[nabs-l] Quick Question

[Bernadetta Pracon]

Hi mark,
I got my Seeing Eye dog the year before I attended college, so that was 
a bit different; I attended a college in an urban environment--a 
college in Boston, as a matter of fact.
I know that most people would advise against getting your dog before 
your freshman year, but I say go for it.
Here's why:
It might be easier for you to learn how to navigate your new 
environment with a dog from the very beginning, as opposed to a cane. I 
say that because I personally find it easier to use the T with a dog 
versus a cane. I also find that it's easier to navigate boston traffic 
(crossing streets and such) with a dog. It might be different for you, 
but if TSE accepted you already, they most likely feel they have a good 
match for you, and that match is not likely to be around a year from 
July. You'll have a month to bond with the dog before college starts, 
and while that's certainly not a year, you're still not going to campus 
a few days after you gradduate with your dog. You'll have a chance to 
establish a bit of a bond by then, and the prospect of the both of you 
learning a new environment together as well as getting used to each 
other doesn't have to be a daunting one.
It all depends on how responsible you are and how well you adjust to 
change; And I'm assuming you are responsible enough, since TSE 
determined so by accepting you.
Another factor to keep in mind no matter how minor it may be is, your 
new friends in college will get used to you having a dog right away if 
you train with him/her the summer before your freshman year. Right 
away, you'll find out which people are accepting of being around a dog 
and which people would rather not associate with a person who has one. 
I know this might sound harsh or maybe even somewhat ignorant, but it's 
realistic and no one else brought it up yet. Some people might want to 
hang out with you when you're just Mark who uses a cane, but think 
differently of it when you have a dog. Sufficed to say, those people 
are probably not worth  your time  anyway, but it's better to find out 
right away,and forge bonds with people who will make better friends.

All in all, as long as you don't let your dog go anywhere unsupervised 
(that in my oppinion would be a big mistake especially in the middle of 
a city), and you take some time every day to bond with your dog in your 
dorm and practice obedience regularly, you should be fine. That's just 
my rambling two cents, for what it's worth.

Anyway, I have worked a seeing eye dog in Boston for years now, so if 
you have any questions or need some advice etc., you're more than 
welcome to get in touch off list. Also, coincidentally, I'm scheduled 
to go to TSE in July for my next dog as well, so if you do decide to 
go, see you there.

Good luck!

Bernadetta

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