[NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

[sunshine]

Michael, I was advised to do likewise. With one dog that didn't work at all. She resisted all the more. Then there was a dog that I could correct using the method, but she'd bounce back to scraping the buildings. There was not an explanation for same. They're trained to walk in the middle, though.

Sunshine


Sent from my iPhone XR

> On Aug 27, 2019, at 10:55 AM, Mike Hingson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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