[nagdu] plug for your own

[Larry D. Keeler]

I heard from Steve at Pilot that they had a student from India in the class 
before mine.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3 at charter.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 10:50 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] plug for your own


> Julie, just as an FYI, Leader Dog also trains internationally, and in fact
> in almost all of my classes, had students from Spain, Mexico, and South
> American countries.  In fact, LD has talked about placing a school in 
> Taiwan
> and Mexico city, and Leader Dog also trains dogs for persons who are 
> hearing
> impaired and deaf blind as well.  Plus, they have the AMP program which to
> the best of my knowledge, no other school has:)
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie Phillipson
> Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 9:06 PM
> To: NAGDU
> Subject: [nagdu] plug for your own
>
> OK I do not intend to set off a food fight here so lets keep this 
> discussion
> thoughtful and reasonable.  I can give Guiding Eyes a plug because I am a 
> 4
> time grad.  Margo can give Seeing Eye a plug because she is a 4 time grad 
> of
> their program.  No matter which school our dog is from we want to say they
> are one of the best schools out there.  So Margo and all let me tell you
> about GEB, I don't say much on this list, because I am tired of hearing 
> all
> the bad and good points about this school or that school and frankly
> training program bashing.  Some schools are small and have less history 
> then
> others but the dogs I've seen from different schools are basically very
> similar in quality and training.  GEB breeds and trains their own dogs and
> it shows in the quality and temperament of their dogs.  Seeing Eye also
> breeds their own as do several other schools, and I know they trade 
> breeding
> stock between schools even in other countries.  There have been dogs that
> have not worked out for what ever reason.  Is it the dog or, is it the
> handler, or more likely it is just the wrong match.  Every school has 
> their
> share.  GEB visits or is in touch with each of their grads at least once a
> year not to spy, but to see that you are not having any problems and that
> the dog is still working safely.  Each school has a policy in place
> concerning ownership, GEB gives the option to apply for ownership after 2
> years.  After 30 years of working with a guide dog I have never felt
> compelled to legally own my dog.  I already do in any way that counts he 
> is
> my dog and we already have a very close bond and I think that is more
> important then having a piece of paper that says I own him.  If you ask 
> for
> ownership it makes know difference in the quality of follow-up services 
> that
> you get from GEB or in finding a retirement home if you need help with 
> that.
> If you retire your dog and find a home yourself GEB will send someone out 
> to
> be sure it will be a suitable home.  Before you jump on that Marion, there
> is a very good reason for that. It happened to one of our members, and her
> retired dog.  The home she put her dog in, who were at the time very good
> friends didn't take care of the dog, once it was discovered,  and after 2
> years of abuse GEB was able to rescue the dog who had to be put down in 
> the
> end because she was neglected and very sick.  If you choose to keep your 
> dog
> with you after retirement and get a new dog that is OK with them.  geb has 
> a
> policy of maintaining your dog at a healthy weight and if you do you can 
> get
> up to $300 per year toward vet. care and other supplies you can buy from 
> GEB
> at cost from the school,  is you do not maintain a healthy weight you will
> get $200 so there is a good incentive to help your dog stay healthy and
> happy and be able to be with you for a longer time.  As I understand it 
> GEB
> is the only U.S. school that will train world wide.  In my class in April
> there were 3 students from Brazil and 1 from Spain.  GEB trains dogs for
> people with special needs IE balance, deaf blind or severe hearing loss, 
> and
> they have a program for training dogs for children with autism and it has
> become a very successful program.  I like that the different schools have
> branched out to serve specialized populations, GDF works with disabled
> veterans, Seeing eye and I think Southeastern is still working with people
> who need to use a wheelchair and most of the schools if not all, will try 
> to
> accommodate other health considerations.  OK I know there are many other 
> GEB
> grads on this list and others that are members of NAGDU, we don't say much
> though.  I still have to say it though Margo *GEB is the best*just my
> opinion though (grin)!
>
>
> Julie Phillipson
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