[nagdu] About private trainers

Natalie nrorrell at qwest.net
Thu Nov 10 22:24:16 UTC 2011 

Hi Doug,
I'm glad to know there's an owner-trainer pro who has trained with a guide 
dog school.  Where does your wife train guides?  I'm so proud of my training 
with Liam Joshua, at GDA.
Best,
Nat and Liam Joshua

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "doug weil" <doug.weil at yahoo.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 1:39 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] About private trainers


Hello All,

I guess since Marion gave me a nice lead in, I will put myself out there for 
assistance. I've been on the move lately and am just about settled in the 
Malibu Ca. area. I am sort of semi retired but still have the passion and 
love for training guide dogs and consumers. My knees have held through the 
years and I'm fortunate to have good health. The owner-trainer aspect has 
always fascinated me and I admire those of you who have chosen that path. I 
talked with Marion at length one day about offering a help line/support base 
for the owner trainers. I have over 35 years experience in dog training. I 
did start at GDB and trained there for about 8 years and was licensed in 
1980. I have trained several hundred consumers with guide dogs in my career. 
I was also a Sheriff's Deputy K-9 handler for 15 years working dual purpose 
dogs on the street. My expertise has always been problem solving and I still 
love the challenge to come up with solutions to fix training
 issues.

My wife (Caroline) is also a Ca. Licensed Guide Dog Instructor and is 
probably one of the best trainers I know. Between the two of us, we can 
bounce ideas off each other and usually come up with several options or 
solutions to solve training issues. If I can brag a bit, our daughter is in 
her second year apprenticeship at GDB. I guess the apple didn't fall far 
from the tree. She's been training dogs most of her life and competed with 
several dogs in agility, conformation and obedience. We have been told that 
we have bred the first generation Guide Dog Instructor. Caroline and I owned 
and operated our own dog training business that we started in 1983. We 
retired in 2008 but couldn't seem to let it go and this past year Caroline 
re-opened the doors to continue training guide dogs and service dogs 
privately. This is our passion and we have dedicated the rest of our lives 
to helping consumers to either get a guide dog or train their own dog or to 
search for
 the right type of dog for them. We also have trained balance support dogs 
and PTSD dogs for returning Veterans from Iraq. See our website and facebook 
at: http://www.thedogworks.org

We are not a non-profit although we don't make much or any money. We pay 
everything out of pocket and ask the consumer to cover our expenses. We 
don't want to get into fund raising as it is a full time job in itself. We 
ask the Consumer to find a sponsor or fund raise on their own. We don't set 
a price, we don't feel it's fair to deny someone a dog because of money. We 
ask the consumer to at least try to cover expenses and if there's extra, it 
gives us some up front money to start another dog. Expenses for training a 
guide dog and in-home training for the consumer usually run about 5 to 10 
thousand dollars. As for owner-trainers, phone advice is are free. It may be 
difficult to dissect your training problems over the phone, but I can 
certainly give you some ideas that might help and the price is right. Two 
areas I believe owner-trainers may need professional or sighted assistance 
are obstacle clearances and traffic training. These are the greatest
 safety issues and I feel strongly that they cannot be compromised. I am 
fairly available time-wise and can travel to your location but ask that you 
cover all expenses; travel/lodging/meals. Another option would be a video 
consultation if you can have someone video you working your dog and showing 
the issue/problem that you are having. Pay me what you think is fair for my 
time/training or whatever you can afford. Again, we don't think it's fair to 
deny someone who needs assistance or a privately trained dog for special 
needs who cannot afford it.

I could continue to write another few pages, but instead I'll leave you my 
personal cell number. I'm living in the mountains and have very poor cell 
service, so leave a voice mail and I'll eventually get it and call you back. 
To summarize, I'll gladly talk with you and give you some advice/options. 
For those who have program dogs and do not own their dog outright, I ask you 
contact your school where you received your dog; I respect all schools and 
will not interfere with their clients/consumers. We can help find a 
particular dog for you or assist you in training your own dog or privately 
train a dog for you if you have special needs and don't fit into any 
established programs. I hope to be of service to you. You mail email me off 
list at: doug at thedogworks.org

Safe travels everyone and hug the dogs!

Doug Weil

Cell# 715 937-2051










________________________________
From: Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 7, 2011 5:26 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] About private trainers

Dear All,
  there is a private guide dog trainer on this list. His name is Doug Weil. 
He worked at GDB for quite some time. He has helped me with a couple of 
training issues and is willing to work with anyone who needs his help. Since 
he is on this list, I will let him give you more information about his 
services and fees, if he wishes to do so.

fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- From: "Mardi Hadfield" 
<wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 8:08 PM
Subject: [nagdu] About private trainers


> Hi every one, Mardi here. Just catching up on the list.I have used a
> private trainer with all my dogs. I told them what I needed my dogs to do
> and it worked out
 for me. This last time around, I did more of the training
> my self. I definitely feel that I could train the next one with out the
> trainer's help. I would really like to get a program dog next time but not
> being able to travel away from home, needing a wheelchair guide and
> preferring certain breeds, I will probably end up training my own again. 
> As
> far as private trainers that do guide dog training, Pro-Train of 
> California
> will train one for you. You can provide the dog or take one that they have
> bred. Of course it will cost big bucks. The link is Dog Trainer, San
> Diego: Pro Train Service
> Dogs<http://www.protraindog.com/Service-Dogs-San-Diego.html>
> Have a great day, Mardi and Shaman
> -- http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
>
 http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com
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