(VICT) Re: Mini-Guide and In-Training Guide Dog
- From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:44:33 -0800
Karyn,
Thanks for the good info. I'm training Mits with my gradually =
decreasing
residual vision as you did Met and already wondering about how =
differently
I'm going to handle things when I start it all over again seven or ten =
years
from now. I will have experience in working a guide under my belt by =
then,
as well as more experience at being blind in general, but I will need to
take a much different approach than I have with Mits.
So I appreciate hearing about your experiences of doing all again
differently. Plus, starting out with a new pup is the most fun,
exhilarating, terrifying and hair-raisingly terrifying part.
Tami Smith-Kinney
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Karyn and
Thane
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 3:36 PM
To: Vi-clicker
Subject: (VICT) Mini-Guide and In-Training Guide Dog
I thought I would share some thoughts here after my first trip out using =
the
mini-guide. Keep in mind these are just my thoughts here of how it may =
be=20
able to be used to further Thane's training progress. I have not used it =
in=20
conjunction with Thane and probably won't until I feel comfortable =
enough to
set the cane aside.
There is one glitch and that is it tends to vibrate when I hit bumps in =
the=20
sidewalk hard. Gosh I miss Met's warnings of those uneven spots!
With a green dog who you are training or is just not seasoned yet I can =
see=20
a few ways this could be helpful to use in conjunction with the dog. I =
can=20
train for obstacles in my path with it. I would have a bit of warning =
that=20
something is in our way before we play bumper cars. Grin For a dog that =
is=20
green and easily distracted it could be a backup to the information we =
get=20
from our dogs- for instance right now Thane is people distractible =
because=20
plain and simple he loves to greet people. Having this when he gets=20
distracted could be an asset. If pointed in the direction you need to =
know=20
about traffic (set at the accurate setting of course) it could be a =
backup=20
to what the dog is telling you. The one area where it can do nothing to =
help
you is drop-offs so obviously you want the dog trained enough that it=20
recognizes these types of obstacles- open man holes, curbs, etc first.
It can vibrate with interference occasionally but not at the high=20
vibrational rate that is associated with being right close to an =
obstacle. I
think I have to also learn the appropriate way to hold it to get the =
best=20
benefit- but I am glad I spent the money on it- especially for inside =
the=20
store! Wow what a difference to know when people, carts, stands etc are =
in=20
my way. I do feel like it will be easier to train Thane with this added=20
knowledge of the environment. No, it does not pick up every little =
thing- it
depends on the height and direction you are holding it in. I trained Met =
as=20
I was progressively losing my vision so it was much easier then. I feel =
this
will take away a bit of the uncertainty I have.
Just thought I would share what I suspect could be the outcome of the=20
mini-guide in training Thane as a guide dog.
Karyn and Tha'=20
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