[NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

Tue Aug 27 20:21:04 UTC 2019

The only reason I was ever given for this tendency was that some of the dogs
feel more secure. Nothing I tried worked real well, but one thing I think I
tried was to put down the harness and physically move over to the right
some, then continue to encourage right with the leash. I'm not sure I buy
that you might not be able to train him, or untrain him, as the case may be
because of age. It might take longer, but with patience and encouragement, I
don't see why not.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sherri via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 3:03 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sherri <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

Wow, I wish I had known that suggestion.  I had an extremely left-walking
dog.  Someone told me it's because they are taught to walk on the left side
of the street, so they incorporate that into their walking behavior.  I was
never successful getting her to walk much on the right side of anything.

Sherri

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of sunshine via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 1:01 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: sunshine <halogirl817 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

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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