[nagdu] Gary's future dog

GARY STEEVES rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca
Tue Oct 13 17:19:26 UTC 2009 

Hi Linda:

Thanks for your email. Yes, I certainly got that Marley wasn't of appropriate guide  dog stock (unless you were into extreme sports). <smile>

You mentioned that poodles are more like german sheppards. What do you mean by this?  Are you talking about temperment, focus, personality, etc. 

I'm a newbie waiting to get my first dog so am keenly interested in hearing people's thoughts.

Thanks
Gary





----- Original Message -----
From: Linda Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
Date: Monday, October 12, 2009 9:14 am
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Gary's future dog
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> 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
> >> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> >> > nagdu mailing list
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> >> >> >
> >> >> >
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> >> w.ca
> >> >> >
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