Walk the Walk, Redux Part 1

So the gremlins of the blogosphere apparently ate half of my post on walking with your pup. The last part of the post (the part with all the pertinent information) mysteriously disappeared, so I removed the post and learned a valuable lesson: save all blog posts in an independent file. So there.

Anyway, I thought I would just write anew and expand a little on the difference between a forward walk and a fun walk.

When I train dogs I always keep this thought foremost in mind: What am I trying to teach the dog? This piece of Mersereau trivia has a point. Forward walks and fun walks teach the pup specific things.

Fun walks have two purposes. One, they help teach the dog the meaning of "take a break" and two, they are an opportunity for some puppy R&R.

On a fun walk, the pup has no reponsibilities beyond not picking up stuff and not lunging. The pup can stop and sniff, can relieve itself (no vertical marking for the males) and can wander. By telling the pup "take a break" before you start to walk, you emphasize the "little or no responsibilities" aspect of the walk. This helps teach the dog what "take a break" means.

A fun walk with little responsibilities also serves as a stress reliever for the pup, an opportunity to relax a little and be a dog. This can be very useful when the dog has been working hard or has been in a stressful environment. If you think the pup is starting to shut down or is showing concern over an object, releasing the dog from the requirements of a "forward" walk helps reduce his stress level and can make it easier for him to recover and deal his environment.

Forward walks have a very narrow box of acceptable behaviors. The pup should be pulling out slightly ahead of you, at about the 11 o'clock position. That's it. No sniffing, scavenging, lunging, marking or excessive pulling. The pup should not cross in front of you or lag behind. When you enforce this, you are teaching the dog what is expected when the command "Forward" is issued. This will carry over to guide dog work. When the dog hears "Forward" he knows precisely what is expected of him and what is allowed and he can focus on his guide work.

Obviously, you are not going to accomplish a picture-perfect "Forward" walk with a young puppy. They are going to try to sniff, scavenge, and ping pong all over the place. We'll discuss ways to work with a young pup on "Forward" walks in Part 2. Look for it in a few days.

IFT Photos 4

Here are some more of our fantastic dogs at work.

River gets ready for obedience.

Anita on the move.

Ellie works a curb.

Deanna on the move.

Emma at the stairs.

Kelsey has her doubts about early morning routes.

Morgan does a sit-stay.

Richie B. begins a route.

Our dogs love their job!

Show me the love

Quick survey: Over the last 24 hours, how many times have you had to correct your pup? Oh, I see you rolling your eyes and sighing, "about a 1000 times". Having one of those days, are we? It's the teenage years, you say? Hey, I feel your pain - I've been there.


Ok, how many times over the last 24 hours have you praised your pup? If that number is not 1001 or more, then to be blunt, you're missing the point.


Puppies can be mischievious, infuriating, patience-trying bundles of trouble. And when they engage in inappropriate behavior, they need to be corrected. But it doesn't stop there. They also need to be shown the appropriate, expected behavior and then praised when they comply.

Oh, is she on that old soapbox again? Yes, because as I wander around puppy meetings and see raisers out and about, I'm still not seeing the love. I know you love your pup - does your pup know it too?

October Class Matches

Another class of students has arrived and been matched with their new guides. Here is the match list for this class:



Taylor YLxGRF, raised by Patricia Gurley in Jacksonville, FL

Elaine YLF, raised by John & Joan Shimerda in Sarasota, FL

Nieve BLF, raised by Donna Svoboda in Austin, Tx

Troy AUSM, raised by Thresa Shaver in Jacksonville, FL

Hannah YLxGRF, raised by Ray Fong in Charlotte, NC

Seamus YLxGRM, raised by Taunnie Novak, Jacksonville, FL



Dogs being home placed this month:

Andre BLM, raised by Rita Princivalli, Orlando/Daytona, FL (wheelchair placement)

Maggie YLxGRF, raised by Donna & Marv Cohen, Asheville, NC + St. Pete, FL



Congratulations to all!

IFT Photos 3

Enjoy!

Sweetie at work

Parker at the door (just after seeing the cat!)

Spirit works a curb.

Singita waits at a crossing.

Seamus practices intelligent disobedience ("Forward? I don't think so!")

Stairs Part 1

The number one issue I hear when it comes to pups on stairs is "how do I stop my dog from rushing and then jumping off the last couple of stairs?" Although every dog is different, a lot of dogs rush on stairs because they are uncomfortable and nervous about the stairs and just want to get off them as soon as possible. I think this sometimes stems from being put under strict control too soon. When a dog is learning stairs and we try to make them walk slowly by collar correcting them, I think it just enhances their feeling of unease. Another reason for rushing is that some dogs are just excited about life in general and the stairs are fun! Let's go up and down as fast as possible! I

In either case, here is a technique that might help. It is a multi-step process. The pup might be able to progress through all three steps in one session or you might have to spread it out over several sessions.

Step 1: Put the dog on a long leash and let him go up and down the steps at his own pace. For rushers, let them race up and down as fast as they want, as long as they aren't pulling you (that's the reason for the long leash). For tentative pups, encourage them to move. Keep the leash loose!

Once the dog has slowed down and is walking (rushers) or is willingly going up or down (laggers) move on to Step 2: Go back to your regular leash. Walk the stairs and try to match the dog's pace. Keep the leash loose!! Your only requirement here is that the dog keeps a somewhat steady pace. Put very little control on the dog. If the dog starts rushing too much and a small correction doesn't slow him down, go back to step 1.

When you feel the dog is relaxed and calm with this, move on to step 3. And due to the limitations on the number of videos in a post, to see step 3 please move on to the next post, entitled Stairs Part 2 (my creativity overwhelms you, doesn't it?)

Stairs Part 2

Step 3: This is where you finally put the dog under control and expect the appropriate stairs behavior. It is still important to keep the leash loose. Give small pops for corrections instead of pulling on the collar. And remember to praise!

If your pup is having issues with either rushing or lagging on stairs, give this technique a try. And, as always, your Area Coordinator and the PRS staff are always available to answer questions or offer assistance.