[nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog

Tue Feb 22 14:22:22 UTC 2011

I'd agree with everything that has been said here. 
A few things to think about is that a guide dog needs love and attention every day. You can't not do this. I have a young family and at this point, I simply don't have the energy and time to give a dog what it needs emotionally. This is why I don't have one at the moment. 
My daughter has a cold and so this morning started with her waking up very early wanting a drink and her pillow pets. Then a discussion ith my husband about whether or not she should go to school, then me determining she could, then her peeing on the floor because Diego was so entertaining she couldn't pull herself away to attend to a minor matter such as using the potty. So I had to clean that up, clean her up, get her new clothes and make sure she had what she needed for school. She's in preschool. I also had to get myself ready for work. Husband leaves before I do so can't help with any of this. We like him going to work early so this is not going to change. 
Tonight will be bath night, something only I do. The energy for a dog just isn't there right now. You need to be honest with yourself about if a dog is right for you right now. While you can always make the time for one, what will you be giving up and will you be okay with that? 
In terms of when a cane is better then a dog, my daughter likes to walk around just because she can. This drove my dog nuts. My dog wanted to go from a to b, my daughter wanted to just wander. The two were mutually exclusive. My kid came first because she's my daughter. 
Whether or not you have the dog work everyday, the dog will always need you. The dog will never be at a point where it can make itself a sandwich, give itself a bath, or do anything to make it's physical care easier. It won't ever be able to say "my stomach hurts but if I have aproblem I can deal with it on my own". I say this so that you realize that a three-year-old dog and a twelve-year-old dog will be very much the same. You need to know and be okay with this. 
I say all this not to discourage just to offer a different perspective. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 11:23 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog

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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>>
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