[nagdu] Gary's future dog

Tue Oct 13 00:05:52 UTC 2009

Given Marley's lack of training, or lack of train ability, I seriously
doubt a dog like that would have made it too far in guide dog
training, grin.

Wayne

On 10/12/09, Linda Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net> wrote:
> Hi Gary,
> I read Marley and Me and I have the movie. Marley was an untrained field
> Lab.  The Labs used at guide dog and service dog schools are a blend of
> field and confirmation Labs. Full field Labs are MUCH too active for service
> dog work - they're specifically bred to assist the duck hunter where a very
> high energy dog is needed to race in and out of the cold water all day long.
> Poodles are more like German shepherds.
>
> Linda and Landon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 11:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Gary's future dog
>
>
>> Hi Tracy:
>>
>> I knew my lab comment would get a response. :) It's more from reading
>> Marly and Me was where I get that silly thought. No, I am needing a poodle
>>
>> for it's lack of shedding. I'm glad to hear that they adapt okay to the
>> time changes. You know when things are new we worry about silly things.
>>
>> Gary
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
>> Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:39 am
>> Subject: [nagdu] Gary's future dog
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>
>>> Hi Gary.
>>> I live in New Jersey, and until recently got my dogs in
>>> California.  None
>>> of them seemed to have a big problem with the time difference
>>> when we got
>>> home.  Dogs are almost always ready to eat something,
>>> whenever it's
>>> presented to them.
>>> For that matter, I changed Ben's schedule from the one we had in
>>> class to
>>> one that suited my routine better.  Dogs are very adaptable.
>>>
>>> And labs are not a hurricane waiting to happen! <smile>
>>>
>>> Good luck with your applications.
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>> > Hello Tamara:
>>> >
>>> > Thanks for the nice comments. Yes, I am a person who likes
>>> to  invision
>>> > how things are going to go to try and make big changes less
>>> dramatic. Of
>>> > course, nothing is ever totally like I think it will be but the
>>> > preplanning usually helps deal with these moments as well.
>>> >
>>> > Yes, I am still getting a poodle. I think I am now leaning
>>> more towards a
>>> > poodle rather than a lab-poodle cross. I have applied at guide
>>> dogs of the
>>> > desert and am just sending inthe last bits and pieces to guide dog
>>> > foundation. I also just learned that canine vision canada uses
>>> poodles as
>>> > well and will have some  ready for placing as early as
>>> next winter so I
>>> > think I will apply to them too.
>>> >
>>> > The one downside with guide dogs of the desert is that
>>> apparently their
>>> > finances are still a bit low meaning that the student has to
>>> pay for the
>>> > expense of getting to them and home again. I  speculate
>>> that raising this
>>> > money shouldn't be too hard but it is the one negative about
>>> that school.
>>> > The thing I like about them though is that they are in the
>>> same time zone
>>> > as I am. I keep hearing about how it is importatn to keep the
>>> dogs routine
>>> > from school days when you return home. This will be pretty hard
>>> > considerint two of the schools I am applying to are in the
>>> eastern time
>>> > zone, 3 hours ahead of me.
>>> >
>>> >>From talking with people and reading comments from people like
>>> you with a
>>> >> poodle, they seem like pretty neat dogs. I live in an
>>> apartment so I also
>>> >> think a poodle will be more suited to that sort of space.
>>> More on the
>>> >> delicate side than the romping into a room, with destruction
>>> at hand
>>> >> which often follow labs. <chuckle>
>>> >
>>> > So I will keep asking questions, reading and learning and hope
>>> that I will
>>> > be ready when the big day comes.
>>> >
>>> > Gary
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>>> > Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:11 pm
>>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate
>>> > To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>>> Dog Users'"
>>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> >
>>> >> Gary,
>>> >>
>>> >> Sounds to me like you've both got it!  I'm sure your new
>>> >> dog won't mind
>>> >> having an extra dose of attention and adoration at all. /grin/
>>> >>
>>> >> Are you still looking for poodle or poodle cross?  I hear
>>> >> the wait is still
>>> >> long, but you will find yourself with a whole lot of non-shedding,
>>> >> hypoallergenic energy and fun.  Er...  And a good
>>> >> worker, too, of course.
>>> >> /grin/  It's really great that you worked things out a home
>>> >> before bringing
>>> >> the dog in.  Poodles do tend to be sensitive to mood and
>>> >> atmosphere, so
>>> >> getting any cause for tension at home out of the way is
>>> >> important.  I really
>>> >> lucked out to find a roommate who is so even-tempered, low
>>> >> drama, likes
>>> >> peace and quiet around the house as much as I do.  A couple
>>> >> of weeks ago,
>>> >> our attempt to help an old friend of his get back on his feet
>>> >> resulted in
>>> >> some heavy, albeit brief, tension, and Mitzi had a total
>>> >> meltdown.  She
>>> >> collapsed on her bed and didn't move until I noticed she was
>>> >> practicallycatatonic.  Yikes!  I had to snuggle her
>>> >> for about an hour, then I called a
>>> >> friend that Mitzi loves whom I knew would be awake and put her
>>> >> on speaker
>>> >> while we talked and laughed until Mitzi perked up and begin
>>> >> obnoxiouslydemanding that I play ball with her.
>>> >> /lol/  Podle cured!  Needless to say,
>>> >> the person who created all the fuss and bother has been
>>> >> unfriended.  Sad,
>>> >> but necessary.
>>> >>
>>> >> Anyway, I commend your and your girlfriend's ability to work
>>> >> things out and
>>> >> respect each other's wishes and happiness.  Best of luck!
>>> >>
>>> >> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>> >>
>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>> >> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> >> On Behalf
>>> >> Of GARY STEEVES
>>> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:43 AM
>>> >> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate
>>> >>
>>> >> Hello Everyone:
>>> >>
>>> >> This topic comes at a good time for me. I am applying for a
>>> >> guide dog as we
>>> >> speak. My girlfriend has expressed concerns about how things
>>> >> will work with
>>> >> the new guide dog. She is very much a dog person and doesn't
>>> >> want to be left
>>> >> out of the loop when it comes to enjoying a dog in the
>>> >> family.
>>> >>
>>> >> My understanding is that when the dog is not in harness it is a
>>> >> pet dog. As
>>> >> long as my girlfriend reinforces  what I am doing with
>>> >> regards to commands
>>> >> and rules everything should be fine (taking into consideration
>>> >> what people
>>> >> have said previously about the dogs personality itself). Is this
>>> >> correct? I
>>> >> want us to be enjoy having a dog in the family as much as I want
>>> >> me to
>>> >> benefit from it's special skills.
>>> >>
>>> >> Thanks
>>> >> Gary
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >> From: Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>>> >> Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 8:57 am
>>> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate
>>> >> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
>>> >> Users'"<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> >>
>>> >> > Chastity,
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Oh, I totally agree with you.  I think it is much, much
>>> >> > better for the dog
>>> >> > to play and socialize in its off duty time.  And that a
>>> >> > happier, more
>>> >> > mentally healthy dog witll make a better guide.  I was
>>> >> > pretty picky about
>>> >> > how people played with Mitzi whenshe was young, and now I just
>>> >> expect> general civility -- no teasing or undo rough
>>> >> housing.  But
>>> >> > I'm always
>>> >> > thrilled when she's playing with people.  I have yet to
>>> >> see
>>> >> > that it affects
>>> >> > her bond with me in the slightest.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Tami Smith-Kinney
>>> >> >
>>> >> > -----Original Message-----
>>> >> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-
>>> >> bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> >> > On Behalf
>>> >> > Of Chasity Jackson
>>> >> > Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:08 PM
>>> >> > To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> >> > Subject: [nagdu] a question stemming from a hot debate
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Hey all,
>>> >> >
>>> >> > After having a discussion with a friend this afternoon, who is
>>> >> a
>>> >> > first time
>>> >> > guide dog owner, I wanted to ask this question, just for
>>> >> > curiosity's sake.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > How many of you believe that if you let your dog bond with
>>> >> > family and
>>> >> > friends, that means that you aren't a good guide dog user and
>>> >> > owner? This
>>> >> > person told me that he does not let his family interact with
>>> >> his
>>> >> > dog for
>>> >> > more than a few seconds. Now I totally respect everyone's
>>> >> right
>>> >> > to be
>>> >> > different, and I respect his right to do that, but then he
>>> >> went
>>> >> > so far as to
>>> >> > say that I don't act like I know how to use a guide dog
>>> >> because
>>> >> > I said that
>>> >> > I see nothing wrong with family and friends playing with your
>>> >> > dog when
>>> >> > they're at your house. Now, I'm not talking about when the dog
>>> >> > is in
>>> >> > harness, or if you're out running errands, etc. Of course, I
>>> >> am
>>> >> > a stickler
>>> >> > for that, when your dog is working, he or she is working and
>>> >> > should not be
>>> >> > bothered. I am talking about if your buddy comes over on
>>> >> Sunday
>>> >> > afternoon to
>>> >> > watch football, and wants to sit on the floor and bond with
>>> >> your
>>> >> > dog, or
>>> >> > maybe throw a ball, etc. I personally don't see anything wrong
>>> >> > with that
>>> >> > after the bonding stages are over, and as long as your dog
>>> >> isn't
>>> >> > a brand new
>>> >> > dog that is still trying to bond with you. Not that anyone's
>>> >> > responses will
>>> >> > change my mind, but I was just curious to see how many people
>>> >> > agree with me
>>> >> > and how many agree with him. Just a topic of discussion here
>>> >> on
>>> >> > the list.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Chasity
>>> >> > _______________________________________________
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>>> .net
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>>> w.ca
>>> >> >
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