[nagdu] Guiding Eyes

Nicole B. Torcolini at Home ntorcolini at wavecable.com
Mon Jan 10 04:46:17 UTC 2011 

Just out of curiosity, do they make you use them during the home interview?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie McGinnity" <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 8:42 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guiding Eyes


> 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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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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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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