This morning, we walked around on the campus of Drew University to see how the dogs would do with walking in areas where sidewalks intersect at random. My work at Drew was a big different from the work my trip mates did. They practiced orientation, coaching, and soloing through a planned route such as from one building to another or one class to the next, etc. In this way, a person can take the person sighted guide through the route while the dog is heeling, then coach the person while the dog is working, then observe the person working through the route without help.
I practiced teaching my dog to target an object, such as an outside table and chairs, and then find it for me again. In the beginning phase of the training, she rings a bell attached to the object, I make a noise with a clicker, and I give her a treat near the target. After she has consistently targeted the object several times, I put the target away and she finds the object without the reward–her reward is my hugs and praise.
I think that targeting is a great thing to use; but I am not convinced that dogs need the click and treat method in order to learn it. I think that sometimes it can be helpful if a location is especially hard to target. Where I have found click and treat to be especially useful is in shaping behaviors at home. If I want the dog to avoid the cat box, I click and treat every time she walks past and looks away from it. This makes leaving the cat box positive instead of making going to it negative. So I will personally be likely to use the clicker more for shaping good behavior at home than for building guide behaviors.
This afternoon, we visited a rehab center in order to expose Kathie to people using walkers and crutches. She did very well with this and sat nicely for a lady to pet her. At the end of the trip, we sat in the lobby and simulated waiting on a taxi, including the part where people come and pet her nose without permission. She didn’t act like a ham and solicit extra attention. I was very impressed with that part.
It is nearly dinnertime, so I’ll write another post later.
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