[nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog

Lisa Irving lirving1234 at cox.net
Sat Mar 19 06:08:36 UTC 2011 

Gary, I'd like to share with you what I do.

First, keep in mind how low to the ground a dog is. Generally speaking, dogs 
look a head, often at their eye level. If I'm traveling in a route we 
frequent I lightly shake the over head and , in a low keyed voice tell 
Bernie, no. We re work the over hang a few times and usually, Bernie 
gradually learns to walk me around the over hang. I hope this helps.

Lisa and Bernie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Cost of owning a guide dog


> Tami:
>
> I forgot to ask you about this when I saw it. One of the reasons I got a
> guide dog was to protect me from over hanging things. However, my school
> does not teach this. How do you teach a dog to manage this? I  know, just 
> a
> little simple question for a Friday afternoon. :)
>
> Don't forget we're talking about a poodle here.
>
> Gary
>
>
> -----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 8:23 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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> m
>>>>>
>>>>
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