[nagdu] length of training

[Tracy Carcione]

I wonder about the big differences in hours, too.  Sounds like people were
guessing.  Like, if you asked me to estimate how many hours a month I
spend volunteering for Bookshare, I would probably make an estimate, and
probably be only vaguely in the ballpark.

Judging by Ben's vet records, he came into TSE in early April, and he was
matched with me in September.  That makes 5 months of training: April,
May, June, July and August. Although I think the pups are quarantined for
a bit when they come in, so only part of April.
I think that the instructor takes out as many dogs as can fit in the
training van, and works with each for a roughly equal amount of time.  I
think they get weekends off.  I don't know if every dog gets worked twice
a day, once a day, or even if everyone is worked every weekday.  It seems
logical that, as dogs drop out, there are fewer dogs in the string, so
each is worked more.

So I could see how estimating hours could be tricky.  I'd be real
interested to know if the scenario I've laid out is the way it really is.
Tracy




> Hello all!
> Maria Orovcíková  posted on the list a bit ago about research she is doing
> for her Masters degree in Slovakia? I think.  I have been in contact with
> her and we have run into a small problem.  In her country the length of
> training time is measured in months.  When asked the trainers explain that
> they train the dogs however much time they have each day or week.
>
> She is using the GDUI survey for info on the American programs.  GDUI has
> the length of training time in hours.  Maria needs to put everything into
> months for comparison.
>
> So I'm wondering if people know in weeks or months how long the guide dogs
> from the various American programs are in formal guide training?  I know
> that typically it is 4 months, but when you look at the GDUI survey the
> hours vary from a low of 15 to a high of 120 or more.  That doesn't seem
> to convert easily to 4 months.
>
> Thoughts?
> I'll pass along whatever anyone has to share to Maria.
>
> Thanks much!
> Julie
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>