[nagdu] going off leash

[Criminal Justice Major]

Hi, Meghan,
Pilot does teach the dogs to leash relieve and for those who are first 
timers, they will also show you how to pick up after your dog.
One thing that I wish they would change is allowing the students to pick up 
after their dogs in the relief area.
During my first time while I was there, I wanted to clean up after Freedom 
and a trainer who I'll not name told me no that they pick up the stuff 
directly.
The relief area is a large rectangular thick concreete slab that is in the 
indoor court yard with bars around it for the dogs to squeeze under.
During my training with Odie however, the trainer who trained him had a 
group of students go out to the relief area so they could practice picking 
up after their dogs.
Turned out that some of the students weren't doing well picking up, so 
needed a refresher course.
I lucked out of that part as the instructor felt that I didn't need to be 
involved since he saw how I picked up after Odie on route.
Regardless, I was pleased with how things went during my training at Pilot 
though and despite Freedom David Berry having to retire early after seven 
months, I ended up with a great guide dog the next time around.
When I did go to GEB, the instructors picked up the stuff for a week and a 
half or two, then had us trainies learn how to clean up.
>From the time I began being a handler, I always tried to stick with the 
habbit of touching the lower back end of my dogs so I'd know what was 
happening.
Despite that I had a small amount of usable vision, I still touched them 
anyway.
As for the puppy raising program at the school that Odie came from, I can't 
really comment on it as I don't know that much on whether they have the 
raisers touch the dog or not.
I'm sure others on list would be able to shed some light on the puppy 
raising programs at their schools and the instructions directly.
*Smiles*
Bibi