[nagdu] Getting A Dog

harold leigland h_leigland at bresnan.net
Sat Oct 15 23:21:20 UTC 2011 

hi Hannah, my name is hal and you were asking about other schools, my first dog was from seeing eye, a good dog she was stolen when I was working in texas they said it would take at least 6 months to get another dog finally after 23 years I went to pilot and now have my second from their lost anna in Jan of this year got Sam in march. all the best hal. 

----- Original Message -----
From: Hannah Chadwick <sparklylicious at suddenlink.net>
To: "'Nagdu Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Date: Friday, Oct 14, 2011 07:39:36 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Getting A Dog

>
>
> Hello Julie and list,
> I'm not sure what Guide Dogs new of my plans even after I sent them a letter
> about them. I just received a letter that told me that I need to proceed
> with my plans for at least six months and then I could apply and go through
> the entire application process again. With this said, I'm not sure how
> comfortable I'd feel working with them.
> So I have decided to look in to other school around the country.
> I've always wanted a poodle but I hear that they are only used by people who
> are allergic to dog hair since poodles shed less; is this true?
> My previous application process took more than six months, but does anyone
> know any schools that are quicker in helping there applicants?
> TIA, Hannah
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J.
> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 11:09 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting A Dog
> 
> Hannah,
> 
> Got it!  If you're only doing the technology portion that makes a big
> difference.  Does GDB understand it's not all the classes?  When someone
> says residential living skills training, I immediately think of the type
> where you take classes like Braille, computers, shop, cooking, cane travel
> etc.  The rep from GDB may have thought the same thing, creating some
> confusion.
> 
> Lots of people attend college with a guide dog.  All by itself that
> shouldn't be a reason not to accept you into a guide dog program.  Like
> everything else though, it's a big adjustment and too many changes all
> together makes it really hard when working with your first guide.
> 
> All the best,
> Julie
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 10/14/2011 12:32 PM, Hannah Chadwick wrote:
> > Hi Julie,
> > Thank you for the advice. I'm planning to do a residential program, 
> > however I'm only going to focus on the technology training, and I've 
> > spoken with the program's director. I think the residential program 
> > won't really be much of a change for me since I've been through bigger
> changes in my life.
> > I thought it be best for me to get a dog before the program begins 
> > since I've been told again and again to settle down somewhere for at 
> > least six months while I have my dog. Also I'm not sure where I want 
> > to go to college so that's another negative factor on my part in getting a
> dog.
> > All the best, Hannah
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> > Behalf Of Julie J.
> > Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 10:09 AM
> > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting A Dog
> >
> > Hannah,
> >
> > When you say that you are going to attend a living skills program, are 
> > you talking about residential training?  If so, it might be best to 
> > wait until after your training is complete before getting a dog.  I 
> > say this for a few reasons.
> >
> > Getting a guide dog can be stressful, especially your first.  
> > Attending residential training is also a big change that can cause a 
> > lot of stress.  I don't think it would be good for either you or the 
> > new dog to go through that amount of stress.
> >
> > Guide dogs and life skills training will both bring about big changes 
> > in your life.  It takes time to integrate those changes into your life.
> > I'd recommend one at a time to get the best effect from each.  And 
> > this from the person who quit my job, got engaged and enrolled in 
> > graduate school all in two days. ininsmile*  It can be done, but it's not
> easy or the best.
> >
> > Also some of the residential programs have rules about using guide dogs.
> > Many of them incorporated white cane training as a core part of the 
> > curriculum.  Since you can't learn cane travel while using a guide 
> > dog, they ask that you not work the dog.  You may also be separated 
> > from the dog for all or a portion of the day.  This is a hot topic on 
> > the list and I'm sure others will weigh in.  I just wanted you to be 
> > aware of this before you made any decisions.
> >
> > Learning to better use the white cane will only benifit you when you 
> > transition to working with a guide dog.  Most of cane training is 
> > really orientation training.  it only takes 5 minutes to learn how to 
> > hold and move the cane, but can take months or years to learn how to get
> places safely.
> > When you go to guide dog school they will teach you how to work the 
> > dog, but you still need to know where you are going so you can give clear
> directions.
> > I hope that makes sense.
> >
> > I think life skills training is a valuable experience. Not everyone 
> > has the opportunity.
> >
> > All my best,
> > Julie
> >
> >
> >
> > On 10/14/2011 11:31 AM, Hannah Chadwick wrote:
> >ar Thank you Julie, Lary, Cheryl and everyone else for helping and 
> >ar providing insightful info; it is definitely appreciated.
> >ar The process took over six months when I applied and that was when I 
> >ar was in my last year of high school. I don't think I have as much time 
> >ar now because I'm going to start college in the fall of 2012 and I'm 
> >ar also planning to do a living skills program between now and college.
> >ar The list of questions you've provided Julie is definitely helpful.
> >ar It'll give me something to think over.
> >ar I've heard that Seeing Eye and Guide Dogs for the Blind are two of 
> >ar the best schools in the country but I'm sure it all depends on 
> >ar personal
> > preference.
> >ar -----Original Message-----
> >ar From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> >ar Behalf Of Julie J.
> >ar Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 9:07 AM
> >ar To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >ar Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting A Dog
> >ar
> >ar Hannah,
> >ar
> >ar I've never attended a guide dog program.  I understand, though, that 
> >ar a year is about the max length of time they will hold an application.
> >ar After that it's pretty much like reapplying since so much time has 
> >ar passed and things tend to change.  I wouldn't worry because they are 
> >ar reevaluating your application.  That is the routine procedure.
> >ar
> >ar When you say that you travel a lot, are you talking month long trips 
> >ar to Europe, weekend trips to Grandma's, short seminars for work and 
> >ar how frequently do you travel?  I don't think going off to take a 
> >ar European vacation two months after getting your first guide dog is 
> >ar going to work out real well.  A few weekends with family shouldn't be 
> >ar too much of a problem though.  The dog will need quite a bit of 
> >ar stability and routine for the first few months in a new home, with a 
> >ar new person under new working conditions.  It's a lot of changes for a 
> >ar new guide dog.  The more structure you can provide, the better.
> >ar
> >ar That said, I don't think any guide dog program expects you to stay at 
> >ar home and do nothing for the first six months.  People have jobs, 
> >ar lives and families.  Stuff happens and the dog needs to be able to 
> >ar roll with it.  It also depends on your particular dog.  Some can 
> >ar handle more change than others.  This is something you'll need to be 
> >ar sure to make clear to your program so they can match you with a more
> flexible dog.
> >ar
> >ar Okay now for choosing a program...y mentioned you don't know what 
> >ar is important to you because this is your first dog.  Here are  some 
> >ar questions you might want to ask yourself.
> >ar How far am I willing to travel to attend guide dog training?
> >ar Am I willing to accept any breed of dog?
> >ar If I have a breed preference does this school have that type of dog?
> >ar Do I want or need home training or combination home and away training?
> >ar How long do I have to be away from home at guide dog school?
> >ar Do I have that much vacation time from work, or can I make 
> >ar arrangements to be away for that long?
> >ar How long am I willing to wait to begin training? Is this program's 
> >ar waiting list longer than that?
> >ar Do I need to attend during a particular time of year, like in the 
> >ar summer because of school and will this program work with me on that?
> >ar Do I have dietary or medical needs that cannot be accommodated at 
> >ar this program?
> >ar Is ownership important to me?  Does this program grant ownership?
> >ar What sort of follow up services might I need?  What is follow up like 
> >ar from this program?
> >ar What skills do I need my dog to have beyond the basics provided at 
> >ar all programs, escalators, find, follow, leash guiding, step refusal, 
> >ar additional tasks for another disability?
> >ar Can I afford to pay a fee for the dog or purchase transportation to 
> >ar and from the school if that is necessary?
> >ar Am I willing to pay for transportation to the school?
> >ar Do I want to know or meet the puppy raisers?  Is that allowed, 
> >ar expected or encouraged at this program?
> >ar
> >ar That is probably overwhelming to you, so I'll stop.  Please don't 
> >ar feel that I'm asking you to answer any of that on list.  I just 
> >ar wanted to toss out some things as food for thought.  Perhaps it will 
> >ar help you figure out which program best fits what you want.
> >ar
> >ar all my best,
> >ar Julie
> >ar
> >ar
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