BUILDING WORK

Relevance:

There are many unique components to working in a building with a guide dog. Generally speaking, the wider and more open the building, the more orientation and knowledge the handler needs in order for the team to operate successfully. It is best to introduce wide indoor spaces such as malls in small incremental steps. The sections below provide more specifics on navigating all elements of building work in a safe, productive way.

Crowd work:

When working through crowds of people and narrow store aisles, it is best for you to reduce your speed. This gives the crowds a chance to react to the team, your dog a chance to react to the crowds, and you thetime to react with your dog’s movements. Keeping your right hand movements close to your side will reduce the likeliness that you will bump into any store displays. Guide dogs have four optionsnegotiating crowds and tight spaces: move left, move right, slow, and stop when there are no options to proceed. As the handler, it is your job to encourage these decisions as you feel them being made. Like with street work, we encourage you to question any turn that exceeds 45 degrees by halting and requesting that the dog return to the original line of travel. If the dog comes to a complete stop, listen to or communicate with the people in front of you, investigate any stationary obstacles, and cue your dog to “find the way.”

Following:

At times it may be easiest to have your dog follow a sighted person through a store. You will practice this technique with your instructor. To do so, you will have the person make an intermittent sound (snapping of fingers, pat of the thigh) as an auditory cue for the team. The person should lead at the speed the team naturally walks while the handler encourages the dog with the verbal cue to “follow.” A dog who is particularly sharp with his or her crowd work may try to treat the person you wish to follow as a moving obstacle of which to negotiate around. If this occurs, going human guide is preferred over correcting the dog for showing this initiative.

Shopping carts and baskets:

One way to receive human guide in a store is allow the person to pull the shopping cart while you hold on to the push bar of the cart. The dog will be in walk position at your side and the harness handle will therefore be dropped.
It requires coordination and very sharp communication between dog and handler, but some teams are successful in pulling a shopping cart behind the dog while the dog is guiding. Your instructor will demonstrate this technique during class.
If you wish to hold a basket while inside a store, it is best to hold it up in front of the body to prevent you from widening the team by carrying it at your side. In narrow store aisles, the dog may not be able to accommodate the extra one-foot width of a shopping basket without causing clearance errors.

Find cues:

Your guide dog has an understanding of the how to locate the following standard issue targets:

  • Seats
  • Doors
  • Stairs
  • Elevators
  • Escalators

You will cue the dog to find these destinations with the phrase “find the ___,” filling in the blank with the name of the target you wish the dog to locate (e.g. ‘find the seat’). The cues to find should only be applied when you are aware of the approximate location of the desired targets. For example, it is unrealistic to enter a mall and tell the dog to “find the elevator.” Instead, the handler should give directional cues to arrive at the hallway in which the elevator is situated, and then cue the dog to find the precise location of the elevator from there. Do not withhold known information from your dog. If you know the desired seats are on the left, include that information in your cue in the following way: “Left, find the seat!” Body positioning for a moving left hand turn will also increase the likelihood of success.

Stairs:

Your guide dog has been conditioned to locate the handrail for you both at the top and bottom of the staircase. This allows easy access if you choose to use it and if not, by targeting the handrail your dog will align you to ascend or descend on the right side of the staircase, complimenting the normal flow of foot traffic. If you choose to use the handrail, drop your harness handle and cue your dog to “walk” at your side. This eliminates the job of guiding and tells the dog to go the speed you are currently going, which may be slower than the pace you travel elsewhere. If you choose to maintain your harness handle, do not firmly grasp the handrail. The dog needs the freedom to move right or left if guiding. By attempting to hold the handrail and the harness handle at the same time, you can restrictthe dog’s movement and cause confusion. A light trailing of the handrail with your right hand whileholding the harness handle in your leftis, however, acceptable. To deter rushing, the dogs are also conditioned to stop at the end of a flight of stairs. It is important to note that there are other reasons that a dog may come to a stop while on a staircase including heavy crowds or other obstacles. It is unreliable to assume that a stop from your dog only indicates the end of the stairs, and you should investigate before proceeding. Please note that if stopping at the end of the staircase does not enhance your travel, it is an easy behavior to extinguish.

Elevator:

After you locate an elevator door, set the harness handle down, step back a few paces, and cue your dog into heel position. This clears the immediate area so people can exit freely when the doors open. Once you are out of the way, pick up your handle so you are prepared to enter when the opportunity presents itself. Cue the dog “forward, inside.”Your dog will hesitate at the door frame, giving you the chance to reach out with your right hand and block the doors from closing on the team as you enter. Do an about turn to face the door. Exit using the same technique of protecting the team from suddenly closing doors.

Escalator:

The metal comb plate where the moving part of the escalator intersects with the stationary portion can cause significant damage to a dog’s pads or toenails if there is damage to the plate or the timing of the dog’s exit is misjudged. For this reason, GDF encourages you to avoid escalators whenever there is a reasonable alternative. If they are necessary to your travels, your instructor will provide escalator training during class so that you feel comfortable with the procedure.

Boarding:

  • Upon hearing the cue to “find the escalator,” your dog will target the handrail on the right with his or her nose. A kibble reward or lavish praise will reinforce this behavior.
  • At this time, drop the harness handle, shorten the leash in your hand so that your dog is close to your side, and carefully locate the edge of the escalator plate.
  • Pause before boarding to ensure there is space for you to step on without running into anyone.
  • Tell the dog “walk” as you step onto the escalator together.

Riding:

  • Place your right foot on the step ahead of your dog. Your left foot will be on the same step as your dog’s front feet
  • Stretch your right hand out ahead of you on the handrail.

Exiting, option 1:

  • When you feel the handrail flatten out, get your dog’s attention by speaking enthusiastically. You can say the dog’s name and a few upbeat words like “ready, ready?!” Once your feet are even, tell the dog “let’s go” and allow the dog to move out in front of you. Walk a few steps away from the escalator and enthusiastically praise your dog. You may want to give a kibble reward.

Exiting, option 2:

  • Instead of walking your dog off, you may choose to work your dog off using the handle. If this is the exiting option you prefer, you will pick up the handle while you are riding. When you feel the escalator level off, make sure the rings of your harness are engaged and assertively cue the dog “forward.” Walk several steps before cueing a halt and taking a moment to reinforce your dog.

Revolving door:

Electrically powered revolving doors are generally not safe to use with a guide dog. In most situations, there arestandard doors located nearby a revolving door that are preferable. If you need to use a manual revolving door, use the following technique.

  • Locate the entrance, set your handle down, and flush the panel even with the threshold on the right.
  • Pass the leash from your left hand to your right behind your back. Cue the dog to come to your right side by saying “side”.
  • Adjust the leash in your right hand so it is short and the dog is closely next to your side.
  • Keep your left hand on the handle of the panel so that you can protect the team from someone trying to speed up the door. Keep your right hand holding the leash against the glass in front of you so that the dog’s back feet do not get bumped. When the dog sees the opening, he or she will initiate movement out of the door. Praise the exit.
  • Return your dog to heel position, pick up your handle, and continue on your way.