[nagdu] bigger dogs wasSchool Applications
Larry D. Keeler
lkeeler at comcast.net
Thu Sep 8 21:09:37 UTC 2011
I told folks I was going to get a poodle and they laughed! I told them, No!
a Poooodle!!1 Meaning a big one!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] bigger dogs wasSchool Applications
> 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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>> >> >>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> >> >>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>> >> >>>>>> 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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>> >>
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