[NAGDU] Seeing Eye training techniques

Thu Jun 6 20:46:23 UTC 2024

Thanks Jody,
I can't say that I'm above treating my dog, but the idea of having to treat while guiding, say at every curb, makes me nervous.
Thanks for your perspective on The Seeing Eye.
Elizabeth

Elizabeth M René 
Attorney at Law 
WSBA #10710
KCBA #21824 
rene0373 at gmail.com

> On Jun 6, 2024, at 7:39 AM, Jody ianuzzi via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Elizabeth,
> 
> I am not Vanessa but I did go to the Seeing Eye. Before I went there I thought all guide dog schools were pretty much the same. Boy was I wrong! The Seeing Eye is of course the oldest school at 95 years old! I was so impressed by their program I can't imagine going anywhere else! There really isn't anything that drove me crazy about being there. The only thing that I wish is that they would put us in touch with the puppy razors. Seeing-Eye still does not do that. I figure if both handler and puppy razor want to get to know each other I don't have a problem with that. Perhaps maybe they will change their policy on that regard.
> 
> I am very happy with the more traditional approach to training  I don't like the other schools emphasis on giving treats treats treats all the time. I think dogs work best when given praise and corrections. I have always worked with German shepherds and that is especially true for that breed.  My dog is so happy to complete a task and he could care less about treats.
> 
> 
> The training is fantastic the food is wonderful camaraderie with all of the other students is terrific and I really can't think of anything that I did not like about my experience.    I would not consider going anywhere else for a guide dog.
> JODY
> 
> To Boldly Go  🖖🏻
> 
> 
> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
> 
> "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS  Erik Weihenmayer
> 
>> On Jun 5, 2024, at 8:32 PM, Elizabeth Rene via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Thanks a lot Vanessa,
>> Just so I'm warned, what are the things that drive you crazy about The Seeing Eye?
>> Elizabeth
>> 
>> Elizabeth M René
>> Attorney at Law
>> WSBA #10710
>> KCBA #21824
>> rene0373 at gmail.com
>> 
>>>> On Jun 5, 2024, at 4:52 PM, Vanessa Lowery via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I was in the late January into February 2023 class. As others have stated, Clicker training is optional, and it is primarily used to teach the dogs to find things of importance (door knobs, elevator buttons, stairwells, audible pedestrian signals, bus stop poles, etc.). The Clicker training is optional. There are instances in which treat training is used, perhaps including the Clicker, to help the dog more confidently approach down curbs. But again, once your dog is confident with whatever you have taught it to do, the clicking and treating is gradually phased out.
>>> 
>>> I use the gentle leader when walking through my neighborhood because there are a lot of dog owners who also walk their dogs and some of the areas where I travel. The Benefit of the gentle leader is that I can control virtues speed, and if he should distract on a dog, I can stop any behavior that he might try to exhibit very quickly because I can feel what his head is doing. In addition, he talks with his tail. In other words, when the tail starts wagging, I know that he has seen something of interest, and I immediately start tal Talking to him to let him know that I am an ever present individual who will make him behave. When using the gentle leader, we are also taught several configurations in which we can position the leash. I won't go through all of them, but I will describe the one that I have the most benefit from. It is the reins (as in rain) style configuration. Leash snap is attached to the collar. I feed the leash around the back of the dogs neck to the left side of his head and attached the other leash snap to the general leader. This enables me to use either side of the leash to either give a correction from the right or slightly alter the position of his head from the left to stop undesired behaviors.
>>> 
>>> The follow command is taught to the dogs, but it's not all that heavily emphasized in training. It's up to you once you get home two more thoroughly and still that skill with your dog. But it is definitely addressed. The Seeing Eye goal is to focus much more heavily on how you handle your dog. Yes, follow is important, but not as important as the avoidance of obstacles and traffic checks.
>>> 
>>> During class, you don't just get one or two traffic checks. You get multiple traffic checks until the instruction team is confident that you and your dog are responding appropriately. After the planned traffic checks are stopped, there is still always the possibility that you will experience natural traffic checks from the drivers in Morristown. There's also a fair amount of emphasis on dog distractions. Yes, some of the instructor assistance are out and about with dogs, and they do their best to torture you and your dog. This is not done every day, but it is done frequently enough during the early part of training for you to fully know how your dog reacts to the distraction dogs and how you should get your dog out of the situation effectively  effectively and efficiently.
>>> 
>>> And then… There are the distraction cats. Oh, yes! The Seeing Eye has three distraction cats (one is about to be retired because of medical issues). They own the main hallway, dart in and out of offices in the main hallway, hang out in the women's lounge Downstairs, and hang out in the lobby. You never know when they're gonna try to get your dog in trouble. Again, the goal is to recognize that the distraction is happening and then work your dog past the cat or cats. The most infamous of those cats is docked. Almost to a person, we all call her the little terrorist!
>>> 
>>> I have obtained all seven of my dogs from The Seeing Eye. I obtained the first one in 1982. Are there some things about The Seeing Eye that drive me crazy? Yes. However, the attention that they pay to traffic, dog distractions, Clicker training if you want it, etc., has never disappointed me. In fact, sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s, they decided to increase the amount of training that the dogs got before we came into class from three months to four months simply because the traffic of that time was already beginning to get crazy  as were the complexities of intersections changing.
>>> 
>>> That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
>>> 
>>> Vanessa and the zoo  
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>>> On Jun 5, 2024, at 9:38 AM, Elizabeth Campbell via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hello Elizabeth,
>>>> 
>>>> I was in the January, 2024 class.
>>>> I agree with Tracy and Jenine regarding the training methods used at The
>>>> Seeing Eye.
>>>> I felt that my training with my fourth guide was thorough and comprehensive.
>>>> The clicker training is optional. I've used that with previous guides, but
>>>> chose not to do so with my current dog, Freddie.
>>>> I discovered that it didn't take too long for her to learn to find things.
>>>> We also focused on using the gentle leader in different settings such as
>>>> going to the dining room for meals. We were told that using the gentle
>>>> leader is helpful when in restaurants and other settings where there are
>>>> lots of food temptations for our dogs.
>>>> We also received a thumb drive with recordings of lectures and Word
>>>> documents which is extremely helpful.
>>>> Besides the training, I love the camaraderie with other classmates. I
>>>> always make several new friends when in class.
>>>> Best of luck to you with your decision.
>>>> 
>>>>> On Wed, Jun 5, 2024 at 6:52 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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>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Elizabeth Campbell
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