[nagdu] owner training was hi

Tue Feb 3 19:53:43 UTC 2009

Julie,

Even the short version makes me want to take a nap!  /smile/  Yet I find
myself already planning for her replacement.  In another 10 years or so, of
course.   /grin/  Getting a program dog when the time comes will always
remain an option, though, mostly because of those very factors you
discussed.  I genuinely enjoy training, and I would really like to do it
again now that I've learned a thing or two (hundred).  /smile/  But if I
don't have the time, money, etc., off to school I go.

Anyway, I've been running madly, so my reading on any one thread has been
too spotty for me to jump in on anything significant.  I did want to add my
second to the points you raised, however.  And mention that all of those
things are only the tip of the iceberg.

When people ask questions about owner-training, it can be difficult to know
how to answer, especially when I don't know that person well.  I hate to
discourage someone from exercising what may very well be a viable option for
them.  There will be plenty of people to do that, anyway.  /smile/  Still,
it is important for anyone considering owner-training to know what they're
getting themselves into and to clearly understand the stakes involved.
Tricky.

Anyway, I always enjoy these discussions, especially hearing from other
owner-trainers.  And it's always good for me to answer the questions people
ask for myself from a different angle.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J.
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 4:33 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] owner training was hi

Yes and yes.

Please refer to the messages from Mardi recently.  she is in the process of 
finding a dog to train.  Not every dog is going to make a good guide dog 
candidate.  sometimes you have to evaluate quite a few before the right one 
comes along.  There are transportation expenses, veterinary in depth 
evaluations for each dog you decide to train, equipment, incidental training

costs etc.  It adds up.  I probably looked at 30 dogs before settling on my 
final choice this last time.  I spent almost $500 just to go look at dogs.

The training time varies depending on the readiness of the dog and the 
abilities of the handler.  At a minimum you can expect to be training daily 
for four months.  I start with younger dogs that need more basic obedience 
and they take longer.  If you start with a puppy it could take two years. 
Whatever age dog you start with you can expect to spend a minimum of 30 
minutes training every day.  In addition to that time you will also need to 
spend time exercising the dog, grooming and providing basic care.

Obviously when you begin this process the dog is not a guide dog. It cannot 
go everywhere you go.  If you work or have other obligations arrangements 
will have to be made for the care of the dog, until it's training is 
adequate to accompany you.

Anyhow, that is the very short version of time and money and owner training.

I'm happy to talk more about it if you have more questions.
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kl" <FuzzyPurpleCouch at neo.rr.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 7:18 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] hi

> Does it take a lot of time. Doe it cost a lot. I would love to talk to you
> about it.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J.
> Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 7:32 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hi
>
> It's Tami that has the owner trained poodle in Oregon.
>
> Are you interested in owner training?  There are several people on this 
> list
>
> who have owner trained our guide dogs, including me. I'd be happy to talk 
> to
>
> you about it.  Or you can search the list archives.  There's quite a bit 
> of
> info there.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "kl" <FuzzyPurpleCouch at neo.rr.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hi
>
>
>> The person who has the owner trained poodle and who lives in orgon. Will
>> you
>> e/mail me off list.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
>> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 5:06 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hi
>>
>> Kl,
>>
>> Hi, and welcome!  I live in Oregon and am working with my owner-trained
>> poodle guide Mitzi.  Or learning to work with her, to be more accurate.
>> Our
>> team building progress has been spotty due to life stuff, so I'm still a
>> complete dunce quite a bit of the time.  Sigh.  I was worried there for
>> awhile that the disruption in our work and in my progress as a guide dog
>> user would ruin her and waste all the time and effort we both put in so
>> that
>> she would be ready to put up with my bumbling efforts to change roles, 
>> but
>> she's doing quite well.  Whew!
>>
>> Anyway, sorry to hear about your voc rehab problems.  I've been there,
>> too,
>> only I had to live in their housing across the state from where I lived 
>> at
>> the time to get some living skills training....  So that was where I
>> discovered how incredibly awful people who work with the blind (the help
>> us,
>> of course!) can be.  I hope you are able to get what you need for your
>> vocation even though you don't have case with your state's agency.
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of kl
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:47 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hi
>>
>> Hi I am in ohio. I have had some problems with my rehab counselor. I  no
>> longer have a case open with thim.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Ron Davidson
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:21 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hi
>>
>> Julie is right every state has rehabilitation services that include O&M
>> training. If you are considering a dog most schools require you have
>> mastered your O&M skills and can travel safely by cane before proceeding
>> to
>> get a guide dog. You will always from time to time use your cane and some
>> of
>>
>> the cane skills coincide with dog handling skills and techniques. What
>> state
>>
>> are you from?
>>
>>
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