[nagdu] Quick Question

Mon Apr 25 13:38:40 UTC 2011

Hi Mark, 

This decision really is up to you but another thing to consider is that if
this is your first time away from home, and around a lot of people your own
age, how much responsibility do you want to have for things other than
yourself? 

Someone once described having a guide dog in college like having a child
with you in college. Sometimes that's fine and all goes well but sometimes
the people you're hanging out with don't get it that you have to look out
for the needs of another living being and what they want to do might not
always be in the best interest of that being. 

Also, a lot depends on your O&M skills imho. If you've never been away from
home and never had to learn a place like a college campus, maybe you want to
be sure you know it well before introducing a dog. Then again, that works
the other way too. How many new skills can you learn at once? I've seen
people with really good cane skills have a lot of trouble making the
transition to dog and giving up some of that feedback, especially in new
areas. 

These are just more things to think about. It's a really good question to
ask though.

Jenine Stanley

jeninems at wowway.com

From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mark J. Cadigan
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:18 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question

Thanks for all the responses thus far. They are providing food for thought.

Mark J. Cadigan
Kramc11 at gmail.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question

> Mark,
> How do you feel on this subject and why do you feel a given way?
> I got my first dog shortly after high school. She started college with me
> and completed it with me too.
> Looking back, I don't know that it was the right call.
> I had a few friends that could not adjust to me having a dog. Irronically,
> now that I am no longer using a dog, these people are back in my life. One
> friend and I had the breakup from hell. The dog was only part of the
> reason why. We are friends again and looking back, I'm sorry for all the
> time we lost. I have missed him.
>
> My rationale for getting my dog when I did was that everybody I met would
> know me as having a dog and could either accept or reject the package.
> Looking back, I'm not sure this is logical. We all change over time and
> friendships change over time.
>
> I'd almost urge you to wait, but this is only because of my experience.
> Interestingly enough, I met my husband when I had a guide dog. He isn't
> really a dog person and we still got together. So if you're not sure, I'd
> wait.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Lisa Irving
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 4:32 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
>
> Mark,
>
> I applaud
> your maturity, your willingness to seek feedback.
>
> As an incoming freshman you will incur many new responsibilities. It's a
> lot
> of work to be a college student. It's work whether you are blind or
> sighted.
> The fact of the matter, it's even more work when you are blind. Keep this
> in
> mind as you weigh your options.
>
> I think back to when I was a freshman, back in the 80s.  I think I could
> have handled caring for my guide dog. What I likely would have had trouble
> with is not letting my dog become everyone's toy. I think I would have had
> difficulties living in a dorm and setting boundaries with room mates.
>
> There are a lot of us on this list who want to see you be successful as a
> student as well as being a guide dog handler. Both are huge jobs that take
> determination, consistency and some tenacity.
>
> Lisa and Bernie ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:09 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] Quick Question
>
>
>> Hi all. This is Mark with a quick question. Feel free to respond either
>> on
>> or off list. I will be attending college at Suffolk University as a
>> freshman in Boston this September. I have been accepted to attend the
>> Seeing Eye July class. My question is, should I get a dog now, or should
>> I
>> defer it for a year and go to the training the summer before soft more
>> year. I can see the merits of both, and just curious as to your thoughts.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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