[nabs-l] Guide Dog or Cane? Which do u recommend and why?

Fri Nov 1 20:41:24 UTC 2013

Hi Haley and all,

I agree with what has been said in previous posts.  As someone who
chose to get a guide dog while still in high school, I know what it's
like to decide when to get the dog.  I know there are students(maybe
even some on this list) who have gotten guide dogs the summer before
entering college, but I decided against it.  When you get a dog, you
will spend the first 6 months or so working on your bond with the dog.
 You and the dog will be learning about each other.  You will make
mistakes because you are a new dog user, and the dog will test you.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you won't be successful.  It just
means that you will have some work to do.  I found the work rewarding,
but it's up to you whether or not you want to pursue this path before
entering college or even at all.

Yes, a dog can be a wonderful conversation starter, but I agree with
the others.  You not only need to develop the strength to tell
people(even people in authority) no if they ask to pet, if you decide
that you don't want people petting your dog while it is working, but
you need to be aware that you will be stared at and talked about
wherever you go.  This happens as blind people anyway, but with a dog,
it seems more frequent or more obvious.  I don't mind this...  As a
performer, I figure I should get used to being watched.  Lol  That is
up to you of course.  You also should be aware that while most people
will move from asking you about the dog to discussing topics outside
the world of blindness and dogs, others will not, and that can be
somewhat annoying.

I think the others covered everything else, except I believe there are
programs for high school students to go to guide dog schools for two
weeks or so in the Summer and test out a guide dog.  I think Seeing
Eye has one, which is like a mock training program for a week or two.
I don't know where you live, and I don't know how these things work,
but they are meant for teenagers to see if they would like to apply
for a guide dog some day.  As far as I know Seeing Eye, Guiding Eyes
for the Blind, and Leader Dogs have programs like this, but I could be
mistaken.  Let me know if you would like me to help you do research
into something like that.  I am also a board member of the National
Association of Guide dog Users, so if you need any help with anything,
please feel free to email me off list.

On 11/1/13, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
> I  should have clarified that. I meant more along the lines of advocacy,
> meaning in the sense of telling others that they can not pet the dog while
> it is working, that sort of thing, along with advocating for the dogs rights
> if say you are told you cannnot bring the dog someplace where ADA says it
> can be done. Although this does not happen today as much as it used to,
> these situations still arise and you need to be able to make your case in a
> clear, firm but respectful way. There was probably a better term for the
> social skills thing.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Nov 1, 2013, at 11:55 AM, minh ha <minh.ha927 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I agree that social interaction should not be the only motivating
>> factor in a person getting a dog, but what does social skills have to
>> do with anything? If I was a reclusive person that doesn't like to
>> interact with other people, as long as I have the necessary travel
>> skills, then it really doesn't matter whether or not I have the
>> ability to socialize.
>>
>> Minh
>>
>>> On 10/31/13, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
>>> Hi. I have similar views of Kurt, although it is a personal choice.
>>> However,
>>> another point that I do not think anyone has brouht up is the use of the
>>> dog
>>> in social situations. Yes, the dog may attract conversation. However,
>>> this
>>> should not be the main motivator in getting the dog, and the dog should
>>> not
>>> blatantly be used for these purposes. I thinnk there needs to be a good
>>> amount of social skills, as well as travel skills, but that is just ;my
>>> personal opinion.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Oct 31, 2013, at 9:03 PM, Kirt <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> 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 get 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
>
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"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