[NAGDU] Seeing Eye training techniques

[Suzette May]

Hi Elizabeth,

I graduated with my Seeing Eye Dog in October 2022.

Does T S E teach handlers to use food rewards for bonding or guide work?
No, they do not use food rewards for bonding or guide work.  They use
traditional methods for bonding and traditional training methods as a basis
for guide work. This was one of the primary reasons I chose The Seeing Eye
since those were the same methods I learned and used when I was training
and showing dogs in my twenties and throughout the last 30 years.

I did learn clicker training with treats at The Seeing Eye to teach new
commands and to add objects to the "find" command.  After your dog is solid
on those, you start phasing out the treats and then the clicker. My dog
hasn't had a problem with any part of that process. I hadn't used clicker
training before but had heard about it and wanted to learn it.  It has been
one of the most helpful new things I learned in class and if I want to put
a new command on him quickly, or sharpen up an infrequent one I will use a
clicker and treats and then phase them out slowly once he's solid. I also
use it to teach and play games with him to keep him from getting mentally
bored. It is a very precise and efficient training method for all sorts of
things once you get the hang of it but it has its place.  Areas I don't use
a clicker in general are obedience work and guide work except for teaching
or adding something new like find the whatever. So when my dog is working,
you won't see a clicker and treats 99% of the time.  When he's at home and
off work, we use it several times a day in review, teaching, and playtime.

Does it teach one to use a white cane while guiding?
Not predominantly but we did work on a few instances where a cane was
utilized while guiding, mostly to check for the pavement edge while walking
along a road with no sidewalk or curbs and a few other instances that
escape me now. I have to say I haven't used this at all since leaving class
so I'm a little rusty on that.

Does it teach the follow command or something like it, or has that command
been discarded as unsafe?
Yes! They do teach the follow command specifically although we probably
only spent a day or two using it with my dog but I've used it a lot once I
got home and my dog has no problem following specific people. As long as
the person you're following is close enough, I don't see that as unsafe.

I'm with Vanessa.  Until I can't put one foot in front of the other and
haven't a brain cell left to say forward, I will go to The Seeing Eye.

*Suzette May*
*PS139.13 at gmail.com <PS139.13 at gmail.com>*
*512-564-0152*





On Wed, Jun 5, 2024 at 6:51 AM Elizabeth Rene via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Whoops, trying again because this went out too soon.
> Dear recent TSE grads,
> I know that someone doesn't"Graduate" from TSE, but I have some questions
> for those who have recently trained there.
> I have applied for my ninth guide dog, and have been surprised by some
> changes in the training approach at my last school.
> Does TSE teach handlers to use food rewards for bonding or guide work?
> Does it teach one to use a white cane while guiding?
> Does it teach the follow command or something like it, or has that command
> been discarded as unsafe?
> I'd love to hear from you, as your answers may help me to decide which
> school to attend.
> Thank you very much.
> Elizabeth
>
> Elizabeth M René
> Attorney at Law
> WSBA #10710
> KCBA #21824
> rene0373 at gmail.com
>
> > On Jun 5, 2024, at 4:36 AM, Elizabeth Rene <rene0373 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi. I have some questions for those recently trained at TSE.
> > Elizabeth M René
> > Attorney at Law
> > WSBA #10710
> > KCBA #21824
> > rene0373 at gmail.com
>
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