> My dog excels in unfamiliar areas. One thing that I have learned is that 
> when we go somewhere that she doesn't know, I need to give her a couple of 
> very quick and very short-term targets just as we get there. It could be 
> something simple like finding a curb or a pole or anything, and after that 
> she's absolutely fine. We traveled for almost a month in areas we've never 
> been in before, and she absolutely rocked it! but I've also been one who 
> likes to explore on my own anyway, so I'm really lucky that I have a dog 
> that is good with that :-)
>
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