[nagdu] plug for your own

Sun Oct 16 15:36:46 UTC 2011

thanks I knew about that just didn't put it together.

Julie Phillipson
----- 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: Sunday, October 16, 2011 7:02 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] plug for your own

> Hi Julie,
> AMP is the Accelerated Mobility Program which is a week long O&M brush-up
> training for anyone who wants to improve their cane skills whether or not
> they are thinking about getting a guide or not, and it is not just for
> individuals who want to attend Leader Dog.
> HTH,
> 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 10:52 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] plug for your own
>
> steve that's good to know because I had heard other wise.  What is the AMP
> program?
>
> Julie Phillipson
> ----- 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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