[nagdu] which side are you on?

[Cindy Ray]

When I worked obedience with a dog who was not a guide, that dog was trained to work left, that is on the left side. If you are on something sidewalkless, if you are on the left side and the dog is on your left, then it isn't as close to the traffic. I really don't know other than that, and I have been encouraged to work on the ride side where doing so was more appropriate. I trained this by using a cane in the training of it. Still, you couldn't suddenly do this because someone was torked about where the dog was walking.

CL

On May 27, 2013, at 11:54 AM, "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:

> I don't know whether or not the guide dog programs train this.  I do think it is easier for a dog to keep to the left for a couple of reasons.  first there is a very nice straight line the dog can follow.  this makes it much easier to keep a very nice straight line of travel.  the second reason is that keeping to the left means that there is a lot of space on the right, which makes clearing right hand obstacles loads easier.   I think the dogs figure this out and tend toward the left side to make their life easier.
> 
> Julie
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: blind411
> Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 9:10 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] which side are you on?
> 
> Daniel,
> Like your friend, I am not very pleased with the fact that most
> guide dog programs train their dogs to walk to the left. I feel it is very
> inconsiderate, as the normal flow of traffic moves on the right. When our
> dogs pull to the left, oncoming pedestrians, bikers, skateboarders, etc. all
> need to avoid us. When walking through a strip mall, I feel like I am a
> slalom skier.
> My dog was trained to walk to the left and, despite my best efforts,
> I have been unable to break him of this very engrained training. I have
> addressed this with the Guide Dog Foundation and they claim this is not a
> part of their training, though it obviously is! Why, then does my dog do
> this. When I was on the graduate Advisory Council of Southeastern Guide
> Dogs, I was given the explanation that this is so sighted people can see the
> dog and avoid it. They would not need to avoid it if we were to walk with
> the normal flow of traffic. I would love to read other's feelings on this
> issue.
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel
> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 6:51 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: [nagdu] which side are you on?
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> 
> 
> I have just spent a troubling afternoon with a couple of great friends. We
> were on a walk in Golden, Colorado, through town and along the river trail.
> My friend kept telling me to stay to the right on the path because of all of
> the foot and bike traffic on the trail. The trail is a wide, cement trail,
> approximately 10' wide. Cass always walks to the left  on any path. My
> friend became increasingly upset with me because everyone had to move around
> me to avoid missing me and Cass. I tried to have Cass move to the right, but
> she insisted to continue to travel on the left side of the walk, as she
> always does. It is true the path was very busy, but I told my friend that
> Cass would avoid anyone that was in her way. He became very irate, telling
> me I should walk with Cass on my right side instead of my left side. I told
> him that this was not an option, and that I knew what I was doing, and just
> chill out and let me and Cass do what we do. He said it was absurd that any
> dog would not be trained to walk on the right side of a path, and I told him
> that she was following the side of the walk.
> 
> Does anyone come across any of the same remarks from people. Do your dogs
> travel on the right or left on a path with no curbs, or buildings to line
> either side.
> 
> I must admit I do not remember having ever discussed this during training
> with Cass. I naturally assumed that Cass would follow along the left side.
> My friend said that everyone else had to move out of the way for me, and
> that it was not right that I took up the left side. Just because I was blind
> did not give me the right to make everyone else move out of the way for me,
> and that I had to be more considerate of them. Needless to say I was just a
> bit pissed off at this point.
> 
> What do you think about this?
> 
> I told him to forget about ever trying to get me to move my dog to my right
> hand, it was not going to happen. Other than that, I fell short of giving
> him a good reason for travelling on the left side of the walk.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Daniel and Cass
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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