[nagdu] I'm on my way soon

Tue Jun 9 23:14:06 UTC 2009

Hi Ted,
Make sure you let the school know that you have a rabbit. There shouldn't be 
any problem if your new dog sees the rabbit under your STRICT supervision! 
Perhaps the school can arrange for your dog to meet a rabbit so you'll know 
how to handle the dog during an interaction with the bunny.  Tell your 
instructor that you'd like to do this during your "free lance" work near the 
end of your time at the school.

The rabbit will see your dog as a carnivore and the rabbit is a prey animal.

My dog, Landon, goes on Humane Society visitations with a rabbit, guinea 
pigs, and rats.  He gets along with all of these animals.  Once, one of the 
rats touched noses with Landon and it was sooo cute!  Landon's huge nose and 
the rat's tiny nose. That would have made a very cute picture - a missed 
Kodak moment!

There's a lady on this list, Bunny, and she is a long-time breeder of 
rabbits and she also has dogs.  Any advice on this issue for Ted, Bunny?

It will all work out. You will learn how to be the "top dog" in the family 
and the rabbit is part of your family "pack".  Guide dog users have all 
sorts of pets and they all work out fine.  Good luck to you.

BTW, my sister used to work at Easter Seals in Stamford many years ago when 
we lived there. We are now in San Diego, CA. I'm in the process of planning 
a return to live in New England again!  I have a boyfriend there and we want 
to be together (grin!).

Linda and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ted Shelly" <tshelly at optonline.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] I'm on my way soon

> Rebecca,
>
> It's just my wife and me at home and my wife is a serious animal lover. 
> She
> is thrilled at the idea of having a dog around.  I've been warned though
> that we have to make sure that the dog is fully my responsibility and that 
> I
> can't leave things up to my wife.
>
> Actually, there is one other family member who might have a problem and 
> that
> is our pet rabbit.  Having a carnivore in the house may not be so easy on
> her.  Hopefully, the two will get along.
>
> Ted
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 3:29 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] I'm on my way soon
>
> You guys will do fine.
> Adjusting to the dog once you get home is like adjusting to an other new
> family member.
> My best advice is talk with your family members, listen to what they have 
> to
> say and go from there. Odds are, they are just as 
> concerned/worried/whatever
> as you are.
> It isn't your job alone to make sure the dog adjusts. Adjustment is a
> multiway street in this case.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Ted Shelly
> Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 12:50 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] I'm on my way soon
>
> Hello all,
>
> I've just recently rejoined this list after a couple months off.  In the
> interim, a lot has happened and I'm now getting ready to get my first 
> guide
> dog.  I'm excited but also a bit anxious about whether everything will 
> work
> out OK.
>
> I've been accepted by Guide Dogs for the Blind and I'll be going to their
> Oregon campus for training at the end of this month.  I'll be taking part 
> in
> their 2-week training program, which only started this year.  GDB has been
> very good to work with so far and things have moved much faster than the
> other provider I applied to.  I chose the Oregon facility because I used 
> to
> live there and I have some relatives
> (in-laws) in the area.
>
> I think my biggest concerns now are the long flight home (I live in
> Connecticut) and then how my new dog will adjust to our home and how we 
> will
> adjust to him/her.  I know I'll learn a lot in the training, but this is
> going to be a big adjustment.
>
> Wish me well!
>
> Ted Shelly
>
>
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