[nagdu] Guiding Eyes

[Chasity Jackson]

Hello. See below each of your questions for my answers. I will try to answer 
as best I can, as I have gotten both of my dogs from Guiding Eyes.

>  Hi Everyone:
>
> I have a friend who is thinking about getting a dog guide, and she is 
> considering guiding Eyes.  She has some questions, and we were wondering 
> if someone could give us some information.
>
> How long is the duration of a class?
26 days for the first class...And when you go for another dog following your 
first dog, you leave a week earlier than the first timers. So it's about a 
week less any follow up time you go, as long as staff feel you and your dog 
are properly trained together by that time.

> what is their ownership policy?
After 2 years of being home with your dog, you can apply for Transfer of 
Title.
> What are the class expenses?
You pay for your dog's essentials, such as heart worm preventative, 
frontline, etc. If you want to buy grooming tools, such as toothbrush, 
toothpaste, groom aid, etc. you can purchase those as well. All meals are 
provided daily. If you want snacks from their vending machines, you will 
need money for those. If you are out on a route with your dog and you happen 
to be going to a store, and want to purchase something, you will need money 
for that too. But you do not have to pay anything for your dog itself, and 
unless there is something specific you want, you should not have daily 
expenses. The phones cannot make long-distance calls, so you will need a 
calling card or a cell phone. There is an 800 number to the school that your 
friends and family can call. Also, they have volunteers run errands several 
times per week. So if you need something from the store, you can put a 
certain amount of money in an envelope and the volunteer will take your list 
and your money and go shopping for you.

> Do you pay your own way to the school?
No, all air fare is provided by the school, round trip.>

How easy is it to get to by Public transit?
Not sure I understand this question.

> What breeds to they use?
They mainly use labs...I have a Golden from there right now, but those are 
rare. Shepherds are also rare. I think they might use some crosses, but I'm 
not familiar with which ones, so I don't feel that I am in a position to 
speak about that. You might want to call the school to inquire into these 
questions further.

> What commands and skills are the dogs taught?
When you do daily obedience, the dogs are taught: sit, stay, come, down, 
etc. While working, they are taught forward, right, left, straight, hup up, 
etc. They now teach the dogs that when you are approaching a door that opens 
to your left, that you can say "Side," and the dog goes from your left side 
to your right side and you can walk side by side out the door.

> What is post class support like?
I have had great experiences with instructors being available when I called 
the line for any questions...And if needed, follow up support is great too. 
I highly recommend the school.
> Thanks for any help and info. We are both very formiliar with TSE, and 
> weren't sure about Guiding Eyes.
> Jordan, Viola, and puppy
>
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