Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!William.Wilson From: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (William Wilson) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: guide dogs to go Message-ID: <16061@bunker.UUCP> Date: 3 Dec 90 16:55:36 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA Lines: 64 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 12146 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] DK> i really did it, i managed to break my seeing habbits to DK> conform with the new techniques of guide dogs. Dan, Yeah, it took me about a week to break my Strider habits and return to the technique originally taught me by Seeing Eye as well, but never fear, I'm well on my way to developing some new LeeRoy habits that I'll have to break in about 12 more years! DK> right foot and getting used to that new harness. guide dogs DK> uses 3 s hooks on either side of the handle to connect the DK> handle to the harness-body and subsequently, it gives much more DK> play in the harness unlike seeing eye. in fact, that concept DK> is forbidden, if i recall. we aren't supposed to suitcase as DK> in seeing eye, but we can walk up to the dog's shoulder as the DK> handle slides up the dogs back to give a suggestive left. the I'm not clear on this, having never heard the term "suitcasing". If I am picturing this correctly, you are telling me that the handle will actually slide back and forth freely where it is connected to the harness, and yes, I have to admit that this sounds totally foreign to me. For instance, when you have one of those very quick traffic checks, one where the dog puts on the brakes so fast that you're caught on your tippy toes and grateful for those ballet lessons your parents bought you as a child, doesn't the slack cause a delay in the reaction time? Yeah, yeah, I know that one can get used to almost any change and feel it natural after a while, but I would have trouble with this one. DK> obedience is a little different, no heeling. this sort of DK> threw me because i was used to a set routine. Ironically, Lee is a much better heeler than Strider ever was, and I didn't appreciate it one bit! You remember how at Seeing Eye you had to heel the dog around the building the first few days you had it, and you learned how to leash follow the dog with just a minimal amount of tug on the leash, hoping that the trainers didn't notice it and that they actually believed you were "heeling" the dog? Well, Lee, despite all my best efforts, insisted on taking the command "heel" literally and not allowing any strain on the leash what-so-ever! The one time, of course, that he didn't do this was during our obedience sessions, when we wern't actually going anywhere so it didn't matter. Then, all he could do was to think FETCH, FETCH, FETCH!!! This dog is a fetching fool, and he has literally handed me everything from my room mate's dirty skibbies in the morning to my dropped comb and cigarette lighter, and it is therefore one of those mixed blessings. Sure, I appreciate the fact that I don't have to spend hours on the floor looking for my dropped belongings anymore, but gag me with a spoon, MY ROOM MATE'S UNDERWEAR!! Yeah, Bad, Bad LeeRoy Lab and me are doing fine, and I think I'm gonna keep him! Willie ... Even if you're not the lead dog, the view can be interesting! -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!William.Wilson Internet: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com