[nagdu] Smallest Guide Dog

[Julie J]

Somewhere I was reading about the history of guide dogs...like the way back 
cave drawings era.  I read that there is evidence that blind people used 
small dogs attached to rigid poles as guides.   Don't know how small the 
dogs were or how well it worked out.

I think it would also depend on the size of the person.  I think someone 5 
foot tall could work a 15 inch tall dog.   I think it might present the 
handler with some interesting opportunities to explain about guide dogs 
though! *smile*

Interesting stuff,
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Meghan" <meghan at n-republic.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 9:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Smallest Guide Dog


> Smallest I've heard of was a 37 lb shepherd who was 18 inches at the 
> shoulder from Seeing Eye.  My shepherds have both been 45 pounds and 21.5 
> inches at the shoulder.  They're already microdogs...I can't imagine only 
> 37 pounds of shepherd.  That's nuts.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bryan Brown" <bryanbrown at solarus.biz>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 8:34 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] Smallest Guide Dog
>
>
>> Does anyone know what the smallest guide dog is, and is   it even 
>> possible to train a small dog to do guide work? My wife and I have a 
>> little designer mutt called a "Bojack" it's a Boston Jack Rustle cross 
>> and she's amazingly smart "the dog that is"....  and well, so is the 
>> wife"
>>
>> I see a trend toward smaller guides in most of the programs, I myself 
>> prefer a largish dog, but the convenience of a "pocket sized guide" would 
>> be nice every now and then.
>>
>> My current guide is a long and lean GSD and he's only about 75-80 pounds 
>> but since the wife and I have bought a new house and space is abundant I 
>> think I'd like to have a big ole boy next time round.
>>
>> I remember hearing some where that some of the programs have trouble 
>> placing very large dogs because of limited living space. I've got plenty 
>> and I really like the idea of a huge goofy male  GSD, " you know" , one 
>> of those dogs that looks like you should be riding it instead of walking 
>> next to it. In my case the bigger the dog the better the advertising. I 
>> just wish I could figure out a way to fasten a billboard to him  without 
>> effecting his guide work.. People are going to look anyway, why not use 
>> it to my advantage.
>>
>> Ok, I guess I'm not sure where or why that question popped in to my head 
>> but if anyone has any input I'd be glad to hear it.
>>
>>    Bryan
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/meghan%40n-republic.net
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/julielj%40windstream.net
>