[NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

Tue Aug 27 15:48:20 UTC 2019

My dogs don't typically display a left tendency more than once in a
while. They were trained to walk in the center of sidewalks and
hallways, and this is usually what they prefer. I can't say if this
will work or not from personal experience, but this is just something
that came to mind.

Perhaps try treating sidewalks almost like a right sided country walk.
Use verbal cues and body positioning to cue him over to the right, and
periodically stop and reward him at the extreme right with food and/or
praise. You can also use your cane to trail the edge, so that you can
immediately cue him over to the right if you feel him drifting but
there isn't an obstacle. You could even start out by heeling him along
the right side of the sidewalk and frequently rewarding. That way, he
has no choice but to stay with you on the right or he will correct
himself by pulling to the left. Essentially, you would be magnetizing
him to the right by making it a really rewarding place to be. This
would probably be pretty time consuming at first, but it should only
be temporary. You could gradually increase the distance he needs to
walk before being rewarded.

I'm not sure if this would make him walk so far to the right it would
be an issue, if he would just go back to walking on the left, or if he
would split the difference and eventually walk more in the center. I'm
just thinking that he doesn't have much of a reason not to hug the
left, and this would make staying toward the right more interesting.

It make sense that it is easiest for the dog to stay on the left, but
IMO it is pretty impractical when walking in crowded environments.

Good luck,
Danielle, Thai, and Jackie

On 8/27/19, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I receive my dogs from Guiding Eyes.  This is the only ongoing issue
> I've had in five years of working with him, and only recently has it
> gotten to the point of disruption and frustration.  I may go to the
> school again and ask for some help.  But I'd also like to hear what
> other handlers have done in situations like this one.  Thanks.
>
> Julie
>
>
> On 8/27/19, Amanda Cape via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I am just curious as to where you received your dogs from Julie.
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Amanda
>>
>>> On Aug 27, 2019, at 10:59 AM, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> This has probably been discussed before, so I apologize for repeated
>>> topics.  But how have you handled a ridiculously pronounced left
>>> tendency your dog continues to display?  My dog, Bill, is 7 years old,
>>> and he has gotten super stubborn lately about sticking to the left
>>> side of everything.  I mean that he will hug walls, keep me on the
>>> left sides of sidewalks to the point where I am hesitating to walk so
>>> close to the edge or to the buildings we're nearly brushing up
>>> against, and he pretty much refuses to redirect towards to the right.
>>>
>>> I know dogs are trained on the left.  I know they prefer the left.  I
>>> have mentioned this to my school, and they don't seem to think it's a
>>> big deal.  But it's creating problems for me as I try to walk with
>>> others.
>>>
>>> I have used his leash to show him where I want him to walk.  I've
>>> corrected for hitting walls and corners with his harness.  I've also
>>> just stopped when he actively shoots to the left as we walk.  When I
>>> let go of the harness, he literally walks to the left.  I have an
>>> offset handle, and it's possible I lean to the right, and he is
>>> reacting to oppose my motion, but I dislike being pulled to the left.
>>> It makes me feel uncomfortable.  He still takes me around obstacles to
>>> the right, so maybe there is hope.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?  I don't use food rewards much, but if it's the best
>>> solution for fixing this, I can break them out again.  Working with my
>>> first dog was a battle much of the time for this and other reasons.  I
>>> absolutely love working this dog.  He is responsive and well-behaved
>>> and teachable, but this challenge is only creating a dividing line
>>> between us.  Thank you in advance.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Julie A. McGinnity
>>> MM Vocal Performance, 2015; President, National Federation of the
>>> Blind Performing Arts Division; First Vice President, National
>>> Federation of the Blind of Missouri
>>>
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>
>
> --
> Julie A. McGinnity
> MM Vocal Performance, 2015; President, National Federation of the
> Blind Performing Arts Division; First Vice President, National
> Federation of the Blind of Missouri
>
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