Chapter 33:

Working Your Dog Guide: Buses, Escalators, Elevators, Opaque and Glass Doors

As a team both handler and dog guide will access and utilize common modes of entry and exiting of buildings and floor levels as well as public transportation. Every dog guide handler is different and will have their own preference of which mode they choose to get around. It will be important for all dog guide handlers to learn and understand how to handle them.

A dog guide handler that will be traveling frequently throughout the country or abroad may be confronted with anyone of these. In known areas dog guide handlers will be patterned to specific modes and know them well. They will have already made choices of which modes to utilize. Over the next several days you will be learning how to use them.

Escalators

Escalators have become more and more common in many locations. Escalators are common place in all malls and are often utilized to accelerate access to public transportation, airports, trains and subway platforms etc. The escalator can in fact be utilized by the dog guide handler. However there are some key points that the handler will need to stay aware of when using this mode of access. Escalators generally are positioned side by side, one going up and the other going down. Escalators have a moving handrail that can easily be detected. It will be extremely important that the handler is able to recognize the sensation of the railing moving away from them rather then towards them. A railing that is moving towards the handler lets the handler know that this is not the correct escalator to board. The handlers hand will quickly pop off the railing if they have identified an escalator that is moving in the wrong direction. Handrails that move away from the handler will always feel as if the railing is taking their hand with it.

Dogs are conditioned to board and exit the escalator in training. They have had many exposures with the escalator before being paired with their new handlers. A dog guide will work up to the metal plate. It will then be the handler’sresponsibility to locate the railing and toothed groove. It is important that the dog guide remain behind the handler before boarding. This allows the handler to control the situation and step onto the escalator when they are ready. The handler should only be holding the leash in their hand and the handle should be placed gently down on the dog’s back. By taking the dog onto the escalator on leash the handler is providing safety to the dog. A dog that is worked on and off an escalator has more of a chance of getting injured. This is due to the fact that the dog will be putting forward pressure into the harness and having to grip with their front paws to maintain balance. A tense or gripped paw is more likely to get caught in a broken tooth. Learning escalators is optional. If you decide you are never going to use them, talk with your instructor.

When boarding the escalator the handler should:

  • Work the dog onto the metal plate and gently place the handle on the dog’s back
  • Wait five seconds to allow the flow of people to move ahead and create a buffer zone for you and your dog
  • The handler will then locate the handrail and feel for the toothed groove with the left foot
  • The handler will keep the dog slightly behind them as they board
  • The handler can cue the dog with a Lets Go and step on
  • Once on the escalator the handler should continue to keep the dog slightly behind
  • Stay aware not to tighten up on the leash
  • Lightly check the dog back if needed and use a verbal stay
  • Do not pull or tug on the back strap as this will throw the dog off balance

When exiting the escalator:

  • If the escalator is going down the handler will have their right arm and hand extended forward
  • When exiting from a down escalator the handler will wait until they feel the handrail begin to flatten out. At that point they will start walking off, using a verbal Lets Go to the signal the dog to move
  • When exiting the up escalator the handler will wait for the handrail to begin to round. They should then start walking off while signaling the dog with a Lets Go.
  • The handler should walk several paces away from the escalator to avoid being bumped from behind by other people exiting
  • Once off the team can resume harness work

We do not advise students in training to use moving sidewalks. These are common in large airports and can extend for a considerable distance. They are generally flat and often have people in both a moving and a standstill mode. Because people are often stopped and others are in motion there is little to no area for a dog to pass. The dog may also be looking for the end as it would with an escalator. However the moving sidewalk can continue for very long distances before ending. Furthermore travelers are moving about with their luggage which clogs up the available openings.

In class training students will have the opportunity to work on an escalator. However this is optional. If they do not use this mode of access and do not wish to practice on one, then they will not be required to have this experience. However it will be noted in the final report that the student was not shown this technique nor did they experience it with the dog. In these cases we will instruct the student not to use the escalators at home.

Some students may need to experience the escalator first by going through the motions with JUNO. This will allow them to process and work through the information before having to think about the safety of their dog. The class IA will hold onto their dog at the base of the escalator until the JUNO experience is completed.

Handlers and their dogs can utilize escalators very smoothly as long as they are confident, comfortable and acquire good technique. Otherwise they should avoid using them with their dogs.

Elevators:

Elevators are a frequent mode of access utilized by dog guide handlers. Elevators can be easily targeted in the same manner that any solid door is targeted. The dog is worked up to the elevator with the target cue/command of To the Door. Once the handler has located the door and praised the dog they should step to the side. Elevator buttons are located on the right or left side of the opening doors. The handler should remain back and to the left or right side. If they are blocking the opening they will be confronted with people exiting and quite often encounter moms with strollers. People exiting have the right of way. Once the wave of people has subsided the handler will be prepared to motion their dog to enter the opening. They should remember that their dog will need to clear to the right or left before entering due to the handler’s positioning while waiting.

Always command the dog with a Forward first and never step a head of your dog for any reason. In the event that the door opens and the dog is confronted with an open shaft the dog will demonstrate intelligent disobedience by refusing to enter or doing a complete about turn to avoid the dangerous situation. Once on the elevator complete a suggested turn by commanding the dog Right, Right. The handler and dog will now be facing the doors and ready to exit when the doors open. The dog can remain standing and in working position at the handler’s left side. When the door opens the handler should immediately exit on a Forward command and move away from the elevator to prevent getting bumped from behind.

When riding the elevator stay aware at all times where the dog’s head is. Elevators can get quite crowded and you will need to keep your dog both safe and its head away from visiting other people or their belongings. However try to stay in front so that you are the first to exit. Most elevators open on one side but there are elevators that open at both the back and the front. If this is a known elevator then face the door you plan to exit. If this is an unknown elevator to you then be prepared to move and turn with the dog when it locates the door as it opens. You may be able to feel air, hear noise or detect light from the opening.

Many high end hotels or upscale malls will have glass elevators. These can be unsettling to the dog since they can see out on all sides. The dog may need a few exposures to acclimate and accept this type of elevator. It is not uncommon for the dog to move around and try to get its balance or natural equilibrium. Counter conditioning can be used in these situations to help the dog become more comfortable.

Opaque and Glass doors

Single, Double and Banks of Doors:

Doors of all types will be utilized by the dog guide team very often during the course of their normal day. Doors can be set up in a variety of ways as listed in the heading above. In training and throughout the dog’s working life it begins to recognize the shape and configuration of doors. Glass doors allow the dog to see to the outside and are useful to them in identifying exits. There are several methods in which a team can handle doors. They involve working or passing through on leash. Doors can be hinged on the right or left side. The handler should always position the dog to pass through the door on the open or free side of the door. This allows the dog to have the most room for negotiating. The handler should never attempt to pass the dog between themselves and the hinged side. This is dangerous to the dog and could result in an injury, particularly getting the tail caught. Once a dog has gotten pinched in a door it will be some time before it will willingly approach any door again.

Handlers will need to stay aware of keeping the leash loose at all times and not restricting the dog’s movement.

The side command students have practiced throughout the course of class. The second method of going through a left hinged door is called a pivot.

Pivoting

Pivoting is a term used in guide work to describe how a handler and dog can pass through a door by turning towards and out from the door itself. With this technique the dog remains on the handler’s left side. The handler will then turn their right shoulder against the door. As they open the door they will then back out. The dog will be passed on leash on the handler’s left side. The dog will be moving through the free space that is not hinged. Once clear of the door the handler can resume their positioning at heel. This pivoting or rolling method works well when the handler is carrying something in the right hand.

Both methods have value and the dogs understand each one. This is a clear example where the dog is reading the handlers body language. Simply by moving the leash to the right hand tells the dog that the Side method is occurring. By turning the right shoulder towards the door the dog will interpret a pivot. These simple methods are designed to keep both dog and handler safe. Students in class training will be shown both methods.

When locating doors with the dog the handler will have to be understanding of what the dog perceives as the actual door. It is unrealistic to think that the dog will target the handle or knob of each door accurately every time. Banks of doors especially glass doors are framed out in metal. The dog will bring the handler up to what they perceive the door to be. With a bank of doors the dog will gravitate towards the metal framing. It is the handler’s responsibility to help the dog by searching for the actual handle or knob. If a handler uses the same door or doors frequently the dog will begin to recognize specific locations at the door and become more accurate with locating the handle etc. Again if the handler is too demanding or corrects they may run the risk of the dog being confused or diminishing its drive in getting to the door.

Buses:

Buses are considered one of the most utilized modes of public transportation. Many small towns have a bus line even though they don’t run as frequently as bus lines in large cities. Dog guide travelers ride buses on a frequent basis and access this mode of travel most consistently. There are some basic rules about working and riding buses with dog guides. Listed below are the most common rules:

  • The dog guide handler will need to learn the bus lines for their neighborhood, this prevents standing and waiting for long periods for buses which may never come
  • Learn what type of doors the bus has. Is the railing on the right or is there a railing that runs in the center of the stairs.
  • Does the bus have the ability to lower its stairs
  • Locate the seats closest to the driver and front exit door
  • Keep your dog sitting along side you
  • Protect your dog’s tail by tucking it in between your foot and the dog
  • Be aware of what the dog’s head is doing, do not allow it to scavenge, visit with other people or their belongings.

If the bus has a door that has a railing to the right then the dog can be worked on and off. If the railing is in the center the handler should work the dog up to the door and then heel the dog on or off. The space is very narrow and both the handler and dog will have trouble negotiating.

Once off the bus immediately pick up the harness handle and work to the nearest curb. Bus drivers are known for not pulling up close to the curb line and often the handler has to work the dog in the street for some distance before reaching a curb. By working the dog it keeps the handler away from potentially dangerous situations, construction, and holes in the street and fast moving pedestrians.

Ideally the handler should sit as close to the driver as possible in order not to miss their stop. These seats nearest the driver generally face the aisle. The handler again will have to keep their dog protected and be aware of what the dog’s head is doing at all times.

The handler should stay aware of the weather conditions and temperatures. While waiting for the bus the handler should seek shelter in the bus vestibule, particularly in very hot or cold weather. If there is no bus shelter position the dog under a bench. The handler can also utilize the booties issued in class if they suspect that their dog’s feet are suffering. Waiting for a bus in December in Buffalo, NY can be brutal. In contrast waiting for a bus in Tucson, Arizona in summer can be down right relentless.

Try to go by the philosophy of if you as a handler are cold, hot or uncomfortable, chances are your dog will be feeling the same. Dogs like people can suffer from frost bite and or heat exhaustion. Do not put your dog in situations where it could progress to the above mentioned scenarios.

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