[nagdu] choosing a school

[Marion Gwizdala]

Daniel,
    I believe that another good reason for transferring ownership is to help 
create better teams. If someone fears their dog will be removed if they 
admit to having issues, they are less likely to get in touch with the school 
to ask for help. If we own our dogs and the school cannot take them away 
arbitrarily, we are free to admit to the issues we are having without fear 
of reprisals!

Fraternally yours,
Marion



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Sweeney" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 12:15 PM
Subject: [nagdu] choosing a school


> Hi Mark,
>
> I have been reading all the posts about which school to choose. If this is
> your first dog, I would certainly take recommendations from those on this
> list who have received multiple dogs, or those who have received their 
> first
> dog - and have excellent follow-up training if it was required (in a 
> timely
> manner).
>
> I received my first dog 2 years ago this month. I have just applied for
> ownership, so you know what school I got my dog from.
>
> When I needed the help the most - when I returned home - there was no
> trainer to work with me in the foreseeable future. It was not until 
> January
> until I received any personal assistance from the school. I would have
> expected more. Instead I drove myself crazy working with my dog, with many
> resulting injuries to myself. My confidence turned into deep depression,
> none of my friends wanted to help me because they thought I should have 
> just
> returned the dog and tell the school to shove it. The idea did cross my
> mind, but my heart was already captured by this dog. I don't know why, it
> just was.
>
> My next training visit was June of this year. I admit I did not get on the
> phone and say "get someone out here now, or you can take this dog back", 
> but
> I was on the phone asking for assistance.
>
> I would have appreciated more training at the school, meaning smaller 
> class
> size per instructor, and certainly more one on one follow-up, especially
> when I got home, especially since it was my first dog and I was having 
> such
> problems.
>
> I would keep these two things in mind when you are applying to a school, 
> and
> SPEAK UP if you feel you are not comfortable with the training you are
> receiving.
>
> Two years is a long time to have spent "training" a dog when I got home, 
> but
> I am glad I stuck it out. We are finally as stubborn as each other. LOL.
>
> I do not recommend what I went through.
>
>
>
> Daniel and Scout
>
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