(VICT) Re: Up-curbs

  • From: "Karyn and Thane" <bcpaws4me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "Vi-clicker" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 08:40:00 -0700

Personally Sandy, I would not want to hang out in traffic while I found the 
curb for too long. Some drivers are so impatient.
Like Ridge, I just tell Thane to find the curb and up we go. Some curb 
situations here are awkward with his long length for the upcurb. For 
instance when we want to follow on forward at this one curb, we have to 
tweak some to get around a telephone pole. For that I tell him halt and then 
forward so that I can get better lined up with him. Otherwise his long body 
aint gonna make the tweak movement with the leash.
In a power wheelchair we can feel things that perhaps the ambulatory can't
Ridge you might know that one better than me since you did this ambulatory 
before. I can tell for instance when we are approaching a down curb unless 
they are the flush kind as the grade goes down as well. I do have Thane halt 
before the curb and then we cross when I give the across command.
Thane slows up and then halts if necessary for me to get over uneven 
pavement. I honestly don't recall teaching this but I guess when I was doing 
LLW with my cane I must have been doing that and he took note. Its cool. Met 
was not doing that until our later guide years when I taught it to him with 
you alls help.
Our town is doing a curbcut project right now. Its mostly downtown. So our 
curbcuts are becoming more accessible this spring/ summer. Now if they would 
just do one on a street not too far from me I would be so grateful. Its the 
only curbcut in the area that I find really problematic. That one if thane 
were to rush it for the down curb, I would be toast. Coming up though he 
knows he has to keep moving once I am coming over the top ridge of it. I try 
and avoid that one, but its not always possible.
I wonder if those of you who are ambulatory find some curbs more 
problematic. Do you avoid curb cuts and still have your dogs find a real 
curb or do you use curb cuts when they are there? Just curious

Karyn and Thane 


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