[nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?

Wed Jul 25 22:00:09 UTC 2012

Tina, you are correct in that GDB once had classes just for partials.  I 
heard about that several years ago from my friends who have GDB dogs.  I 
think they don't have it anymore - may have been just something to try out 
and it wasn't worth it as it has been discontinued. Now, totals and partials 
are all trained alike and together again.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Juanita Herrera" <juanitaherrera1991 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?

> Tina, I believe that they have had classes with students of partial
> vision, but I don't think they have purposely planned it. I'm a total
> and they did not train me differently than my other classmates who
> were partials.
> Juanita and Anise
>
> On 7/25/12, Tina Thomas <judotina48kg at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Tracey- That could be true. I know in the past GDB has had classes 
>> with
>> just partials.
>> Tina
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Tracy Carcione
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 8:14 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Wild GDB rumor?
>>
>> Hi Juanita.
>> I don't think you need to ask, unless you want to.
>>
>> I have heard that GDB now gives individualized instruction (though it
>> seemed
>> pretty personalized when I was there years ago.)  I wonder if they are
>> telling high partials one thing, and totally blind people another?
>> Though, if they are, it's still a rotten idea to step in front of the 
>> dog,
>> even if you think you see well enough.  It would limit the person from
>> using
>> the dog in situations where he or she wasn't seeing well.
>> The whole thing seems screwy.  Which is why I thought it might be a wild
>> rumor.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> Tracy, that is totally a wild rumor. I just graduated from GDB six
>>> months ago, and not unless things have changed since then, we are not
>>> to walk ahead of our dogs at any time. The dog is called a guide dog
>>> for a reason, to guide. Also, we may give leash Q's, but only if we
>>> have an idea of where we are. Not if we are absolutely unsure of our
>>> surroundings. GDB is actually going to be having a presentation at my
>>> job on Friday. I can ask if things have changed if you'd like me to.
>>> Juanita and Anise
>>>
>>> On 7/25/12, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>>>> The other day, a friend shared with me the things she heard about at
>>>> the ACB convention.  One thing that shocked us both was that GDB is
>>>> teaching people, when there is a narrow path, to step *ahead* of the
>>>> dog!  Say what!!!  I've done that, and lived to tell the tale and
>>>> learn from my mistake, but it's a darned good way to get hurt or
>>>> killed.  Is this just a wild rumor, or is it an example of trainers
>>>> being out of touch with reality?  Or has GDB become Guide Dogs for
>>>> the High Partials?  Well, high partials who never go out at night,
>>>> because it would be too dangerous and scary.
>>>> Surely this isn't actually what GDB is teaching?
>>>> Another thing my friend heard is that, if the dog is unsure of how to
>>>> go around an obstacle, the person is supposed to direct the dog using
>>>> the leash--give a leash cue.  Great, if you can tell where to go.
>>>> Me, I usually can't, being, you know, blind!
>>>>
>>>> Anyhow, any recent GDB graduate want to confirm or deny this rumor?
>>>>
>>>> I have been pondering a new theory:  guide dogs used to be trained as
>>>> if their partners would be totally blind, and now they're being
>>>> trained as if their partners will have some usable vision.  I've
>>>> occasionally thought that Ben might have done better sooner if he had
>>>> a person who could tell faster when he was getting ready to cop a
>>>> sniff, for instance.  And our trainer seemed to think I should know
>>>> when bushes were coming up, though just how I would know that beats
>>>> me.  But then, how do these guide dogs for the visually impaired pass
>>>> the blindfold test?  So maybe my theory is full of holes, but it
>>>> doesn't seem like training is as rigorous as it used to be, if one
>>>> can believe books.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/juanitaherrera1991
>>>> %40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.n
>>> et
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/juanitaherrera1991%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net 