[nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog

Tue Feb 22 04:23:29 UTC 2011

Phil,

One important thing a dog can detect and guide you around is overhead
obstacles.  Key selling factor for me.  /smile/

Some programs teach the guide command; I know some guide dog users from
programs that do not teach the command do teach theirs dogs after
graduation.

My owner-trained poodle guide Mitzi is quite the little finder!  Off the top
of my head, the things she finds for me include the following:  doors,
restrooms, stairs, sidewalks, crosswalks, paths, elevators, escalators, push
buttons on street signs, the trash, the truck, people by name, and a few
other things.  All that crazy stuff they say about poodle vocabulary
acquisition is apparently not so crazy as I originally believed.  /smile/
She points out items of interest to me, as well, like brands I buy at the
supermarket, etc., etc.  She can find certain supermarket aisles.  I do not
know how.

Most importantly, she finds Starbucks!  /smile/

She also apparently knows the phrase, "wrangle a human" and can do so while
I'm muttering about it to myself.

Finding locations is a really great convenience in everyday travel, as I'm
sure you can imagine.  My dogs love of finding and her unreal vocabulary
have me so spoiled that I can't find my way out of a paper bag with my cane.
/smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Philip S
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 4:40 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog

Hi Jessica, Julie and all,
Could you elaborate on what you meant by "a dog can find things
whereas a cane cannot"?  What kinds of things are you referring to?
Certainly it depends on a dog's health, but around what age do guide
dogs usually retire?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Phil

On 2/21/11, Jessica Pitzer <rolosgirl at gmail.com> wrote:
> I used a cane for about 17 years or so. A dog can find things where as
> a cane can not, but a cane can give you more tacticle info. I prefer
> the dog obviously.
>
> On 2/21/11, Julie J <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>> Phil,
>>
>> I have my current guide and my retired guide here.
>>
>> Some people do get pet insurance, but I'd caution reading the fine print
>> before signing on the dotted line.  I've heard a lot of people say they
>> aren't worth the cost, that it's better to just put the money in a
savings
>> account.   I haven't spend that much time looking into insurance, so I
>> have
>> no idea which plans are better than others.  If this is a concern, I'd
ask
>> the program you are considering what sort of support they offer in cases
>> of
>> unforeseen medical expenses.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Philip S" <philso1003 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 4:44 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog
>>
>>
>>> Hi Julie,
>>> Thanks for your detailed answers.  You mentioned "both of your dogs".
>>> Do you have 2 guide dogs?  Yes, vet visits and unforeseen medical
>>> expenses can be costly.  Is it a common practice for people to buy
>>> health insurance for their guide dogs such as from PetPlan?
>>> Thanks.
>>> Phil
>>>
>>>
>>> On 2/20/11, Julie J <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>>>> Phil,
>>>>
>>>> My best answer is...it depends.  It's hard to pin down an exact amount
I
>>>> spend monthly or yearly because there are so many variables. Here's my
>>>> best
>>>> guess at your individual questions.
>>>>
>>>>> About how much can I expect the cost to increase as a dog gets bigger
>
>>>>> (eat more?) and older (more vet visits?)
>>>> *> The cost you incur on food won't really change over the lifetime of
>>>> the
>>>> dog since all the programs will be matching you with an adult dog.
>>>> Whether
>>>> or not you spend a lot on vet visits totally depends on the individual
>>>> health of the dog.  I wish I knew of some way to predict health and
>>>> longevity, but I don't.*
>>>>
>>>>> In particular, how much do you spend each month (or each year on the
>>>>> following)?
>>>>> Food  *approx. $600 per year I have a very large dog who cannot
>>>>> tolerate
>>>>> corn, wheat or soy*
>>>>> Treats *I only buy treats every now and then, maybe $20 per year.
>>>>> Typically I use regular dog food or find something appropriate from
the
>>>>> refridgerator.*
>>>>> Snacks *I don't really do snacks*
>>>>> regular Vet visit*approx. $30 per year, but I live in a very rural
>>>>> environment.  My vet is super cheap compared to what you'd experience
>>>>> in
>>>>>
>>>>> a
>>>>>
>>>>> large city.*
>>>>> Major medical expense*Absolutely no way to know in advance.*
>>>>> supplies*I've had dogs for all of my life.  Many of the supplies I
have
>>>>> like brushes etc.  I've had for ages.  None of them were very
>>>>> expensive,
>>>>> except for the Furminator.  You could buy all the brushes and combs
>>>>> you'd
>>>>> need for under $20.  I think the dishes I have cost something like $7
>>>>> or
>>>>> so.*
>>>>> Kennel*Again I have a very large dog, 27 inches tall.  There aren't a
>>>>> lot
>>>>> to choose from when you get to that size.  I have a VariKennel which
>>>>> was
>>>>> about $100.*
>>>>> license*Spayed or neutered dogs are $5 here, which I do pay.
>>>>> Technically
>>>>> speaking a fee cannot be charged to you because of your choice of
>>>>> mobility
>>>>>
>>>>> tool.  Your experience in getting local authorities to understand this
>>>>> may
>>>>>
>>>>> vary.*
>>>>> Toy*my dogs are spoiled in the toy department.  They have an entire
bin
>>>>> full of them.  I try to pick super durable toys that will last a long
>>>>> while though.  I'd say the current toy selection probably cost me
>>>>> around
>>>>> $100, but they weren't purchased all at once and they obviously don't
>>>>> need
>>>>>
>>>>> all of those toys.  I like King Wholesale for toys.  They are about
>>>>> half
>>>>> the price of Petsmart or Petco.*
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you visit any dog/pet website?
>>>> *Yes, many.  I like King Wholesale for toys, supplies, grooming needs
>>>> etc.*
>>>>
>>>> Do you get your dog food/supplies
>>>>> online or at a store?
>>>>> *Generally online.  Again I live in a very, very small town.  There is
>>>>> no
>>>>> pet store here.  I feed Flint River Ranch dog food to both of my dogs.
>>>>> it's only available on line and delivered to your front door.*
>>>>> Thanks very much for your help!
>>>> *No problem.  I did want to mention that most/all of the guide dog
>>>> programs
>>>> will provide you with a couple of toys, a mat or crate, leash, collar,
>>>> harness, food bowl, brush and probably other stuff I'm forgetting at
the
>>>> moment.  the two major expenses are food and vet bills.  Some of the
>>>> programs will provide a yearly stipend or  assistance with unforseen
vet
>>>> costs.  If you live close enough to the school I think most of them
will
>>>> allow you to take your dog there for vet visits free of charge.*
>>>>
>>>> Julie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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