[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Tue Jan 31 03:39:28 UTC 2012

I have been accused of being certifiable Tami, but some how I think those 
folks mean something different!  Anyway, I believe that if a dog is well 
trained and is doing its job and can be controlled there shouldn't really be 
a question about how it learned its work but that its doing its work!  I 
could have trained my little dog to be a hearing dog and I sort of did! 
But, he was staying here so I didn't finish it up.  Also, I always get 
questions like, "is that a real service dog?  Because of Holly's breed. 
Most folks think that only a few breeds can be trained.  Poodles, according 
to most folks and even some schools can't be trained!  That's really 
incredible sence I sure have heard of poodles working everywhere!  As guide 
dogs, police dogs and even sled dogs!  But, what do I know?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions


> Marion,
>
> This does not mean we are not certifiable, though. Just not because of the 
> dogs. /lol/
>
> Tami
>
> On 01/30/2012 05:50 PM, Marion Gwizdala wrote:
>> 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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>>>>
>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%40tasc.com
>>>
>>>
>>>>
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>>>>>
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