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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=937020519-11102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Hey Ken, The problems
you described with Bryant is one of the reasons I have A problem with clicker
training. I want my dog to do her job because she enjoys it and is loyal
and loves me. I do not want A dog that is always looking for food awards
when she does what I want her to do. Praise and encouragement should be enough.
I don't know what is going on with GDB, but it seems that they have lost focus
on what is important. Putting out good guide dog teams. Oh did you hear about
GDB's buddy program and how the graduates are up in arms. GDUI even wrote A
letter to GDB about the buddy program. I do have the emails discussing that
issue. If you would like I can send them to you. Hang in
there. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=937020519-11102007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Tina and Nina
</FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=937020519-11102007></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=937020519-11102007> </SPAN><STRONG>From:</STRONG>
cagdu-bounces@nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces@nfbcal.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Ken Volonte<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 11, 2007 11:47
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Cagdu<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Cagdu] Mixed
Feelings<BR></FONT></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mixed Feelings</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Ken
Volonte</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>This is the story of transition between my old guide Gulliver and my new
dog Bryant.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a work in
progress, a little window into the future.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Sunday night was my first night here.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had forgotten how lonely the first
night was without a dog.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were
all nervous trying to figure out who we would be with each other.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It wasn’t like we could just be
ourselves.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s how it felt.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were some liberals in this class;
a nice counterbalance to the military structure of guide dog
school.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Monday, I got my dog; a little yellow lab named Bryant.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had a real issue with the new Swiss
harness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So did Bryant.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He developed an aversion to it almost
immediately.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Tuesday was our first route; the basic one from the downtown lounge just
to get used to our dogs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bryant
just flew down the street.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It felt
good.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yet there was no movement
from the harness handle, no way to do a harness check—and Bryant was getting
more scared every time I tried to put it on. I’m annoying my class mates with
this mantra.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I asked for the old
familiar harness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This one came
complete with an off set handle which made my thumb turn and put me further to
the right of my dog. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Wednesday.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m relaxed
enough to actually play the piano and sing in the Day Room.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tuesday and Wednesday are so sad.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m thinking I’ll have to switch my dog
for a taller one.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m 6ft 4, and
Bryant was built for someone about nine or ten inches shorter. I realize that I
can’t journal like this because the bond between Bryant and myself means much
more.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Now adays, Guide Dogs for the Blind uses what is called clicker
training.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think they do this
because of programs on Animal Planet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Keeps the money flowing in. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course, there’s an inherent flaw with
clicker training.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You have to click
as soon as a behavior occurs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That
level of precision isn’t as practical for a blind guide dog handler on a busy
street as it is for, say a sighted dolphin trainer who must teach the dolphin
where the free throw line is. That is, incidentally where clicker training first
started: training marine mammals. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Did you hear about this trainer at Sea World who had her leg chewed off
by a killer wale she had been working with for years?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I can imagine that wale thinking, “if I
hear that whistle one more time, I’ll go nuts”, and so he did.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Where was I going with this-- oh yah
clicker training. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Clicker training was developed by science.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Whose science, I’d like to know.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I can’t go there because I’ll get lost
again. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Before you go to Guide dogs for the Blind,you get a packet of cds
containing all the lectures so you can read up on how to work various
situations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The cd says,
“This is the sound of a clicker.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Two quick tones.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is the
sound of a clicker when it is incorrectly pressed.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As I drifted off, I thought, “ This is
the sound of a golf ball.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two
Ambien and I was away.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Everything revolves around positive reinforcement.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our dogs get food rewards for crossing
the street, for not being afraid of loud noises, for just lying still.
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Whereas the bond between a guide dog and her person used to be based on
love and trust and so much more, our dogs now guide for nuggets of kibble.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know a trick dog when I see one.
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I thought that these were just idle thoughts, but I just heard a class
mate walk by.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When I said hello she
said, “I’m <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>going to get some
kibbles so our girls will be good on the outside”.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In one fell swoop, guide dog school has
drained the smarts out of our dogs and us as well.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s about numbers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You got to keep the money rolling in,
and nobody works for fre e.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such is
the claim. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The one thing I thought about using the clicker for does not involve a
specific enough target: bathrooms.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>You could teach the dog to find a specific bathroom in a specific
building.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To find another bathroom
in another building, you would have to teach where that place was, and you’d
have to call it something else than bathroom.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They actually said that.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thus, clicker training might be popular,
but it is almost of no practical value for the reasons stated above.
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I took a bad fall two weeks ago.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There was some construction in the area, and I fell over a traffic
cone.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Everybody has falls, but this
had come after a series of diagonal crossings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was not an auspicious beginning for
the teem of Bryant and myself.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two
days ago, I almost lost my balance on a high curb in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The result is that my guide dog, trained
with food rewards and clickers and all kinds of behavioral techniques is trying
to avoid up curbs and just go around the corner or out into traffic
instead.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My instructors can spin
this and explain this all they want, but I’ll be just as dead.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Now we work on curbs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For
two days, we work on curbs, and then it’s graduation day.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I met Bryant’s raiser, a high school girl wise beyond her years.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She told me of all the cute things
Bryant did as a puppy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We talk for
a long time, and she too has questions about food rewards and clicker training
and they are the same questions I have.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>There is something else too.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She understands that she is only a small part of a larger process.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Suddenly, I understand that my
instructors have shown us a little of how the magic works with our dogs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If I want or need to teach Bryant a
complex route, I can, using back chaining.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>If he needs to target a pole or a bus stop, I can teach him with the
clicker.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And all the troubles in
class, troubles with Bryant, troubles on the street, trouble around missing
Velvet, it was all just stuff.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Graduation gets longer every time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There are the speeches, the overview of the program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We even had a song written and recorded
by Tamara’s raiser.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s about
money.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s always about money and
satisfying the general public.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now
that it’s over, I have just one question.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>How did Rupert Murdoch manage to get so much power over the process of
getting a guide dog? </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Now that we’re home, I’m learning some other interesting things about my
dog.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Clicker training has thrown
his timing off.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He really does wait
for the click or for the kibble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He’s scared of traffic and still tries to avoid curb cuts and will look
for something else, anything else.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In a new situation, he has no confidence and no sense of what he’s
supposed to do.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Remember my<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>posting wherin I quoted my
instructor?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“This dog’s not going
to make it”, the training department of GDB knowingly sent me home with a dog
with whom I didn’t feel safe.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I am the first to admit that sometimes my orientation suffers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sometimes, I start out for a destination
without knowing exactly where I’m going.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I’m the person who really needs a guide dog to guide, to think, to know
that when I say Forward, he’s committed to the process of getting me safely
across the street.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At this point,
Bryant doesn’t know what to do.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m
so sad. I’m going to work with him with every trick I know.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s early in the morning.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m going out now while there is no
traffic armed only with a clicker and a food pouch.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wish me luck. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I’m back from the simplest of routes: across the street to the store and
back.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bryant is now scared even of
the little alley way between my house and the neighbor’s.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was so scared and confused that I
just came on home.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He’s asleep
now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He’s had a hard day.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s 7:15:am. Why am I going through all
this sadness and worry?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After all,
it’s not my job to Beta test guide dog school’s new training program. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>