[nagdu] New member
Hope Paulos
hope.paulos at maine.edu
Thu Nov 27 15:43:07 UTC 2008
Hi Jeff. My name is Hope Paulos and also have my dog, Beignet, from Fidelco.
She's my first and coincidentally I had John Byfield. I couldn't ask for a
better trainer. These dogs listen to and respect him. If my dog barked, all
he had to do was to say "quiet" and immediately she stopped.
If you're interested, there's a Fidelco grad list and I"ll give you the link
if you write me off-list.
Take care.
Hope and Beignet
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Jeffrey Schwartz
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 9:26 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] New member
Thanks Marion. I hope that you have a great holiday. What is your dog's
name, and where did you get him/her?
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marion & Martin
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 8:05 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] New member
Jeffrey,
Welcome to the NAGDU list. I am sure you will find a great deal of
information and support here.
Fraternally,
Marion Gwizdala
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Schwartz" <sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] New member
> Hi,
> I just joined this week and was glad to read the digest. My name is Jeff
> Schwartz. I am a psychologist and have lived in New Haven by way of
> Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Scranton. I didn't know that I had a
> significant
> visual problem until I was about 20. At that time I was already legally
> blind due to the insidious deterioration of my visual field from Retinitis
> Pigmentosa. At age 61, I'm left with little more than light perception.
> I
> recently received my third guide dog, Faith, from Fidelco. They are a
> superb organization. The founders, Charles and Roberta Kaman have been
> raising German Shepherd dogs for about 40 years. Originally they raised
> them as show dogs. The story which I heard is that they started the
> school
> after one of the dogs prevented their young son from running into traffic.
> John Byfield was their first trainer. He was my trainer for my second
> dog,
> Webster. John is from the "old school". My wife and I called him the dog
> Nazi. He was really tough, as were all of the early trainers. The new
> breed, if you'll pardon the pun, rely more on positive reinforcement. I
> really liked the in community orientation, as you get four hours a day of
> the trainer's undivided attention. I don't think that there are any bad
> or
> even mediocre schools. German Shepherds are fantastic dogs. If I were in
> the position to select a pet, it would be a GSD. The only problem that I
> have encountered is that they tend to be dog aggressive. Fidelco gets its
> breeding stock from Germany. They are only a generation or two away from
> being working shepherds. Every pure bred dog was selectively shaped to
> perform a certain task, even lap dogs. Centuries ago, before central
> heating and indoor plumbing people seldom bathed. As a consequence, they
> had fleas. They would sit with a dog in their lap because, given a
> choice,
> fleas prefer dogs. Back to German Shepherds and dog aggression. They
> were
> bred to keep the flock together and protect it from predators. Today's
> German Shepherds are "hard wired" to see other dogs as potential
> predators.
>
>
> Like all of you, I have had my share of blind stereotypes tossed my way.
> When I was younger, slim and walked with a white cane, I went into a
> Wal-Mart's and the greeter asked me if I wanted a wheelchair. I've been
> in
> restaurants with my wife and had the service person ask her "and what will
> he have" I guess we have all heard, "you don't look blind".
> Anyway, sorry to have gone on at such length. I'm glad to have joined
> this
> group and I'm sure that I will enjoy participating. I don't usually talk
> so
> much. Just ask my spouse.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com
> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 5:42 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: New member
>
> Hi Mardi,
> I liked the part about "You don't look blind...". That one had me stumped
> for years and years. I didn't know what people meant by the remark. I
> thoought it was people denying that I was blind. Well, a sighted friend
> finally explained the basis of the remark to me. He said that people look
> at a blind person and see the blindness. People have this view that blind
> people are people who rock, jam their fingers or fist into their eye.
> They
> walk with a stiff-leggeed gait and don't look at people who are talking to
> them. In other words, the crappy stereotypes people think of when you
> say,
> "blind person".
>
> Marti, you used to be a sighted person. Think back on your sighted days
> long before you ever met a blind person. What did your mind conjure up?
> Now,
>
> me - I've always been visually impaired and I can't and never was able to
> see people's faces and the expressions on them. I had no clue about "look
> blind" sinse I've spent a lifetime around blind people.
>
> My friend told me that when someone tells me that I don't "look blind" I
> need to take it as a compliment. The statement really says that you look
> normal - like a SIGHTED person! You and I do not have the so-called
> "blind
> mannerisms" that so many sheltered congenitally blind people display. You
> learned how to be as a sighted child - what was socially acceptable. As a
> child, I was taught by my parents how to be in public and that people can
> see what I do. So, you and I behave in a normal socially acceptable
> manner.
>
> We look at people who speak to us. We don't poke our eyes with our
> fingers
> or fists. Our eyes may look pretty normal - well - mine wiggle with
> nystagmus. We rock only to music or while seated in a rocking chair.
>
> I don't remember if you are totally blind or are partially sighted. Being
> in a wheelchair, I can see how people think your guide is a wheelchair
> service dog. There aren't too many of you out there. I know several
> visually impaired wheelchair users but they see too much to use a guide
> dog
> and they don't have a service dog, either.
>
> I know it's annoying when people don't know. People think you are either
> fully sighted - "Oh, you must be faking it!" or you are totally blind.
> People still don't seem to grasp the idea of all kinds of partial vision
> in
> between. I tell them that I have enough vision to be dangerous. We then
> have a laugh.
>
> Hope that helps! Thank God we are normal people who can give the public a
> good impression of who blind people are.
>
> Take care and Happy Holidays!
>
> Linda and Landon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mardi Hadfield" <wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 6:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] service vs therapy dogs and welcome
>
>
>> Hi every one, I have had similar experiences with Therapy dog owners.
>> They seem to think they know it all. They seem to think,because I am in a
>> wheelchair that my dog is not a guide.They can't see beyond the chair. My
>> dog must be a "wheelchair dog",because I use a wheelchair. I am told
>> that
>
>> I
>> don't look blind. Can some one tell me what a blind person looks like?
>> Do
>> they all look the same? I get so aggravated at these people, that I don't
>> even try to explain. I just roll away and ignore them. There are too many
>> other battles that are more important to take care of. Welcome
>> Ted. All my guides have been Siberian Huskies except for my current
>> trainee,Wanagi. She is a Husky/Shepherd cross, and I adopted her from the
>> pound. I have trained my dogs with the aid of a private trainer. I am
>> sure
>> that whatever school you choose, you will get a wonderful, and faithful
>> partner. Have a great day, Mardi and Nala, retired, Wanagi, gdit, and
>> Tokala,gdit.
>> _______________________________________________
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> pc.com
>>
>
>
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