Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) (11/17/90)
Index Number: 11808
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Henry,
Well, nope I haven't worn out my new sneakers yet. They had better
not wear out that fast, they are sixty dollar sneakers and they had
better last! Heheh. But, yep, me and Toby do occassionally go out
and put some real miles on.
Yes, that is true, that our dogs can occasionally get us out of a
jam, and they will remember some routes and we can actually give
them vague commands like "Find the whatever" and they will take us
where we want to go. But, it sure should be made clear that that is
hardly the normal mode of everyday travel everywhere we go. The
point being, that we generally have to tell our dogs where we are
going and use our directional commands.
I don't believe that pointing out the situational exceptions are
much of an argument against the necessity of needing to know how to
use and apply direcctional commands and our needing to know where
we want to go and how to instruct our dogs to get us there safely.
As you know, there is a lot more to traveling with a dog than just
grabbing onto the harness and letting the dog go.
Yes, you are correct, there are some routes where I already trust
Toby to take the lead and like you, in such instances, I also let
my dog have his head since he knows where we are going. And I do
seesm to have a dog who does remember numerous complex routes
rather quickly. But still, these are exceptional situations and
usually routes that we frequently travel. But certainly, my
everyday "out in the real world" traveling cannot be accomplished
by my going to the front door, dog in harness and expecting him to
take me everywhere without commands. Our dogs are wonderful but I
don't think many of us communicate with them telepathically!
heheh.
Seeing Eye poodles? Hehehe! Well, if they do give Willie one, and
it does a good job, Willie probably won't mind. Unless the poodle
is french cut and done up in pink bows! hehh!
I don't know whether or not Toby will fetch personal belongings for
me. He does like to get things, hehe. However, Guide Dogs no longer
teaches that as part of their training other than getting the fetch
block during daily obediance. Toby might though, he is very alert.
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
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