[nagdu] Questions About Guide Dogs

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

Tatyana, 
Given your choice in words, I'd peg you as a geek. Nothing wrong with that, that is me as well. 
I say this because dogs don't function like computers. They may know how to do a task, and may just not do it for whatever reason.  

You need to decide if you can and want to work with a living being as a navagitional tool.  At this point in my life, I do not, though I did for several years.  

With dogs, you can't just install a line of code and say "Do this when you get the queue" 

As for your questions re two weeks of vacation without the dog, yes you can do this. Some dogs will be okay, some won't. Remember to weigh your own needs too, if you really need or want this trip and your dog for whatever reason can't or shouldn't go, well, the trip may just be worth it. 

Access issues depend largely on where you live and who you deal with. 


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tatyana
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 10:52 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Questions About Guide Dogs

Did you trained her yourself to find a push button? How do you know how to
train a dog, is it taught in a guide dog school? Is it the same training
algorithm for each task?

Tatyana.


> My neighborhood is very walkable as well.  My mobility is pretty good.  I
> like working with my Holly for a few reasons.  We can move really fast and
> not have to worry about bumping into anything.  For instance, I have to
> transfer busses often.  I try to run to catch the next bus and bump, bump,
> bump!!  I would have to have a head like a musk ox to survive all of those
> posts I bump into.  And a 30 foot cane to hit them in time to stop!  I
> haven't hit 1 post with Holly!  Also, Holly is just a great companion!  I
> forgot, she also will go around those cars who insist on sticking out in
> stopped traffic and finding those curb cuts quickly.  And she also finds
> the push button lights and now, the sheltered bus stops!  I'm trying to
> think of a way she can find the bus stops that are not sheltered.
> Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
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