[NAGDU] list of guide dog commands and what they do

[Gretchen Brown]

Josh, I do have a long list of commands, but I will only tell you the ones
that come to mind. My dog is program trained, so when I say hop up, that
means to either pay attention, or to get closer to a curb/obstacle. I also
use steady to slow down focus, to pay attention, halt to stop, of course I
also use find the and outside inside up, means to jump up onto the car
seat, off means out of the car, or of the dog bed, etc. Also use the word
place, which means for her to go to her specific place normally a dog bed.
Under which means to go under a table or object, settle, means to rest in
the down position.  I also use wipe your paws which is to wipe her front
paws when they are all muddy or dirty. I also have taught her to ring the
bell when she needs to go outside if we are just hanging out at home, and
also, I have taught her .  legs, which means to put her weight on my lap
 for grounding. I have also taught her back which means  stan  Directly
behind me. She also knows block which means to block in front of me, or
behind me and circle, which means to go around my body when I am in a crowd
to keep the crowd at a distance. A couple of fun ones I took her were how
to kiss by touching her nose with my nose. And to shake, which is to shake
off the dirt/water when entering a building. She also knows how to give me
a poll, and can give me left or right pole accordingly. Aside from that she
basically does all the other good work commands such as lift right forward
straight, etc.  she was trained at Leader, and although she does not have
training for the psychiatric dog tasks, such as blocking in crowds,
grounding, etc., I have taught her those over the years. Also, my program
does not use a clicker, we use the word yes to signify the dog is doing
something correct. my program also use treat  training, and we also do  the
basic obedience commands, and they also must wait to be released before
they can eat their dinner. I am also working on whistle training my dog to
come to the whistle. Gretchen

On Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 3:15 PM Julie Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> This varies a bit from program to program and person to person.  I owner
> train and while my list will be similar, it's meant to meet my specific
> needs.
> Forward: means to move ahead, following any curves of less than 45
> degrees, until a curb or obstacle is encountered
> Left/right: from a stopped position means for the dog to pivot 90 degrees
> in the indicated direction and continue moving in that direction until a
> curb or obstacle is encountered
> Left left/right right: while moving the dog is to make a 90 degree turn at
> the next most likely place
> Step up: means to take one step at a time closer to something, used to
> move closer to a curb or obstacle. Also to move one stair at a time if I'm
> having a difficult mobility day. I also use step up to have a dog stand
> from a sit or down since they will have to stand in order to take the one
> step forward
> Right about: a 180 degree turn from a stationary position
> Find the: means to find the named item, stairs, trash, empty chair etc.
> Inside/outside: means to find the door or other entrance to enter or exit
> a building.  I do pair this with left left or right right
> Go around: used when the dog has stopped to show me an obstacle but hasn't
> initiated figuring a way around. Usually I use this primarily in the first
> couple of years, then the dog just automatically goes around
> Hop up: means to load into the car, this one is very different from how
> program teams use it, but dogs don't speak English.  You could tell them to
> burrito if you wanted, so long as you paired the word with the desired
> action.
> Straight: I use this to quite literally mean to move in a straight line
> across a big open space like a parking lot, park or the like
>
> Easy: means to slow down and not to pull so hard
> To get the dog to move faster I use a sound, not a word.
> Whoa: means to come to a stop
> My dogs are also taught to stop at the edge of the street automatically
> with no command from me.  they also stop at the first step up or down at a
> staircase automatically, at any obstacle unless they can easily go around
> on their own this includes holes, drop offs, overheads, ribbon barriers and
> anything else that prevents clear movement through the space.
> There are probably more, but that's all thats coming to mind for guide
> commands.  Of course they also know to sit, down, stay, wait, come, go to
> their place etc.
> Then there are all the things I call manners or living with people
> skills.  This is things like appropriate relieving, chewing on appropriate
> toys, staying out of the trash, not sniffing or jumping on people in public
> and about 101 other things that dog's love to do that people find obnoxious.
>
> Julie
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jun 23, 2023, at 1:44 PM, Josh via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> >
> >
> > Does anyone have a list of guide dog commands, along with what the
> commands
> > tell the dog to do or how the dog reacts to them? Or is there such a list
> > published online somewhere? If so, could you send them to me?  And also
> how
> > many commands to guide dogs respond to? I can't imagine a guide dog user
> > having to memorise dozens and dozens of commands. Maybe 20 to 25 at
> most.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >
> >
> > Josh
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > NAGDU mailing list
> > NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj402%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/gretch99brown%40gmail.com
>