[nagdu] GDF Questions

[Gary]

Hello Albert:

How are you. I am on the guide dog list as well and have applied at 
gdf. I am curious what you thought of the schools programs? This is 
your first dog? It will be mine as well. Taking that in mind, how did 
you find the training program? Was it reasonably easy to learn what you 
needed to learn to work with your new dog? Did the bonding process go 
smoothly for you?

With regard to the schools guiding philosophy, how do they teach you to 
use the harness? I have done two Juno walks (using a harness without the 
>dog) with two different schools and they had very different styles. One 
had the dog slightly ahead of me so that my arm was forward at about a 
45 degree angle (or maybe slightly less). They also had quite a bit of
pull/tension  on the 
harness by the dog. The other school I have done this walk with had my 
arm down more by my side, say around the place where the seem of your 
pants would be with very little tension on the harness.

I have decided I like the second way much better so want to be sure 
that the school I go to does not do it the way my first walker did.

What does gdf do?

Thanks very much for anything you are willing to share with me. I am 
waiting for a poodle so I have applied at three schools. 

Feel free to apply off line at g.steeves at shaw.ca if you would prefer.


have a great day.
Gary



Gary Steeves, BSW, RSW
204 - 1110 West 10th Ave
Vancouver, BC  V6H 1J1
Work: 778-452-6504
Cell: 604-764-0777
Email: g.steeves at shaw.ca