[NAGDU] Touch training

Tue Apr 20 20:27:19 UTC 2021

My pleasure.
Please keep me posted.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jean Menzies via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 3:42 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jean.e.menzies at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Touch training

Thanks, Susan, for breaking down how you use the touch command with your
dog. I know what you mean about being close but yet so far as a total. My
goal is to make finding things more complete in the approach. If I can't
touch it or find it with a foot, it's very hard to know if he's found it or
not. Standing nearby isn't quite good enough. Lol. Close only counts in
horseshoes and hand grenades. (wink). 

Seriously, though, I taught touch to my last dog but never really used it
for back chaining or anything. We just didn't seem to need it. I've now
taught touch to Percy, who is my ninth dog. He wasn't taught it by his
trainer, and he has caught on quickly. I can now direct his movement and
body position with a closed fist, and he will move to poke my fist. Good
first steps. My goal is to be able to follow his nose to find the object or
location I need to teach. As you say, create a clean and complete approach. 

Thanks again for youipt. 

Jean and Percy
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Susan Jones via NAGDU
Sent: April 19, 2021 6:43 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Touch training

OK.
I LOVE touch.  Before we heard of Touch, my dog could be right in front of
me, but maybe just out of reach, and because I'm a total, I couldn't see her
there, waiting patiently for what to do next.
Now Touch brings that nose instantly to my fist, and I know EXACTLY where
she is.
 now, I'm not sure I buy the intermediate object so much.
What I do is use a cane to find the object I want my dog to point out.  Then
I put my fist on it and have him touch, and treat.
Use the backchaining method to teach him to approach it completely.
Start saying Touch Trash can, or whatever the object is.
Then eventually you can drop the word Touch, and just say Trash can.

The one instance in which I would use an intermediate object is a bell on
the outside door to teach my dog to let me know he or she needs to go out.
I begin as before, doing Touch on the objec multiple times with appropriate
treats.
I start saying Touch Outside.
I then start without my fist and treat for when he rings that bell by
touching it.
Whenever I take him outside, I get really excited, OUTSIDE! OUTSIDE! AND
RING THAT BELL WITH MY HAND.
My hope is that eventually he gets the idea and rings the bell when he wants
to go out.
This is not to say that I don't take him out on a decent schedule, but to
make sure he can tell me when there is a need to go out regardless of the
schedule.

Hope this helps,
Susan

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jean Menzies via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2021 2:10 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jean.e.menzies at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Touch training

Hi Susan, 

Thanks for that tip. Yes, it helped and now I am getting a gentle nose poke
instead. He now moves to touch my fist with the Touch word. 

Jean and Percy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Susan Jones via NAGDU
Sent: April 17, 2021 4:12 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Touch training

One thing that might work is changing a small detail about how you do Touch.
We were taught to have our dogs touch a closed fist instead of an open hand.
That might help Percy get the idea that licking isn't the thing you want,
but more like a gentle fist bump with the nose.
I'm sure others can chime in with some ideas.

Kind regards,
Susan

sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jean Menzies via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2021 4:49 PM
To: NAGDU List <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: jean.e.menzies at gmail.com
Subject: [NAGDU] Touch training

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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