[NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

[mike at michaelhingson.com]

Julie,

I have experienced the same thing. I never have gotten a good explanation
for this tendency. One suggestion a trainer did offer is that when your dog
veers to the left, push your harness handle even further to the left. This
is a bit uncomfortable for the dog and they move to the right to correct. I
found that this suggestion did work some. 


Best Regards,


Michael Hingson

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 7:59 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

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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