[NAGDU] Fixing pokiness

[Jean Menzies]

Hi Tracy.

I'm mixing things up with food treats, using a verbal word that stands in 
for a click before treating, and also using the happy enthusiastic 
encouragement and trading off with more serious voice tone. It seems that 
what works one day doesn't work the next. He definitely can be on pace and 
work well when he wants to. For us, it doesn't feel like a lack of 
confidence, but rather, lack of desire sometimes. That's my thought, anyway. 
The food rewards are supposed to build his enthusiasm, but I fear it is 
creating another problem. Now he is reverting back to poor lead out and 
inconsistent pace, and expecting a food reward for clearances, etc. I start 
weaning back on the food in a few days, so he will be miffed when the treats 
are more random.

I do know that I don't want to go to a program next time that relies so 
heavily on treats. I think they are fine for early learning and for teaching 
targetting and shaping behaviour, but I feel that I want a dog next time 
that is weaned off on this once the harness hits my hand. Food is only one 
kind of paycheque, and I want to go back to the old style of working for 
verbal and physical praise. JMO.

Jean

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 10:27 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Fixing pokiness

Hi Jean.
Are they insisting you only use food?  For my dog, a mix of reward and
sternness seems to work best.  I've tried the all happiness bit, and it
makes him a bit complacent.  With him, a little correction goes a good ways
to keep him sharp. But he's not a sensitive flower.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jean Menzies via
NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 1:10 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Jean Menzies
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Fixing pokiness

Hi Tracy

Wow, sounds like you wrote that message for me. Yes, I too have heard that a

million times, but it's harder when it's in the moment and happening. My boy

will also stop when he feels harness pressure if he is in a pokey mood. But
if he is on his own agenda and working well, his pull is very nice. Very
inconsistent in pace and pull, seeming to depend on mood. But he is a safe
worker. The food reward regime I am to use for the ten day 100% treat phase
helped at first, but now he is fading back into more inconsistent pace and
pull with very little lead out at times. So I can hardly wait until I am
supposed to start weaning back on food in the next week or so. Right now I
have created a treat-focused expectancy where he stops and looks for treats
after doing something he thinks deserves one. lol. But I am following the
trainer program, so I will see how this all works out over time.

All that to say that your points are excellent, and I will try that as he
slows down and stops.

Jean
-----Original Message----- 
From: Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 7:05 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: [NAGDU] Fixing pokiness

I had follow-up yesterday, which was useful, and some of the tips might help
Jean, too, or someone else.

My follow-up was for a strong left tendency, but also touches on hesitancy.
The stuff the trainer said is stuff I've heard for decades, but still need
to be reminded about sometimes.

1.        Keep a firm tension on the harness, so he feels me and I feel him.
When I first did this, he stopped, but a little encouragement got him going,
and then he went faster.

2.       2.  If he slows down, I have to immediately slow down, too, and
keep up the firm tension in the harness.

3.       If he slows down because of a crowd, I should encourage him, and be
sure not to move up on him, trying to go faster.

That's pretty much it.  Simple, ay?  Heard it a million times, right?

The trainer thinks Krokus is a touch slow for me (which is true), and we've
both gotten used to not having much tension in the harness, but that's not
really working for us.  She also thinks I haven't been correcting him as
much as I should, especially for sniffing.  I keep telling him "No more nice
guy!", but then I forget again.

Anyway, keeping a firm tension in the harness, and insisting he work right
up to things, was already making a difference in his creeping, occasional
hesitance, and to some degree his left tendency yesterday, so I'll really
try to keep it in mind.

Tracy



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