[NAGDU] Touch training

[Julie Johnson]

You hold the bell in your hand, using the same hand shape that you already use for touch.  Make it as easy as possible by holding the bell so he has to touch it when he touches your hand as he normally would.  Do that a few times so he gets the idea.  Then hold the bell so it dangles a tiny bit from your hand, give the touch cue and reward as soon as he makes any contact with the bell.  He may touch your hand as he has previously done, wait until he touches the bell.  He might get a bit frustrated, he might do it right away, if he doesn’t seem to be getting it, move the bell closer to the previous position.  Practice this a few times until he gets the idea to touch the bell with the touch cue.  Gradually you can move the bell to different positions and eventually put the bell on things you want him to target.  For example if you want him to target a door, you could hang the bell from the knob and give him the touch cue.  You can pair touch with door or outside or whatever you want.  Practice that a bit, then to move the bell and ask for touch door or even just door.  If he seems confused or hesitant, give lots of encouragement or go back to the previous step.  You want to make each new step just a tiny bit more difficult than the previous step so he will be successful but still has to think about what he should do next.  Practice in the beginning in a quiet very familiar place, like your living room.  The only thing going on should be training.  As he understands what to do, you can start practicing outside with distractions. Once he understands the concept it gets increasingly easier to add new targets, the bus stop bench, mailbox, soda machine etc.

Good luck!
Julie


Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 18, 2021, at 1:16 PM, Jean Menzies via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Julie, 
> 
> I have never been shown how to use an intermediary object like that, but it makes sense. A few questions. 
> 
> How do I now transfer the idea of touching my fist to touching the object such as a bell? 
> Percy now knows Touch, so how or when do you then introduce the new word such as bench, garbage, pole, etc. so that the target is touch or find whatever the item is? Would you use something like "touch pole or touch mailbox? 
> 
> Just not sure how to break it down without causing confusion. 
> 
> Jean and Percy  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Julie Johnson via NAGDU
> Sent: April 17, 2021 3:25 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Julie Johnson <julielj402 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Touch training
> 
> Have you tried using an intermediate object to teach targeting?  This could be a sticky note, a bell, a magnet or whatever makes sense in your situation.  The idea is to teach him to touch the intermediate target with his nose instead of your hand.  Then you can move the target to the end object, the chair, crosswalk button or whatever. I hope that makes sense. 
> 
> Julie
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Apr 17, 2021, at 3:50 PM, Jean Menzies via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I have a new guide dog named Percy. We received home training in 
>> March, and we are doing very well together.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> My question is about Touch. I am teaching him to touch my hand for 
>> targeting and back chaining. But with the touch, he likes to lick my 
>> hand instead of simply touching with his nose. I don't mind the lick 
>> per se, but I would prefer a nose poke into my palm. Ideas?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> My goal is to then use Touch to fine-tune back chaining. Right now he 
>> will find a seat or bench or our community mailbox, for example, but 
>> will simply stop beside it or sort of near it. I want him to target 
>> these items with his nose so that if I touch his head, I can find the 
>> object. He's not wrong in stopping alongside things, but I can't 
>> always find the object. I want him to turn so that the item is at his nose. Any ideas?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Jean and Percy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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