[nagdu] Guiding Eyes

Julie McGinnity kaybaycar at gmail.com
Mon Jan 10 04:42:01 UTC 2011


No.  I don't think so.  They use blinders on the home interview
though, so I wouldn't be surprised if they brought them out in
training if need be.

About Tara's question:  Although GEB does not specifically teach those
techniques, they do encourage that the students learn those kinds of
things if they want.  For example, a woman in my class wanted her dog
to be able to find her a seat, so she learned the basic method for
getting the dog to find her a seat.  There are some chairs in the GEB
lobby that are set up like a waiting room.  She had us sit in them,
and we would practice with her and her dog.  He was getting pretty
good at finding her an empty seat.

Again, hope this answers your questions.

On 1/9/11, Jordan Ortiz <ortizj32 at students.rowan.edu> wrote:
>   Does GEB use the blinders when teaching students with some vision.
>
> On 1/9/2011 10:58 PM, Chasity Jackson wrote:
>> I am partially sighted. You just need to learn to trust your dog and
>> not rely on your vision to second guess your dog. That's the most
>> important thing.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jordan Ortiz"
>> <ortizj32 at students.rowan.edu>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 9:29 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guiding Eyes
>>
>>
>>>  Chasity:
>>> The public transit question was in case students had to make their
>>> own way to the school for class.  Since GEB helps students get to the
>>> school the question was pointless. I was just covering everything.
>>> Thanks
>>> Julie: Thank you for the info.
>>>
>>> Is anyone from GEB on list partially sighted?  My friend has 20/600,
>>> and wasn't sure if anyone could explain how it would work with the
>>> vision. I'm totally blind, so don't have any experience here.
>>> Jordan
>>>
>>> On 1/9/2011 10:07 PM, Julie McGinnity wrote:
>>>> Chasity pretty much covered it.  I just wanted to add a few things.  I
>>>> have gotten my first dog from Guiding Eyes and plan to go nowhere else
>>>> for my future dogs.
>>>>
>>>> About the training.  The dogs are also taught commands to go to the
>>>> door, stairs, and curb.  At GEB the student and dog team are placed
>>>> into many  different environments--small town, rurral setting, and big
>>>> city to name a few.  One of the highlights of the class is going to
>>>> New York City for a day and doing a rout there.  It's a really great
>>>> experience!
>>>>
>>>> The follow up work is great.  The trainers are always eager to help
>>>> and pretty quickly too.  The trainers I have worked with have always
>>>> answered emails very quickly as well.
>>>>
>>>> I loved my experience at Guiding Eyes.  The class and trainers and
>>>> staff become like a second family when your there.  Our class became
>>>> very close, and most of us still keep in touch.  I would really
>>>> recommend it.  If you or your friend wants any more info about the
>>>> school, just let me know.  HTH
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 1/9/11, Chasity Jackson<chasityvanda at charter.net>  wrote:
>>>>> 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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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16




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