[nagdu] School in the desert

[Debbie Cole]

Some of you were discussing the lounge at TSE so I'll share my
experience.  This was my first dog.   I was there  end of October to
2nd week in november in 2010.  It was HOT at 96 degrees.  And yes, GDD
is small. My class had 6 students 4 females and 2 males.  the lounge
is in the dorms with very comfortable couches and recliners.  A table
to dine at some mornings and sink with cabinets and fridge/microwave
and we freshly ground beans for coffee and amde our own tea.  there
was an HDTV and dvd player.  Very comfortable.  this is where we had
most of our  verbal lessons.   The relieving area is a  few feet walk
from the droms door but there are different areas for the dogs that
may like different servaces such as grass, dirt, pepples, etc.  The
dining area is a short walk away and the meals were satisfying.We were
treated out to dinner in a restaurant and did lots of work in malls,
Airports, Braille Institutes (different ones) & downtown Palm Springs,
Parks  and churches.  We were served a formal gourmet dinner one night
and was even taken to Ben & Jerry's ice cream.  We met at a shop
called "Guide Dogs of the Desert Depot" in Downtown Palm Springs
often.  It has souveniers and registration center for puppy raisers,
etc.  Here we would sit and the students would chat and get to know
one another  as the trainers took one dog/student team out and around
the area for work.  Often we'd sit at the outdoor tables and enjoy tea
or coffee.

there was a formal dinner where we met our dog's puppy raisers and got
to know them.  I was given a calendar with m dog in it.  I still keep
in touch with her raiser today.

One of my favorite memories there was a Halloween puppy party.  We sat
at a table in the auditorium and enjoyed a lunch and desserts with our
dogs and watched or lsitened to descriptions of all the cute pups in
costumes.  The students got to feel the puppies and their costumes.
there was a best costume contest.

Overall, My experience was a very positive enjoyable one at GDD in
Whitewater, California.  Just a 5 minute drive to Palm Springs.



-- 
warmly,

Debbie Cole

debbieanne1124 at gmail.com