[nagdu] Lots of Questions

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Lizzy.

I received my dog while I was still in high school.  I went to Guiding
Eyes for the Blind the Summer before my senior year.  Like you, I
lived in the suburbs and took a rather difficult course load.  I took
five AP courses my senior year.  It worked out for me because I went
to a big high school and was involved in a lot of various activities.

I think the important thing to remember is that high school is a
difficult environment for a dog, not impossible by any means, but the
food and gumb on the floor, the kids, and the constant activity will
make it an environment filled with distractions.  As long as you
listen to the instruction given by your school, I'm sure you'll do
fine.  Do obedience every day, and spend time on those issues your dog
needs to work on.  For example, my dog was very eistracted by food.
This was before we went to high school.  But we worked and worked on
it over the Summer, and now she behaves quite nicely around food for
the most part.

As long as you keep your dog on a good schedule in high school and
give it enough work outside of school as well as inside school, you
will probably do well.  Also, you have to decide how you want to
handle the other students' interaction with the dog.  I simply stood
up on the first day of school and introduced my dog and told everyone
that she could not be petted or talked to because she is working.  The
teachers helped me inforce these rules, and it worked out well.  I
can't say I had one problem.  It helped that I had friends who would
tell off anyone who was illegally petting my dog.  :)

Please feel free to email me off list with any questions.  I think
your situation is rather close to what mine was.

On 8/25/12, lizzy <lizzym0827 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> My name is Lizzy and I am a high school junior living in the
> suburbs of Pennsylvania.  This fall I will be applying to a few
> guide dog schools in the hopes of attending one in the summer of
> 2013.  I am posting here to ask for your opinion and advice.  I
> have done a good amount of research on the schools but now I need
> more subjective information so that I can be sure to make the
> right decision next summer.  I know that most schools are less
> likely to give a high school student a guide dog, but from
> talking to different staff, a few guide dog handlers and my O & M
> instructor I think I would be a good candidate.  Here are my
> questions:
> Have any of you had dog guides in high school? If so, what were
> some of the benefits/struggles?
> Which schools are more likely to give guides to high school
> students?
> Will the fact that I live in the suburbs effect me in any way?
> (Ex: Getting in to a school, needing to go to the city more often
> etc)
> How easy/hard is it to take care of a dog and take a challenging
> course load (I'm in three AP's this year and hopefully will be
> taking more during my senior year)?
> Can you give me any general advice that you think will be helpful
> in terms of saving up money, preparing my family etc.
> Thanks,
> Lizzy
> P.S.  I've already spoken to administration at my school and I
> will be giving a presentation on the first day (next year) for
> all of the students.  Yes, I know, I like to be prepared.  :)
>
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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind
of Missouri recording secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
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