Sunday, August 2, 2009

Oops Forgot

I forgot to tell you all about footwork and commands.
Any command will start from halt position next to the dog's shoulder.
To go forward is simple. "Juno, forward."
Left- There is now footwork required. To turn left the handler steps back with their left foot and turns to face the dog. Then "Juno, Left." Signaling with right hand.
Right- To turn right you also step back with the left foot, this time still facing forward, signal with the right hand and command "Juno, Right."
Moving turns- These are turns used when the handler wants to turn off the straight path onto anothe path but doesn't know the exact point to turn. For example , two perpindicular intersecting paths where the path you are on continues. The dog will continue straight unless commanded to do otherwise. So they use a moving turn. The handler commands "Right, right, right." or "Left, left, left." as they approach the intersecting path. The dog is then forwarned of this request to turn and will do so without stopping. Moving turns are not frequently used. Most of the time the dog will stop at a curb for a street and then the handler will direct the dog right or left.
Careful/Reworking obstacles- when a dog makes a mistake such as running a curb or bumping the handler into an obstacle, the handler will rework it. The handler stops, brings the dog back into a heel position. They sit the dog, pat the object and say "Careful, careful." then the handler backs up a few steps and takes up the handle and reworks the object. When out with the instructors, although many dogs needed to rework obstacles, I only saw one dog that needed to rework the obstacle twice. Sometimes, when the mistake was not major this routine is shortened. Stop, pat the object, "Careful, careful", and move on.

Also, if you need help picturing campus there is a map on the Guide Dog website in the funday programs at this link. I will attempt to post this map later if I can format it right. Click on Fun Day Program - California. http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=news_events_funday . On the map K2 is the black rectangle to the right of the number 10, BK is above the one labeled A. Lillibelle and I started our walk next to number 12, walked towards the front, looped around and ended in fromt of K2 near number 10.

1 comments:

  1. Huh... I hadn't heard of careful or moving turns before. Interesting! =]

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