[nagdu] bigger dogs wasSchool Applications

Thu Sep 8 16:05:09 UTC 2011

I know what you mean Tami. At 67 pounds, people tell me Mason is on the 
small side for a male golden. However, as much as he likes to spread 
out, I don't see how I could handle traveling with anything bigger. 
Also, I held the leash of my friend's guide, an 83 pound black lab, once 
when his hands were full, and could not see how a person could have good 
control of a dog that tall. I guess it's because I'm short or something. 
Anyway, I think my small golden is just fine. We just have to get this 
shedding in the summer under control, I do envy poodle owners on that 
one. lol
On 9/8/2011 11:45 AM, Tami Kinney wrote:
> Yup. So I do like hearing from Pilot grads to learn more about their
> interactions with that program and the dogs they get. In the guide dog
> world at large, they seem to have a mixed reputation these days. In
> another 4 or 5 years? Who knows! Also, since I don't have a medical
> reason for a poodle, I may not even then be able to get one through a
> program, depending on supply and demand. I'm also watching Guide Dog of
> the Desert out here, since I guess you can get a poodle from them just
> because you want one, if you're willing for the extra wait. The people
> with a medical need for one will, naturally, take precedent. Still, it's
> an interesting new avenue to consider... I honestly do want to
> owner-train again, but one needs to have a lot of factors in place to do
> that... So I like watching options evolve. Of course, another reason I'm
> interested in Pilot is because they do produce some dobie guides. They
> are my strong second choice, except at grooming time when I'm mournfully
> emptying my wallet to pay the groomer. /smile/ Then of course, I am
> reunited with my freshly shaved and cleaned and very happy poodle and
> can't imagine why I would want anything but her! /smile/
>
> I did finally meet a young giant schnauzer, watching him follow Mitzi
> around -- after she poodle slapped him into submission. He was ten
> months, still not neutered, so I guess she wanted to be sure he
> understood the rules. He adored her for that, which totally cracked me
> and everybody else up. The owner was well informed about the breed, so I
> got a lot of good information. Then I noted that the pup was leaning
> against me at a little above mid-thigh and still had another growth
> spurt or two in him before he was done with skeletal growth and started
> to fill out.,.. Oh, that's why everybody was going on about the size of
> his feet. Yikes! Well, some poodle guides get pretty big, as do some
> doodle guides... I love big, big dogs, frankly, but... Where do you put
> all that when you're trying to ride the bus? There's a new doodle guide
> user here with a big fella, so I need to break down and ask her. I can't
> figure out what to do with my 55-pounder that's really satisfactory.
> She's all legs. So when the bus or train is crowded, even in the Honored
> Citizen (ha
> !) section, I spend my ride time feeling troubled about all the poodle
> leg I have to keep up with to keep them safe, while I"m pretty sure the
> poodle with all the legs wishes I would just let her relax a bit and
> just stop fussing.  /lol/ Unfortunately, when she settles down safely
> and starts to relax, there go the legs! And then the nose and ... I
> should have got it figured out by now, I really should have, but now
> when I see a good example of any breed that might be considered as a
> guide dog, my fist thought is how to fit it on the bus! /lol/
>
> And I do enjoy watching the labbies at work. Especially the yellow ones,
> since they're about the only dogs I can pick up manners and behaviors
> and movements of, as well as the golden eyes because of the
> contrast. /smile/ It's really easy to see why they are so numerous, and
> why the goldens are and the mix of the two. They always seem to be just
> so ... easy. Comparatively. /smile/ A yellow lab user who was quite
> taken with Mitzi, jokingly offered to trade dogs not too long ago. I
> found myself thinking that one over. The lab was younger than Mitzi and
> about a zillion times less busy. Sweet personality, still some 'tude out
> of harness, playful. Certainly a good guide still learning not to be too
> strong for the handler, but obviously by now pretty easy and they work
> together in an interesting way as a team that appears to work really
> well. But compared to my adored and adorable poodle guide, just totally
> laid back. Would I like a taste of the quiet life, I wondered? Nah...
> When I'm ready for the quiet life, then I look forward to having such a
> lab or that mellow -- in my view -- lab type. But for now, I'll stick
> with the wild and crazy poodle life. /smile/
>
> Besides, the poodle would drive my friend crazy in no time. Teehee.
>
> Tami
>
> On Wed, 2011-09-07 at 18:38 -0400, Larry D. Keeler wrote:
>> Of course, if you want a poodle Pilot is the place sence they actually breed
>> them there instead of waiting for donations.  However, I think that the
>> doodles are donated.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tami Kinney"<tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>> To:<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 5:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] School Applications
>>
>>
>>> Gary,
>>>
>>> Turns out there are a bunch of people with dogs from Guide Dogs of the
>>> Desert here in Oregon. Not all are poodles or doodles, but they do seem
>>> to have some good poodle lines these days. Still a long wait for a
>>> poodle, but the handlers with GDD dogs all seem really happy with their
>>> experience. And with the trainer that seems to work with many grads in
>>> this area. So it's fun getting to learn more about that program, which
>>> is pretty small still. Except for GDB, it seems like I have learned a
>>> whole lot about the programs east of the Mississippi, because that's
>>> where so many of the guide dog users I know are from. Huh.
>>>
>>> Anyway, I don't know what the wait for GDD is with other breeds, but
>>> they still say to plan for about a year for a poodle. Apparently,
>>> though, you don't *have* to have a medical need for one; however, you
>>> will have to wait longer, This from the poodle and doodle users around
>>> here. Anyway, that's the scoop.
>>>
>>> Tami
>>>
>>> On Wed, 2011-09-07 at 12:38 -0700, GARY STEEVES wrote:
>>>> Hi Meranda applied at 3 schools. I was looking for a poodle so was
>>>> limited in which schools could help. I got my paperwork into all the
>>>> schools in August or september and got Bogart in the following may. I
>>>> also had heard back from guide dogs of the desert and would have been
>>>> accepted into a fall class with them which would have been about a year
>>>> waiting. When applying for a poodle I had prepared myself for such long
>>>> waits so was happy with how quick it was.
>>>>
>>>> My suggestion is to look at which schools meet the majority of the needs
>>>> you have and what you find important and apply to them. It is always
>>>> good, if possible, to talk to grads from different programs to get their
>>>> feelings on the school as long as you remember that  everyone is
>>>> different so their impressions will vary as well.
>>>>
>>>> Gary
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Julie McGinnity<kaybaycar at gmail.com>
>>>> Date: Monday, September 5, 2011 2:57 pm
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] School Applications
>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Miranda.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I was applying to schools, I applied to more than
>>>>> one.  I took
>>>>> the one that accepted me the quickest.  I am a student and
>>>>> was at the
>>>>> time I went to get a guide dog, so I needed somewhere that could place
>>>>> me in the Summer.  It all depends.  I got an interview
>>>>> in a month and
>>>>> a half or so, and then I went to  class 2 months after
>>>>> that.  I think
>>>>> it usually takes longer though.
>>>>>
>>>>> I did call to check on my application, so I know it's not
>>>>> abnormal to
>>>>> call and check on things.  It is also easy if you can email
>>>>> someone in
>>>>> admissions to ask them the status of your home interview--if it has
>>>>> been planned yet...  I don't there would be anything wrong
>>>>> with this.
>>>>>
>>>>> Good luck!
>>>>>
>>>>> On 9/5/11, Cindy Ray<cindyray at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>>>> Well, all I can say is if they don't, call again. First of
>>>>> all, I suspect
>>>>>> that sometimes these things go slower because of vacations and
>>>>> the like.
>>>>>> Sometimes they send trainers and the trainers are also
>>>>> training dogs and the
>>>>>> like. I think it would nbe helpful if they would let us know
>>>>> some kind of
>>>>>> time line.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -- 
>>>>> Julie McG
>>>>>   Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member
>>>>> in Opera
>>>>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
>>>>> Eyes for the Blind
>>>>>
>>>>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>>>>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>>>>> life."
>>>>> John 3:16
>>>>>
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