[Ag-eq] guide dogs

Susan Roe dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
Thu Oct 17 20:28:42 UTC 2013 

Tracy,

My one and only dog guide was from Seeing Eye, a female golden retreaver 
named Posie.  I got her right after I graduated highschool and before moving 
into my own apartment and going to community college.  That was in 81 and I 
retired her in 91 here on the farm and then had to put her down in 93 
because her hips were so bad that she could not get herself off the floor or 
even walk outside to go to the bathroom without half carrying her.  The 
lions club of Virginia Beach wanted to send me to Leader Dog to get my 
second one, but since Matt was still active Navy and they kept trying to 
send us to Guam, Cuba or Japan, and I would not be able to have a dog there, 
I decided not to get another one.

I really liked using a dog because I was a slow cane traveller and I was 
afraid I would be too slow crossing the street from my apartment to the 
college a couple times a day.

Susan
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
To: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>; "Agricultural and Equestrean 
Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 6:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] guide dogs


> Tracy:
>
> Thanks for the information.
>
> How terrible that the guide dog was hurt by a loose dog.  I don't know 
> about
> Tucson, but there are a lot of loose dogs in Phoenix.  My last dog was 
> attacked
> by one and fortunately wasn't badly hurt.
>
> My balance issues come and go; sometimes I have a couple of weeks without 
> any
> problems.  I think it would be easier for a dog if it were a constant
> condition.  The same thing goes for my walking speed.  When I'm doing well 
> I'm
> a very fast walker, but on bad days I'm slow.
>
> If I ever get another dog it will be some time in the future.  I retired 
> my last
> guide about 6 years ago and am doing fine without one.  I also don't want 
> to go
> away and stay at a school.  I'm not good with dorm living situations. 
> It's
> also hard to get away with my live stock, job and all.
>
> Nella
>
>
> Quoting Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>:
>
>> Hi Nella.
>> The NAGDU list, also on nfbnet, has a few owner-trainers on it.  There's
>> also a list for owner-trainers, I think, but I don't know where it is. 
>> One
>> of the owner-trainers lives in Tucson.  She uses a wheelchair, and had
>> trouble finding a school that would train a dog for her, back when she
>> started.
>> Besides training her own guide dogs,  she has been working with another
>> blind person to train her dog. Sadly, that dog was just seriously injured 
>> by
>> a loose dog.
>> Also, Guide Dog Foundation in New York is making a bit of a specialty
>> training dogs for both guide and balance work.  A few of the NAGDU list
>> members have recently gotten dual-purpose dogs, and they seem happy.
>>
>> My black lab Ben is from The Seeing Eye.  He's a city boy, excellent with
>> crowds and traffic. I thought a guide dog in a rural setting might not 
>> have
>> much to do, but Fred's post makes me re-think that.  I see that I and my 
>> dog
>> are the ones leading the lazy life!
>> Tracy
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 8:10 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] guide dogs
>>
>>
>> >
>> > Jody:
>> >
>> > I know you trained the dog you have now, but where did you get your 
>> > first
>> > dog?
>> >
>> > Also did you get any help training Walker; are there organizations for
>> > self
>> > training or support groups.
>> >
>> > Now that I have the fibromyalgia, I often get dizzy and my balance is 
>> > off
>> > some
>> > days.  I don't know if that would confuse a dog or if one could be 
>> > trained
>> > to
>> > help with it.
>> >
>> > I recently adopted a beautiful GSD from our local Humane Society.  He 
>> > is
>> > the
>> > sweetest, smartest and most calm 2 year old GSD that I've ever been
>> > around.  I
>> > find myself using him for support when we walk.  He probably has a 
>> > great
>> > personality for a guide dog.  Mike thinks I should try and use him for 
>> > a
>> > guide.
>> > I have no idea how to train for that and if I even want another guide.
>> >
>> > I have to say I don't like the added attention one gets from using a 
>> > dog.
>> > I
>> > just want to go from one place to another without being harassed!  I 
>> > know
>> > I'm a
>> > little anti social, but that's just me.
>> >
>> > Nella
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Quoting Jody W Ianuzzi <jody at thewhitehats.com>:
>> >
>> >> Hi Barb. I have low vision too. I used a cane for 30 years before 
>> >> getting
>> >> my
>> >> first guide dog 8 years ago. I can honestly say I wish I hadn't waited 
>> >> so
>> >> long. I would never go back to using a cane. The guide not makes 
>> >> mobility
>> >> so
>> >> much better but the way people react to you is dramatic, something I
>> >> hadn't
>> >> anticipated.
>> >>
>> >> There are 14 schools plus owner training open to you.
>> >>
>> >> Pilot and Leader are closer to you in Michigan and Ohio.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> JODY
>> >>
>> >> "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!" Thomas Jefferson
>> >>
>> >> On Oct 16, 2013, at 1:17 PM, barbandzoe at comcast.net wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Hi, I am Barb and I haven't been on here in a long time.
>> >> > Sorry to see that someone is having their chickens killed, that 
>> >> > would
>> >> > be
>> >> heart breaking.
>> >> >
>> >> > Why I am posting is,  I am legally blind and have a good amount of
>> >> > vision.
>> >> I have been told that I could maybe get a guide dog.  I am 52 and my
>> >> night
>> >> vision is not what it used to be.  Plus I have tripped over things and
>> >> landed
>> >> on my face.  My people at worked were so freaked out.
>> >> > I have looked at the Seeing Eye school, but I am not shure if I 
>> >> > should
>> >> apply.  I want the dog to go to work with me, and to the gym, I would
>> >> have
>> >> someone to go on walks with, and just be there on the train and on the
>> >> walk
>> >> home.  I am not really afraid to walk home, but things are getting a 
>> >> bit
>> >> rough out there.   I live in Minnesota so once it gets cold I will 
>> >> have
>> >> to
>> >> find a different way to get the dog his workout. I know that with a 
>> >> big
>> >> dog
>> >> you need to walk them almost every day.  When it gets icy I get afraid 
>> >> to
>> >> walk myself, now I need to walk the dog.  but there are indoor options
>> >> when
>> >> needed.
>> >> > I do use my cane more and more mostly in the dark and in spaces I 
>> >> > don't
>> >> know, your if there are a lot of steps.
>> >> >
>> >> > So I guess I was looking for anyone who has a dog and how they have
>> >> > change
>> >> your life. I want to make shure that I am doing this for the right
>> >> reasons
>> >> and not just so I can have a great dog with me wherever I go.
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks
>> >> > Barb
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
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>> >> >
>> >>
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