[nagdu] Getting A Dog
Hannah Chadwick
sparklylicious at suddenlink.net
Sat Oct 15 23:47:00 UTC 2011
Hello Hal,
I am looking in to seeing eye as well as other schools. If you don't mind,
what made you decide to go to Seeing Eye?
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of harold leigland
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 4:21 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting A Dog
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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