(VICT) Re: Up-curbs
- From: "kitty hevener" <khevener@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 10:01:17 -0800
Karen, good question. When I traveled with cane, I always sought out the
curb, especially fro street crossings. I hated the ramp or curb cut. I
really don't quite know how it happened, but sunstar and I now use the curb
cuts. I know that she will correct if I happen to make an allignment error,
which is quite easy to do, since some of the curb cuts send you out in
middle of street as opposed to straight across. I know that when I first
started dog travel, one of my biggest problems was trusting her to stop at
curbs. So, am not sure if somehow we ended up going for ramps cuz of that
or what. But, now, I have noticed that if there is a choice between steps,
and ramp, or curb and ramp, she will take me to ramp. Who knows who taught
who on that one smile!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karyn and Thane" <bcpaws4me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Vi-clicker" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:40 AM
Subject: (VICT) Re: Up-curbs
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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