[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Tue Jan 31 01:50:50 UTC 2012

Robert,
    Well, as to training one's own dog if they are "certified", there are 
several individuals on this list who are not certified - at least to train 
dogs (grin) - who have trained their own.

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Harris.Robert at epamail.epa.gov>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions


> Hi Marion:
>
> My wife has RP so I know all that.  I can only say how I felt when a
> school in 1980 or 1981 had the balls to tell me I wanted the dog as a
> pet made me feel. I also think (I'm an old fox with a lot of years and
> experience now) that I saw a dog guide user with a day time drivers
> license.  I'm not buying any of that but I'm just me:0).  When Pilot
> took me on at 19 they basically saved my life. I'm a fast traveler and
> was a top notch cane user who taught others that were blind, but, I went
> to many many different places and knew in my heart that I needed four
> legged help.
>
> I can tell you many instances where "self trained dogs caused me a lot
> of problems, but, I think it is possible to train your own dog, if your
> a certified trainer.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>            Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Date: 01/30/2012 03:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
> Sent by: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
>
>
>
> Robert,
>    Individuals with retinitis pigmentosa may have fairly good acuity
> but
> their fields of vision may be seriously compromised. narrow fields of
> vision
> can distort depth perception so that individuals may not realize they
> are
> standing at the top of a flight of stairs or at the threshhold of a
> loading
> dock. Furthermore, since the periphery of the retina contains a high
> concentration of rods cells that are responsible for sight in dimly lit
> areas and the ability to see moving objects, those affected by this
> condition benefit from using a dog to travel safely under those
> conditions.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Harris.Robert at epamail.epa.gov>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 2:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>
>
>> I'm not sure why somebody with very high vision would need a dog guide
>> and have said so in school.  Somebody and bodies were in training with
>> me and could see faces, identify cars and see the surrounding area
>> pretty clearly for well over 50 yards? I'm an honest person and didn't
>> hesitate to ask why the hell they were getting a dog.  Answers off
> list
>> only but I was not happy & hope they didn't get a dog guide.
>>
>> There are waiting lists for people who are very low partials &/or
>> totally blind to get a dog guide so its not just a cut and dry "get a
>> dog". there is a evaluation & process for reasons mentioned above.
>>
>> Hope I don't come across as brash but I have very strong feelings
> about
>> this topic.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>>            Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: 01/30/2012 12:58 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>> Sent by: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>
>> Good choice!  For me it was a case of the more the merrier!.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Melissa Pasron" <fuzzylucky2021 at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:47 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>
>>
>>> Thank you for giving me a different perspective. I am really trying
> to
>>
>>> weigh the options before I make a decision. My current deciding
> factor
>> is
>>> that I currently have a pet dog and I don't know if I'll be ready to
>> do
>>> all the grooming and caring for two dogs. Not to mention if a guide
>> dog is
>>> right for me at the current moment. I think I'll just sit on the
> issue
>> for
>>> a while and think about it. I don't want to go rushing into a
> decision
>>
>>> without giving it a lot of thought.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:37 AM, "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)"
>>> <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> In making your decision, think about what you most want to do when
>> you
>>>> return home from being out someplace. Do you want to spend time
>> grooming
>>>> and caring for a dog, and doing it every single day, or would you
>> rather
>>>> do something else.
>>>>
>>>> I worked two dogs. Then I had my daughter and found that all I
> wanted
>> to
>>>> do was hang out with her, especially after being at work all day.
>> Taking
>>>> care of the dog became more of a chore then something I enjoyed.
> And,
>> at
>>>> times it became very difficult to balance, baby wanted to eat or be
>> held,
>>>> dog needed to be brushed, you can't do both at the same time. And,
>> while
>>>> an obvious answer may be "get help with the baby" I enjoyed and
> still
>>
>>>> enjoy taking care of her.
>>>> Think about how you'll feel when the dog wakes you up to go potty,
>> will
>>>> you be okay with it or will it mentally wear you out as "one more
>> thing I
>>>> have to do".
>>>>
>>>> What are your hobbies and are they comptible with a guide dog? You
>> can
>>>> always leave a cane, and a cane is easy to replace. Not true with a
>> dog.
>>>>
>>>> I have had a couple access issues. I can tell you that when that
>> happens,
>>>> the very first thought that goes through your head is "This really
>> f***s
>>>> up my plans".
>>>> I'll add that I like dogs. They are neat animals, and I think have
>> much
>>>> to teach us.  At times I miss having one.  On a day when the sun is
>>>> shinging, and it's 65 degrees, I'd love to take a guide dog and walk
>> on a
>>>> bike path, as the feeling of you being in synch with a dog is
>> amazing.
>>>>
>>>> Right now, I can't deal with the 24/7 nature of a guide dog.  I
> can't
>> do
>>>> it with a pet dog either.
>>>>
>>>> You can bring a guide dog anywhere, but you also need to plan on
> that
>>
>>>> with food, water, rest, appropriate supervision, things like that.
>> It's
>>>> difficult to "just stay a bit longer" when you didn't plan on it and
>>>> don't have food for your dog.
>>>>
>>>> So, the answer is that it really depends. I offer my perspective
>> because
>>>> this list is made up of people who are currently using dogs and who
>> like
>>>> doing it.  It would be useful for you and others to have a different
>>>> perspective.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of melissa padron
>>>> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 10:35 PM
>>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am new to this list so I though I would just start off with an
>>>> introduction and then some questions.
>>>>
>>>> Well, first of all, my name is Melissa and although I am not a guide
>> dog
>>>> user I am a cane user. I'm in college pursuing a degree in
> psychology
>> and
>>>> I will be moving back to my hometown once I graduate. I'm considered
>>>> legally blind, so I do have vision.
>>>>
>>>> Because of the condition I have, I was not taught to use a cane
> until
>> my
>>>> senior year of high school. I actually had to fight in order to get
>> cane
>>>> lessons, but since then, I just about take my cane everywhere with
>> me. It
>>>> helps a lot more than using my vision and stressing my eyes....
>>>>
>>>> Now, some questions:
>>>>
>>>> I am not considering getting a guide dog now but I do want to keep
> it
>> as
>>>> an option if I decide that it would help me in my travels. So my
>> question
>>>> is, what was ultimately you deciding factor in getting a guide dog?
>>>> What are some advantages and disadvantages in using a guide dog?
>>>> For those of you who have vision, did you encounter problems with
> the
>>
>>>> guide dog schools saying that a guide dog would not benefit you
>> because
>>>> you have "too much" vision?
>>>> Ultimately, this is my greatest fear. I'm scared of encountering
>>>> criticism by guide dog schools and "blindness professionals" about
>>>> whether a guide dog would benefit me or not. A lot of people with my
>>>> condition function well without a cane or a dog so would this be
> used
>>
>>>> against me if I were to apply?
>>>>
>>>> I am looking forward to hearing your responses and advice.
>>>>
>>>> Melissa
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>>
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>>>
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