[nagdu] High School students and Guide Dogs...

Wed Aug 29 12:52:07 UTC 2012

        This is a good post with some good points.
I wouldn't phrase it as a matter of maturity though as that implies a value judgement.
Rather, I'd look at it as a trade study. Do you want to do what is required to use and maintain a dog? Will it work logistically?  Will you, your family and the dog bennifit?
I got my first dog when I was eighteen.
I know a lot more now then I did back then.  And I don't have a dog now.  I didn't loose maturity when I decided a dog wasn't what I wanted in my life.

There are things that are just plain harder with a dog.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ramona Davidson
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 4:21 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] High School students and Guide Dogs...

I have only had my Ismael for two months now, but some things i'd like
to note are, yes, the dog gives you so much, works for you, makes your
life easier, but guess what, you give the dog as much as you get. you
feed him, bathe, groom, play, love, and correct him. you pick up his
droppings, and so much more than that, not mom, or dad, or brother or
sister, you!  if feels a little like the time after my son was born,
accept it feels like I have a newborn 3 year old. hahaha. it's not an
easy transition and who ever said it was is probably lying, especially
if it's your first dog. Its! Not! easy!

they are dogs, first and formost, they get in to stuff, they shred
emportant things, they drink out of the toilet, which i was horrafide
to find yesterday afterknoon wile the 4 year old was reeking habic.
it feels like the last month has been one big test of faith and there
are days I want to give up, there are days I regret not doing this
sooner. when your young you have so much on your mind, graids,
boys/girls. daighting so on and so forth, if you have a guide at that
age it's like being a teen mom, it's going to take away from your
sosial life.
with all that being said, my class was filled with a bunch of
wonderful people part of them still in highschool some of them just
graduated, and i'll say this, the kids who were in highschool were
much more mature than some of the kids in college or older.

the paperwork process is enough to wead the not so serious out but
some slip through unfortunitly. and they end up luzeing their dogs.
good luck to whoever decides to get a dog, but most of all good luck
to you younger ones, your taking on alot of responsibility and I think
if your mature enough for this, go for it and congradulations on what
ever you decide to do.

p.s.
i'm not trying to be neggetive but I saw several people have to go
home early with out dogs and it's utterly heart breaking. I don't want
anyone to have to go threw that.

On 8/28/12, Shannon Dyer <solsticesinger at gmail.com> wrote:
> I got my first dog when I was seventeen. I went to GDF the summer between my
> junior and senior years of high school. I was mature enough to work the dog,
> but I wasn't the only factor. I had to contend with the normal high school
> environment, which, as everyone knows, is full of quite a bit of craziness
> and immaturity. Luckily, I had a supportive staff to help me, and my Rachel
> girl was not adversely affected by the environment.
>
> People will sometimes ask me if I recommend that high school students work
> dogs. I usually say no, just because of the chaos high school brings. Having
> said this, it can work, if the handler has the proper support system
> available to him or her.
>
> Shannon and Ace
> Shannon Dyer
> Alumni Council Member,
> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
> (r)  and
> America's VetDogs(r),  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc (r)
> Providing "Second Sight" (r) since 1946
> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
> Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047
> solsticesinger at gmail.com
> To make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation
> at
> www.guidedog.org
> or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
> www.vetdogs.org
> Visit us on facebook at:
> www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs
>
> On Aug 28, 2012, at 2:23 PM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>
>> Debbie,
>> This makes sense because not all 16 year old kids have the maturity to
>> deal with every aspect of guide dog use and ownership.  It sounds to me
>> that GDD isn't totally saying no to all 16 year olds but is open to ones
>> they deem mature and responsible enough to train with and use a guide dog
>> sucessfully. Key word, SUCESSFULLY.  I agree with them.
>>
>> I was watching something on TV about the brain and teenagers - in
>> particular 16 year olds and driving a car.  At age 16, the doctor on the
>> show said, the part of their brain that regulates compulsion and reasoning
>> is not yet fully matured yet.
>>
>> I think the GDD and other schools who say no youth under 18 can be
>> accepted, understand this fact.  Why set someone up for failure when they
>> may just not be ready for the scope of responsibility for the care and use
>> of the dog but also the ability to withstand public - read peer pressure -
>> pressure to relent and do things that harm the integrety of the team just
>> so they can remain popular in their circle of friends?
>>
>> I don't think 16 years olds in general are mature enouogh to drive cars.
>> Again, some may be very mature and responsible at age 16, but many ARE NOT
>> and the accidents they cause show this.  Here in California, one cannot
>> drive carrying any other teens until they are 18.  But this is not so in
>> many other states.
>>
>> I know that there are many 16 year olds who sucessfully work guide dogs in
>> high school and I think it is almost more challenging to do that because
>> of having to deal with all the other kids who are not mature enough to
>> understand that their actions can cause harm to the guide dog team's
>> safety. As adults, we encounter this on a lessor degree from other
>> adults.
>>
>> If you are 16 and are considering a guide dog in high school, read all
>> yyou can about the realities of guide dog use and also talk to others who
>> have also gotten dogs in high school.  Know what you are really in for!
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Debbie Cole"
>> <debbieanne1124 at gmail.com>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 10:29 AM
>> Subject: [nagdu] High School students and Guide Dogs...
>>
>>
>>> I inquired at Guide dogs of the Desert in White Water/Palm Springs
>>> California about their accepting High School Students.  Here is the
>>> reply I received.  Just for future references.
>>>
>>> We can take individuals as young as 16, however, this is on a very
>>> special case-by-case basis.
>>>
>>> As you know caring for and working with a Guide Dog is a lot of
>>> responsibility.  Working a dog in high school can be especially
>>> challenging.
>>>
>>> We will often encourage individuals to finish high school before
>>> applying for a dog.
>>>
>>> However, if this student believes that they are ready for the work and
>>> responsibility, they may apply with us and we can look into it from
>>> there.
>>>
>>> --
>>> warmly,
>>>
>>> Debbie Cole
>>>
>>> debbieanne1124 at gmail.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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>
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--
Mona

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