[nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.

Wed Feb 3 05:26:32 UTC 2010

Interesting!  That's one of those little tidbits about guide dog programs
you don't get unless you know people who have been there.  /smile/

I've imagined many times preparing for a class date, flying across country
in a state of unbearable anticipation...  I guess my imagination has never
taken me furthe rto the first days at the school while you're still waiting
for the actual dog.  A friend of mine did share her experience at TSE this
summer in a very delightful way, and it was fund to sort of vicariously
experience the journey with her.

Only now I'm wondering why the instructors play up the suspense.  Well, from
their point of view, that's not what they're doing, I'm sure.  /smile/  I
can think of -- and even heard -- some perfectly valid and practial reasons
for getting to know the students better before they make the final
assignment of the dog.

Suddenly imagining from a student oint of view, though, I would be like a
5-year-old on Christmas eve.  /lol/  Running around screeching and all.
Except that, of course, they probably wouldn't have anything more to do with
me if I actually did that, so I would manage to pretend I'm an adult or
something resembling one.  In my brain, I would be 5, though.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Wayne Merritt
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:51 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.

And the instructors are not exactly free flowing with giving out
information about the upcoming dog. My instructor at Seeing Eye did
give our group of 4 the first letter of our dog's names, but he made
clear that this was all we would get out of him. Had I guessed, I
never would have guessed the actual name of my dog.

Wayne

On 2/2/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> OMG!  The suspense would undo me completely!  /lol/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Nicole B. Torcolini
> Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 1:55 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.
>
> Oh... you think that that is bad, do you?   How about when you get there,
> but have to wait 3 days before you get your dog, and then your roommate
gets
>
> hers before you.  It's enough to make you pop with anticipation.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 11:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.
>
>
>> Stepper,
>>
>> Good to see you again.  I haven't been where you are, but I have listened
>> to
>> others discuss the fears about the responsibilities that come with having
>> a
>> guide, whether they have taken a break from guide use or are first-timers
>> just about to take the plunge.
>>
>> My opinion is that it is a very, very good thing to be fully aware of
what
>> you're working so hard to get yourself into with a guide dog.  It means
>> you're thinking and planning and mentally working through a lot of the
>> prep
>> work that will make you a good handler when you come home with your shiny
>> new pup.
>>
>> Feeling overwhelmed when the soon-to-be new pup is still pretty much a
>> figment of your imagination seems to be pretty natural.  I've been
through
>> it with pets, new horses, etc.  Then with Mitzi, who came to my door as
>> some
>> undefined combination of pet and guide dog prospect.  Her arrival was
>> delayed by a couple of weeks due to transportation issues and time
>> schedules, and I could not believe how crazy I made myself with the
>> excitement and stark terror of it all.  Good grief!
>>
>> So I still have a romantized fantasy in my head of setting off for guide
>> dog
>> school for a ready-made guide dog who would be mine, all mine...  Then I
>> give myself a reality check and wonder how I would make it to guide dog
>> school alive for all the wigging myself out I would do before I ever set
>> off.
>>
>> In the end, only you can decide.  Your previous guide dog experience
gives
>> you a really good assessment of what you will be getting yourself into,
>> and
>> it sounds like you've done well with your dogs so far.
>>
>> And look at the bright side:  When you do come home with a wonderful new
>> pup
>> to make a guide dog team with, you will be much too busy to worry about
it
>> all until you've gotten it all sorted out.  /grin/
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
>> Of Stepper
>> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 3:21 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] oppinions requested about possible next dog.
>>
>> Hello listers.
>> I haven't written anything for a long time on here.
>> However, I find myself after 14 years since my last guide dog asking
>> myself
>> if I want to go for another dog?
>> I am changing my mind back and forth yes no every few minutes.
>> I have been approve, and the clock is ticking.
>> I have a couple of months or so before start date.
>> My hesitations are, the constant responsibility.
>> My yes side is I really like walking with a dogand have always taken
>> termendis pride in my dogs.
>> I am home alone a lot of the time, since my wife works outside the home.
>> My wife believes I should give it a go.
>> She says that if it ends up being to much for me, I can send the dog
back.
>> That makes me wonder, what percentage of students during training find
its
>> more than they expected, or how many dogs get returned because people
>> found
>> after being home with there guide for a time that it was to much?
>> Part of this came about, because the school asked me if I would be
willing
>> to take a dog that had been returned because it hadn't worked out for
some
>> reason?
>> If you wish to email me directly, that is at,
>> stepper12 at cableone.net
>> Thank you,
>> stepper
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
My blog:
http://wayneism.blogspot.com
My websites:
www.wayneism.com
www.whitecaneday.org

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