[nabs-l] dog v. cane

Tue Nov 23 16:57:22 UTC 2010

Hi.

I agree with everything that was said.  I too, find that I travel much
faster with a dog.  It is, however, a huge responsibility.  I got my
dog in high school, and I discovered that it was a big responsibility
then.  I was ready for it though.

The best thing that I find about having a dog is the bond you have
with that dog.  My dog and I are best friends.  We are bonded for
life.  That is what I love most.  She helps me out, and I take care of
her.  I love it.

I want to add also that even though you can have your dog find rooms
for you, you need to know where you are going.  You need to know if
your dog has taken you to the right room.  A lot of the mobility
skills that you needed with a cane cannot be forgotten.  I still use a
lot of the things I learned in mobility training everyday.  Sometimes
if your dog has an attitude, she will try and take you where she
thinks you want to go instead of the real place.  Lol!  This doesn't
happen oftin, and it's easy to correct, but it is something you have
to pay attention to.

Good luck George!  If you want to talk about having a guide dog in
high school(I believe you are in high school), you can email me off
list.

I would also recommend Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights,
New York.

On 11/23/10, autTeal Bloodwortho <tealbloodworth at gmail.com> wrote:
> I agree, it is a much quicker and efficient way to travel but you do need to
> be a good cane traveler. With a dog i have found  that it is easier to go
> around obstacles. Last fall i had a class in room 210 and another 212 on
> seperate days of the week. My wonderful dog didn't have a problem knowing
> which room to go to on the right day of the week.
>
> However, even though a guide dog is a wonderful way to travel i want to add
> that it is a huge responsibility. When first applying i just had in my mind
> " now I can cross that 4 lane highway" or " now maybe i will walk straighter
> and around people better". What i didnt know was 1 sometimes people dont
> move or might distract the dog. 2 you take care of this dog like they are
> your child ( brush their teeth, weigh them regularly, clean their ears,
> brush them.
>
> I hope i didn't change your mind because it is an amazing experience having
> somebody that loves you so much unconditionally but yet is so helpful and i
> want to reccomend Guiding Eyes For The Blind in yorktown Heights New York.
>
>         -Teal
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ignasi Cambra" <ignasicambra at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 8:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] dog v. cane
>
>
>>I think people have said many good things on this topic, and I agree with
>>pretty much all of them. The only thing I would add is that besides all the
>>
>>advantages that you already talked about, for me a big thing is that
>>traveling with the dog is much, much faster. I used a cane for a long time
>>and at least in my particular case, walking around with the dog literally
>>helps me to get wherever I'm going twice as fast. At national convention
>>last summer I realized that with the dog I was much faster than everybody
>>using canes, and other dog users seemed to be faster too. Of course when
>>you are busy or travel a lot being fast is important, but some people may
>>really not care about it.
>> On Nov 21, 2010, at 9:47 PM, Jorge Paez wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all:
>>> I am considering options for travel, and my Vision Teacher and I have
>>> discussed if I ever wanted to get a dog.
>>>> From your points of view, what are the advantages to using a guide dog
>>>> instead of a cane?
>>> I am very comfortable with a cane, and I'm aware that good use of the
>>> cane is required before you can get a dog,
>>> but what are the advantages of a guide dog in terms of day-to-day life?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Jorge
>>>
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>>
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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16