[nagdu] Happy Story

Thu Mar 29 15:07:53 UTC 2012

Hi Juanita.
Yep, your instructor did right by you.  And that's often the case.  I was
just trying to say that sometimes the instructor misses a serious problem,
so the student has to be ready to speak up about any concerns.
I thought Rebecca's analogy with doctors was a good one.  Sometimes they
catch trouble before it gets serious, and sometimes they miss it, even
when the patient is trying to point it out.

I'm glad you got a great match.
Tracy

> Well, in my case, I was fortunate to have a great instructor. And as a
> first time guide dog handler, she really helped me a lot. I am a
> person of great judgement, and if I knew that what she was telling me
> wasn't the best thing for me, I wouldn't have listened. I am certain
> that bringing home the other guide dog would have been a disastrous
> experience. I mean, the dog was terrified of heavy traffic. She could
> have endangered us both.
>
> On 3/28/12, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
>> Yes, I agree with Tracy.
>> I think of instructors kind of like doctors.  They have a different
>> perspective then me.  They know things I don't. In most cases they do
>> want
>> you and the dog to succeed.  But, they don't know me as a person. And,
>> they
>> don't have a clue what living with a guide dog 24/7 is really like.
>> It's
>> easy for an instructor to think that an issue isn't a problem if they
>> won't
>> be the ones who have to live with it.  Likewise, it's easy for a handler
>> to
>> be too close to a situation to use good judgement.
>>
>> Everybody has to listen to each other to make it all work.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Tracy Carcione
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 9:08 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Happy Story
>>
>> I gotta quibble with this.  Sometimes instructors know best, and
>> sometimes
>> not.  I've had some truly excellent instructors, and some who didn't
>> seem
>> to know any more than I do.  Daniel had faith in his instructor, and
>> wound
>> up hurting, physically and emotionally.  Sure, have confidence in your
>> trainer and your school, but have confidence in your own judgement as
>> well.
>>
>> On a whole other angle, one of my classmates had to have a dog change,
>> because, during Juno, he'd walked faster and wanted a harder pull than
>> he
>> could actually manage comfortably long-term.  After a couple days with
>> his
>> first dog, the trainer could tell that he was getting a sore back and
>> having trouble keeping up with his dog, so she switched him to a slower
>> one, and he was happy.
>> The moral being, it works best to show Juno the way you really walk, not
>> the way you wish you did. Or something like that.
>> Tracy
>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Natalie
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 6:39 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Happy Story
>>>>
>>>> Hi Juanita,
>>>> That is so awesome, and I know you're pleased.  I love when things
>>>> work
>>>> out
>>>> well between one and her or his guide dog and the trainers get to see
>>>> it
>>>> happen, especially when there was an initial mismatch or trepidation
>>>> around
>>>> a reissue.  Liam was a reissue and before I'd gotten him, I'd had
>>>> trepidation.  Not knowing why the dog was reissued, how long the dog
>>>> would
>>>> be able to work, were contributors to that trepidation.  However, with
>>>> the
>>>> situation of Liam's previous handler passing on suddenly and certain
>>>> experiences in my life that have made me more open-minded, it is
>>>> evident
>>>> to
>>>> the GDA field rep as well as others who know Liam and me that we were
>>>> a
>>>> match made in heaven.  Congrats to you, and may that love and mutual
>>>> partnership keep on throughout eternity.
>>>> Best,
>>>> Nat and Liam Joshua
>>>>
>>>> ----- 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: Sunday, March 25, 2012 12:31 AM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Happy Story
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hello All!
>>>>> As a lot of you know, I have only had my guide dog, Anise, for a
>>>>> little over two months. When I first received her, I was terribly
>>>>> afraid that things weren't going to work out with her and I. I was
>>>>> terrified because during training I had to switch dogs. The dog I had
>>>>> before Anise during training became afraid of heavy traffic, and she
>>>>> would run away from me while I was getting ready for  crossings. My
>>>>> instructor felt that it would be best to switch my dog because the
>>>>> areas I am usually in are congested with traffic. The switch between
>>>>> dogs was extremely difficult for me and it affected me emotionally.
>>>>> Upon leaving the program, I felt that the time I had spent with Anise
>>>>> wasn't enough to determine whether or not we'd be a successful match.
>>>>> However, GDB has supported me 100%. Immediately after I returned home
>>>>> from training, they sent my instructor to my home area to observe
>>>>> Anise and I, and to review any concerns I might have had. She was
>>>>> down
>>>>> in California working with me for a whole week, and I feel that
>>>>> helped
>>>>> me tremendously. My field representative has also kept in touch with
>>>>> me via phone, and just last week, Anise and I met up with him. He
>>>>> told
>>>>> me that we are doing great as a team, and that he didn't find any
>>>>> issues. Honestly, I feel that the switch between dogs was the best
>>>>> thing that could have happened. Although it hurt me when it happened
>>>>> now I realize that Anise was truly the dog for me. We are doing great
>>>>> with bonding, and we seem to be adjusting quite well to each other.
>>>>> As
>>>>> for the dog I had before Anise, I'd always have a difficult time
>>>>> controlling her. She would refuse to listen to me. Now, I realize
>>>>> that
>>>>> things happen for a reason. Well, just thought I'd share this with
>>>>> everyone.
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Juanita And Anise
>>>>>
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