[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Tue Jan 31 04:12:39 UTC 2012

When you're standing there with your owner-trained poodle guide while 
someone carries on at you about how blind people can't train their own 
dogs and poodles can't be trained like that... For the third time at as 
many stop lights...

Well, I don't know what. I just know that this does happen sometimes. /lol/

Sometimes, because my poodle is so zippy, the same person will catch up 
to me at the next light, panting, to tell me how amazing my dog is and 
how impressed they are with some really ordinary thing she did that just 
wowed them... Then get back to the subject of how blind people can't 
train their own dogs and poodles just aren't trainable... Especially for 
that!

Ah, well. Keeps things from being too boring, I guess. /lol/ So there 
are getting to be more doodles around and some poodles are on the way! 
Maybe I won't have the only one most people see about town? There's 
another one in the metro area, I hear, but obviously they run in 
different parts of the city than me. /lol/

I'm supposed to be getting together with a couple of doodle users soon, 
where there are nice, clear sidewalks. So we are planning a poodle vs. 
doodle off. /lol/l Just for fun! I guess when the two of them are out 
walking together with their dogs, they stop traffic. Teehee. The two are 
both quite tall and light-colored, so they get some attention. What fun!

Come to think of it, they're probably not too different in color from 
how you've described Holly. If you ever want to really blow people's 
minds... Teehee.

Tami

On 01/30/2012 07:39 PM, Larry D. Keeler wrote:
> 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
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
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>>>> for
>>>>>
>>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%40tasc.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>>
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