[nabs-l] Guide Dog or Cane? Which do u recommend and why?
Carly Mihalakis
carlymih at comcast.net
Fri Nov 1 18:56:59 UTC 2013
Good morning, Kurt, and other threadmates,
I so appreciate ways in which skills of
wholistic memory recall and imaging, cited by
Kurt are usually essential in establishing
personal orientation. However, for me, while I do
establish relationships between features of my
immediate environment, when it comes to
memorizing them, my own "picture" of what
surrounds me consists primarily of many a
fragment. Yet, the way in which said fragments
fit together does somehow knit together in my
mind's eye to create a sort of mental picture,
one suited for my brain that, combined with
pretty refined echolocation, perhaps compensates for short term memory loss?
for today,Carly
408-209-3239
relying on all that stuff that is "in the way",
so for me that's something I wouldn't want to
give up, even partially. Especially since I like
to travel a lot and that often puts me in areas
where I have never been before it all. But, and I
say this with full sincerity, i'm glad you found
a method that works better for you and I have no
business trying to tell anybody else that the way
I travel is superior to the way you travel but I
know plenty of dog users Who won't give me that
same courtesy and say things like our friend
James did about long white canes, only referring
to dogs instead. I appreciate that you aren't
doing that. Thank you. Sent from my iPhone > On
Nov 1, 2013, at 7:07 AM, "Littlefield, Tyler"
<tyler at tysdomain.com> wrote: > > I'm really glad
Minh pointed this out because I had totally
forgotten it. I also got O'mally after I was
already in college--my campus wasn't huge, but it
was larger. If you are really spacial, it helps
to know where stuff is before the dog because you
will still need to be oriented. I just
transferred to a new college with O'mally and it
was a bit harder for me to figure stuff out
sometimes--even if the campus is smaller. I found
that taking my cane out and walking around a bit
was really useful in getting an idea of where I
am. > > Also Kert, for me that's one of the
bonuses to a guide. If I'm learning a new area
and need to find landmarks, you can "heel" your
guide (just have them walk next to you and not
work), and just use a cane you can carry around
to find a specific landmark--perhaps a bench next
to the bus stop or something. Then you can
pattern your guide to find that specific bench.
It's the best of both worlds--you evade all the
stuff in your way while being able to tell them
which specific things to find. > > Someone else
already mentioned leashes and bowls--you will
need to buy bowls and toys and food, the school
gives you a leash. I've had O'Mally for about two
years now and I don't really need another
leash--I know of a lady that had about 5 guides
and just kept using the same leash. A lot of
schools also help with vet costs (if the finances
are an issue with you, this might be something
you think about when choosing a school), as well
as flea and heartworm medications. There are
other little things you need to do for your
guide, but like I said if you have a bit of extra
money it's well worth it. O'Mally might cost $45
a month usually with the random toy or something
every once in a while as a bit extra. That's less
than my phone bill--and a cost I don't really
mind at all. >> On 11/1/2013 2:22 AM, minh ha
wrote: >> Haley, >> >> People have given you
amazing advice regarding whether or not to get
a >> guide, but I just want to add that you
should seriously think about >> when would be an
appropriate time for you to do so. Before
entering my >> freshman year of college last
year, I was very insistent on getting a >> guide
to ease my transition to college. For various
reasons, that >> didn't work out and I am
extremely glad I didn't have a dog to take >>
care of while I was struggling with adjusting to
college. Freshman >> year is really hard for most
people and I don't think I could have >> handled
the stress of a dog as well as the myriad other
demands of >> campus life. That being said, I
went to GDB over the summer and got my >> first
guide, Viva and she has dramatically made it
easier to travel >> around my campus and the
surrounding city. Also, don't worry that youd >>
on't know how to take care of a dog; the guide
dog school will give >> you all the skills you
need in order to effectively take care of your >>
guide. I only had cats before I started working
with Viva. >> >> Cheers, >> Minh >> >>> On
11/1/13, Kirt <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
wrote: >>> Justin, >>> At the risk of adding fuel
to the fire, Tyler has a very good point. His >>>
cane users, we can talk about canes all we want
I, for instance, don't have >>> any qualms at
all explaining why I like my cane and why it
works so well for >>> me personally that I've
pretty much entirely ruled out getting a dog,
though >>> I did consider it at one time.
However, I don't really think it's right for >>>
me to tell people how guide dog school's work, or
what it's like using the >>> dog, beyond perhaps
relaying things I've heard from competent dog
handlers >>> and making it clear that this isn't
an area with which I have any experience >>> or
expertise. Imagine if you had a coworker Who
maybe was friends with a >>> couple blind
students in college or high school, and this
person started >>> telling your boss what it's
like being blind, even with you in the room.
Do >>> you think that would bother you, even a
little bit? >>> Best, >>> Kirt >>> >>> Sent from
my iPhone >>> >>>> On Oct 31, 2013, at 10:43 PM,
"justin williams" >>>>
<justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> I'm
not the only cane user who has answered
questions. Mind your own >>>>
business. >>>> >>>> -----Original
Message----- >>>> From: nabs-l
[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Littlefield, >>>> Tyler >>>> Sent: Thursday,
October 31, 2013 10:54 PM >>>> To: National
Association of Blind Students mailing list >>>>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Guide Dog or Cane? Which do
u recommend and why? >>>> >>>> Justin: >>>> If I
remember correctly, you said you do not have a
dog. If this is the >>>> case, please refrane
from answering questions when you have had
no >>>> experience. She is already confused
enough as is--random input from people >>>> with
lack of said experience isn't helpful. >>>> >>>>
Haley, the school will indeed teach you some of
what you need to know. A >>>> lot of it though
comes from time with your dog and experience. The
schools >>>> usually also have support lines and
there are lists where you can ask >>>> those
random questions that pop up--undoubtedly there
will always be >>>> someone who can help out and
you'll have your support center. >>>> >>>> I also
wanted to mention since I forgot to in my last
post that a guide >>>> dog is by no means a
replacement for a cane. You will still need
good >>>> mobility skills in order to utilize a
good dog. Just wanted to mention >>>> that is
all--I'm sure you already figured that
out. >>>> >>>> HTH, >>>>> On 10/31/2013 10:33 PM,
justin williams wrote: >>>>> The school will
teach you everything you need to no. >>>>> >>>>>
-----Original Message----- >>>>> From: nabs-l
[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Haley >>>>> Sumner >>>>> Sent: Thursday, October
31, 2013 10:32 PM >>>>> To: National Association
of Blind Students mailing list >>>>> Cc: National
Association of Blind Students mailing list >>>>>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Guide Dog or Cane? Which do
u recommend and why? >>>>> >>>>> I love dogs, but
have never had one of my own. So I have to
learn >>>>> everything in order to independently
take care of the dog on top of all >>>>> of the
stress. I'm trying to weigh all of the positives
and negatives to >>>>> see what is best for
me. Thanks for all of your suggestions :-)
are >>>>> there any guide dog lists that I could
join? >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my
iPhone >>>>> >>>>>> On Oct 31, 2013, at 9:28 PM,
"justin williams" >>>>>>
<justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>
There is no one way that is superior. I am a
cane user, and I don’t >>>>>> know if I will
get a dog or not. At this time, I don't have the
extra >>>>>> funds to feed and care for it. I
could adapt to using one just fine, >>>>>> but
the cane ain't broke, so why fix it at least for
right now. The >>>>>> question I have for you
is, are you an individual who would like a
dog >>>>>> as a travel buddy, companion and
friend? They are wonderful, and if >>>>>>
handled skillfully, are great at their job and
are a wonderful addition >>>>>> to the life or
their owner. >>>>>> >>>>>> -----Original
Message----- >>>>>> From: nabs-l
[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Kirt >>>>>> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 9:03
PM >>>>>> To: National Association of Blind
Students mailing list >>>>>> Subject: Re:
[nabs-l] Guide Dog or Cane? Which do u recommend
and why? >>>>>> >>>>>> Haley, I am the cane user
and, while I have not ever experienced a
guy >>>>>> dog, i'm pretty convinced that I'll
stick with my cane for the rest of >>>>>> my life
unless something drastic happens to change my
mind. It just >>>>>> works very well for me
And,
you know that saying about if it ain't >>>>>>>
broke then why fix it? That being said, I don't
think either method of >>>>>> travel is
inherently better than the other, it's entirely a
matter of >>>>>> personal preference and style.
That being said, I would strongly suggest >>>>>>
that you have good travel skills and are
competent with the cane before >>>>>> you even
consider getting a dog. Again, canes x are not
superior to dogs >>>>>> in and of themselves
but
the majority of people I know geet dogs do
it >>>>>> because their travel skills are not up
to par and, like it or not, I dog >>>>>> probably
won't fix that problem. I would strongly
encourage you to get >>>>>> quality training with
the structured discovery travel method and
then >>>>>> decide what works best for you at
that point. If that happens to be a >>>>>> dog
instead of a cane for the majority of your
travel, more power to >>>>>> you. Just make sure
you are a competent traveler before you make
that >>>>>> decision. >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my
iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Oct 31, 2013, at 6:05
PM, haley sumner
<haleysumner at sbcglobal.net> >>>>>>>
wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello fellow
Nabsters, >>>>>>> I am in the process of deciding
whether or not to get a guide dog in >>>>>>>
about a year and a half, right before I go to
college, and am still >>>>>>> unsure whether i
should go through with this or just stick with
the >>>>>>> cane. What do you all recommend?
Which do you feel is better >>>>>>> travel-wise,
social-wise, etc. I am looking forward to hearing
about >>>>>>> your experiences and
preferences. >>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>> Haley
Sumner >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>
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>>>>> com >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Take care, >>>>
Ty >>>> http://tds-solutions.net >>>> He that
will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason
is a fool; he >>>> that dares not reason is a
slave. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>
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> > > -- > Take care, > Ty >
http://tds-solutions.net > He that will not
reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a
fool; he that dares not reason is a slave. > > >
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