[nagdu] Why Labradors?

Mon Sep 16 16:43:39 UTC 2013

I have to agree. My labs aren't goofy in their work, and I like the silly
side in their off work hours. My retired Bianca, a black lab, I'd challenge
against any breed with a stronger work ethic. I have pretty specialized
needs in my guide. I need a dog that is 100 percent easy to manage, but at
the same time, the dog has to be smart with great initiative. I can fall
over a tiny crack in a sidewalk, for instance. And I must be a route
traveler, because the longer I am on my feet, the more pain and time for
recovering I might have to have. So, I need my dogs to be smart, to learn
what I need to have done, where to be cautious, to be able to walk at a slow
pace without getting distracted and not to have the sort of initiative that
makes them want to explore a little. During training, Bianca picked up
everything I needed. She'd slow or even stop at dips for driveways on a
sidewalk, or hesitate at the top of a wheel chair ramp as we approached a
corner. She instinctively seemed to know what could trip me up and she'd
look for the smoothest part of the area. She would remember a place we'd
been to after one visit. When I worked at GDB, I had a nightmarish crossing
on my way to work, the sort of crossing I dread and avoid at all costs.
There was no way to avoid it, and Bianca got me through it confidently,
wagging her tail. I heard lots of people say labs and goldens don't have a
strong work ethic and I think that's as wrong as someone else saying all
shepherds are too hyper or can't handle stressful work, or any of the other
generalizations people make about breeds. There are good dogs and not great
dogs in all breeds, and not all individual dogs make great guides. I've seen
guides from breeds I wouldn't have expected that were amazing, and I've seen
horrible labs. I've had labs that didn't work out who weren't made to be
guides. I've only ever worked labs and goldens, and I'd give a lot to have
another golden, but the reasons I say that would probably have my golden
from 15 years ago career changed now. She was very much a one-person dog who
took a long time to turn over to her trainer and then to me and had severe
separation anxiety. In the world of cookie cutter training and dogs, I don't
think they'd give her the time she needed today. But man, was she ever one
devoted and bonded dog. She have worked across the fires of hell for me if
I'd asked her to. And yet, most people think goldens are silly. So it all
comes down to that I think labs are predominant because they adjust well to
the changes in their lives, they are healthy, intelligent and friendly. A
dog that can work and live in most any environment. 

Sherry

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 10:27 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Why Labradors?

I hear people talk about labrador goofiness, but none of my 5 labs have
been what I'd call goofy, certainly not in harness.  Some have been quite
playful out of harness, but very serious as soon as the harness went on.
And, as for work ethic, they don't have the intensity of a shepherd, but
they do take their work seriously.
I guess I'm not real clear on what you mean by "work ethic".
Tracy

> Hi,
> I never thought about the adjustment to a kennel environment as a
> contributing factor toward what breed dominates the field, but it
> makes sense. Also, coat and health maintenance seem like sensible
> reasons on the surface. Obviously, we want healthy dogs, but
> personally, I would look for a more serious work ethic and less
> quirkiness and goofiness in a guide dog.
> I just thought it would be an interesting question since there are two
> US guide dog schools that only train German shepherds as guide dogs,
> and now there is a school in the south that trains several breeds for
> guide work, none of which are labradors.
>
>
>
> On 9/16/13, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>> I think labradors have many excellent guide dog qualities, and that is
>> why
>> they're so dominant in the field.
>> They're intelligent, but don't have to second-guess every single thing
>> their partner asks them to do.
>> They're adaptable to a wide variety of environments and a wide variety
>> of
>> handlers.  Labs can work well with everything from the busy college
>> student to the elderly person who may not get out every single day.
>> They have an easy-care coat, which does not go through big shedding
>> periods, and doesn't tend to get matted.
>> They are generally healthy--not particularly prone to allergies,
>> digestive
>> complaints, or other medical issues.
>> These two things make them easy keepers, even for inexperienced dog
>> people.
>> They tend to be even-tempered, not prone to snappiness or timidity.
>> From what I hear, they are less likely to be upset by a kennel
>> environment, which is helpful to the big schools.
>>
>> I've had 6 dogs, and 5 have been labs.  Shepherds are very handsome, but
>> the one I had was pretty high-maintenance.  I'd be open to a different
>> breed next time, but I won't be the least upset if I get another lab.  I
>> think they're one of the finest breeds around.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> There are certainly other breeds besides labs that make good guide dogs
>>> and
>>> other types of service dogs, but I have also seen certain breeds, such
>>> as
>>> collies, which, JMHO, should not be service dogs. Some breeds are
>>> smart,
>>> but
>>> do not have the want-to-please mentality  found in some of the breeds
>>> more
>>> commonly used for guide dogs.
>>> As for goldens, I think that they may be a little more laid back than
>>> labs.
>>> I do not know if German Shepherds are more sensative to corrections,
>>> but
>>> I
>>> do know that they are more likely to not eat or get slightly sick when
>>> adjusting to change or in stressful situations, such as traveling.
>>> Also,
>>> they are more likely to have medical or aggression problems, which is
>>> partiallywhy, sadly, GDB no longer trains German Shepherds.
>>> I have not interacted much with dobermen pinchers, but, from what other
>>> people have said, I'm not quite sure why they are not used more. I
>>> guess
>>> that, once schools find breeds that work, they are less likely to try
>>> something new.
>>>
>>> Nicole
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven
>>> Tolliver
>>> Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 9:22 AM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Why Labradors?
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> I am wondering why the majority of dogs trained in most guide dog
>>> programs
>>> are labrador retrievers. What is it about that breed that makes them
>>> dominate in the guide dog field?
>>> I notice that in other service dog areas, this breed is not used as
>>> often.
>>> And when people train their own guide dogs or have them privately
>>> trained,
>>> it seems that labradors are rarely chosen. What advantage do guide dog
>>> programs feel labradors have over other breeds like the golden
>>> retriever,
>>> German shepherd, doberman pinscher, or even the Australian shepherd.
>>> When I asked a GEB instructor why they didn't pass more goldens
>>> through,
>>> they said it was because a lot of goldens (their goldens anyway),
>>> didn't
>>> have the confidence it took to be a guide dog. They were not confident
>>> enough to make independent or executive decisions.
>>> Also, I have heard that German shepherds are more sensitive to
>>> corrections,
>>> and also require more of a routine. They do not adapt to new
>>> environments
>>> or
>>> change as well as other breeds.
>>> Do you guys find this to be true? What do you think?
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Raven
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Raven
>
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