(VICT) Re: Training the Block for Better Safety
- From: "Gisele Mesnage" <gisele@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:54:14 +1000
Hi Karyn,
It appears that traffic safety training techniques may be different here in
Australia, as I had not heard of guides being trained to block the path. When
I did my traffic training session with my dog Katie, it was explained to me
that the dog stops at every kerbside and waits for the forward command from
me. But she stops alongside me, and she does not block my path. I have to move
forward to my "number one position", in line with her head. If there is a car
or other hazard in our path, the dog disobeys the forward command. I was told
this was called "selective disobedience". At that point, I have to say, "good
dog, forward when you can," and wait until the dog makes a move before dropping
back to my "number two position" and starting off again. With driveways
though, the dog does not stop unless there is a hazard. For example, the other
day in the city, Katie suddenly stopped when we were walking up a street, and I
realised a car had just pulled out of the driveway of a church. Now, we had
walked up and down this street a few times before, and I had not even realised
there was a driveway there because she had just kept walking on. But if it's a
street, even a lane way, she will stop at the kerb regardless of whether there
is traffic or not. I guess things would be different for you in a
wheelchair, though.
Cheers,
Gisele
gisele@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: Karyn and Thane
To: Vi-clicker
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 4:20 AM
Subject: (VICT) Training the Block for Better Safety
After some good input from someone on a list the other day, I have decided
to re-train Thane's alert for a car. Before I just had him halt. I was
concerned about running him over with my chair so I did not have him block
my path as most who are ambulatory do.
After the incident last week though, I have felt the desire to add further
training to this to prevent a catastrophe from happening to either of us in
the future.
I could use some input that anyone whose guide blocks their path could
provide.
What I am curious about is if you train this for every driveway and
intersection initially and then phase the block to just when cars or other
dangers are there or would I just train it where those dangers are present
from the start.
It could take us forever to walk a neighborhood street if he halted and
blocked at every driveway irregardless of whether it was safe or dangerous
so I am suspecting the latter is how its best to train this.
Today when we went out I just placed my hand down in position where I wanted
his nose to wind up and said target so that he blocked my path, then I told
him back and forward so that we could travel in unison again. It was a bit
confusing to him, but he did well with my requests.
I just could use some confirmation on whether my concept of only doing it
when cars are there is the best way to go about this.
Karyn and Thane
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