(VICT) Serious issue with Gretch
- From: Sheila Styron <sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:26:34 -0500
Hello, all
I have a program trained dog who is a real softie. Her name is Gretch,
and she was three in April and became my partner a little before she was
two. I request dogs who require much more encouragement than correction,
because I had enough of that in my youth. While still in class, I
remember one of my instructors saying that she would never have had the
patience to work with a dog like Gretch. The reason why I do is because
I like a dog whose leash you can drop and be sure they will stay put. I
also like a dog who comes when called and who you can trust to be
looking out for your best interests not the next adventure. Gretch is
the third dog I have worked who fits this general description, and I
have watched all these girls start out not at all sure if they could be
or even wanted to be guides and blossom in to the most agreeable and
dependable ones. I love all dogs, but this formula has worked out well
in the past for me. Well, Gretch had some melt downs during the first
3/4 months of our partnership, but until today, she has been steadily
improving in confidence, while of course still remaining a very good
girl around the house, off leash, etc. Then today, she had a total melt
down. It was hot, humid and windy, and I remember another melt down day
when there was a lot of hot wind during our tentative early times
together. Whether out of fear or resistance, Gretch absolutely did not
want to guide me across busy streets with which we were totally familiar
and where she hasn't balked or had any serious problems since the early
days. Last year, when she was uncertain she wanted to be a guide dog,
she developed a serious bowing to the left tendency that I got under
control for the most part. Today, she planted her feet refusing to cross
these streets, and then when I compelled her to cross after all else had
failed with a mild to medium leash correction, she bowed strenuously out
in to traffic, which I believe to be an effort to get away from the
handler and the stress of the situation. Here I was out without a cane,
carrying a 20 pound bag of potting soil with a dog who did not want to
work. My happiest voice meant nothing to Gretch, and she wasn't at all
interested in her clicker or her treats. So I corrected her forward with
the leash at these corners, as nothing else was working. The medium to
light correction got her moving out, but as I have already mentioned,
she bowed in terror, but still managing to end up on the right corner. I
didn't want to correct her, but I was desperate! I have already
mentioned the heat and the wind, and here are two other things that
scared her and probably can be factored in to the reasons for Gretch's
meltdown. In July, the tip of her tail was nicked by a bathroom door
that closed behind us on our way out, and I have noticed Gretch shying
from doors we have passed through ever since. I am not a clumsy person
and have been extremely careful and ultra aware around doors since the
July incident, but she has still not become desensitized to them. Then,
the clincher, almost two weeks ago, we were nearly backed in to by a
delivery truck in our very own driveway the driver of which didn't see
us coming up behind him. The truck was idling so quietly , that I didn't
hear it myself until we were almost upon it. I vaguely remember Gretch
being cautious, but I wasn't thinking about too much walking up my long
driveway except what I was going to scarf down for lunch after working
out. We came up behind the truck, and I let go of the harness to get the
gate. This huge truck was so close I put my left hand on the back
corner, and unbelievably, I felt it slowly start to back up. I yelled at
the driver, and Gretch jumped out of the way. I was alongside and there
was enough room between the truck and the wall that we were okay. The
guy jumped out, admitting he hadn't seen us and inquiring if we were all
right. I apologized for yelling and told him we were fine but that this
experience had of course been pretty scary. As I opened the gate to let
Gretch in, she was extremely skittish moving through, but because this
happened in my driveway, I didn't think much more about it. In all the
routes we've taken since, I can only now think of one street crossing
where Gretch did something that was a little suspicious until today.
Today was the first time we have traveled through this particular busy
intersection since the truck incident in our driveway, and we had to go
through this intersection four times, twice this morning and twice this
evening. Last year when Gretch was a brand new baby guide dog, I tried
all sorts of training and positioning techniques suggested by guide dog
instructors as well as other experienced handlers to get Gretch to stop
the bowing behavior which is a common tendency among some dogs lacking
in confidence. What finally worked was to jolly her along and just make
it all more fun. But today, she exhibited absolute terror in my opinion,
and I feel that our situation is much more serious than it was then. I
didn't get school follow up last year, because I felt I could handle it
on my own, and fortunately, Gretch and I lucked out. I am going to
request follow up this time around and quickly. I was really proud of
myself today in one sense, because even though Poor Gretch did a
terribly unsafe job getting me across busy streets, I didn't fall apart
and managed to praise her sincerely nonetheless. Any of your thoughts on
handling our situation with positive training techniques would be most
welcome.
Sheila Styron, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
816-363-3172
sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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