[nagdu] bigger dogs wasSchool Applications
Tami Kinney
tamara.8024 at comcast.net
Thu Sep 8 20:54:36 UTC 2011
When I first started talking about getting a poodle guide -- back when I
was still married to Mr. Allergy -- people got really confused about how
this was supposed to work out. What would a poodle possibly do for me?
they would ask anxiously. I, naturally, would just blab on as if I were
making perfect sense...
Finally, somebody burst out, "Do they even *make* harnesses that small?
How long would handle have to be??? And wouldn't it be too narrow to put
your hand in? I just can't see how that would even work."
The image they were seeing suddenly popped into my own mind. Yup! They
were seeing a tiny toy poodle just prancing along in all its ankle
height glory.
On Thu, 2011-09-08 at 15:46 -0400, Larry D. Keeler wrote:
> No teacup poodle for you!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 3:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] bigger dogs wasSchool Applications
>
>
> > Then there are those super tiny versions you can see -- or meet -- these
> > days. Very good for small spaces, and also very cute. Depending on the
> > size of the person, many of them seem not as comparatively small as they
> > really are. I did once get to observe a tiny lab with a woman about my
> > size -- 5 ft. 5 inches, so boringly average -- and wondered about the
> > ins and outs of using a guide dog that doesn't come up to your knees...
> > I'd had my first traffic check from Mitzi not that long before, so I had
> > realized on the spot the advantages of having a dog that can knock you
> > back a couple of steps with a body block without knocking your feet out
> > from under you. Else I woulda ended up under the car! So, above knee
> > high is a must! Also, I have the klutz factor happening. A dog small
> > enough to be only shin high would have its own issues by being tripped
> > over all the time. /lol/ Mitzi, if I'm having an iffy day with the
> > balance and orientation, can just maneuver me without my falling over
> > her in the process. Maybe a more graceful guide dog user wouldn't have
> > to worry about that? Well, she also can body block at stairs and
> > landings and the like; I do know at least one person who was badly hurt
> > because her dog wasn't tall enough to do that successfully. So, knee
> > high for me! Knee to mid-thigh, really.Now that my vision has drained
> > away enough that I can't be sure of seeing another guide dog even in
> > really bright sunlight, I'm nervous about the notion of hanging out with
> > users of very small guide dogs in case I trip over them. /lol/ I don't
> > worry that much, but I am the type of person who could manage to do
> > that, and it would just too embarrassing to be borne!
> >
> > Hm... When the breeder told me Mitzi was likely to reach about 50 pounds
> > and 22 to 24 inches, I was worried such a small delicate creature
> > wouldn't be able to stand up to the physical demands of guide dog
> > work... Ha! We've come to an arrangement regarding the strength of her
> > pull, but when she wants to , she could drag ten blind people all over
> > town a poodle speed without slowing down a bit. /loll/ Her pull seems to
> > be different from what others describe, but that could be just that I
> > don't have anything else to compare to. One of the days, I'm going to
> > have to arrange for a test walk with a demo dog just to find
> > out. /smile/
> >
> > Tami
> >
> > On Thu, 2011-09-08 at 13:04 -0400, Buddy Brannan wrote:
> >> Sam, I think your dog is right about the right size. My first dog, Karl,
> >> was about the same, 65 pounds or so, long, and about 24.5 inches tall. He
> >> curled up into small spaces very nicely. Ironically, he was much better
> >> at it than was Chet, who is a lab and about five pounds lighter. Leno's
> >> smaller yet at 55 pounds, but Leno is a longer dog, seemingly, than Chet.
> >> Chet's a stocky dog with a small head, and Leno's a longer skinny lab
> >> with a big head. Leno's gotten quite good at curling up in the front of a
> >> car, which he absolutely did not want to do for the first while I had
> >> him. Now he has no problem with it.
> >>
> >> As to dog size, I really like having a smaller dog. They're easy to tuck
> >> under things. Not to say I'd turn my nose up at a bigger one, but you'd
> >> be surprised at these smaller dogs if you've never had one. Speaking to
> >> the generic you, not the specific you as in Sam. :-) Leno, for instance,
> >> is very strong and has a nice, defined pull. By "defined", I mean
> >> "anything from solid pull to yank your arm out of its socket pull".
> >> Though the "yank your arm out of its socket" variety is very, very rare.
> >> --
> >> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> >> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sep 8, 2011, at 12:05 PM, Sam Hogle wrote:
> >>
> >> > 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.
> >> >>>>>>>
> >> >>>>>>>
> >> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> >> >>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
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> >> >>>>>> info for nagdu:
> >> >>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gmail.com>
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>> --
> >> >>>>>> 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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> >> >
> >> >
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