[nagdu] Considering A Dog

Cindy Ray cindyray at gmail.com
Mon Sep 24 00:58:03 UTC 2012 

Rhonda, they don't all have hip dysplasia. It might depend on where they were bred. I think it is a curse of many big dogs to develop it, though I co uld be wrong.

Cindy

On Sep 23, 2012, at 7:30 PM, rhonda cruz wrote:

> hi kodi, it is rhonda. The only thing i will tell you that sheppards have hip disspajia. when they get older.
> 
> but  sheppards are great workers.
> and vary smart.
> 
> I wish you a lot of luck.
> 
> On Sep 23, 2012, at 5:20 PM, Kody Keplinger wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for all of that awesome info, Lyn!! That makes a lot of sense about
>> boxers. Luckily, my heart is much more set on a shepherd. I do love the
>> idea of a boxer as a guide, though. Their personalities are just so well
>> matched to mine - very upbeat and playful, even clownish.  How can you not
>> be happy when you're with a boxer?  But, frankly, I do think a shepherd
>> would be a better fit as far as a guide goes. So I'm glad I found 2 schools
>> that offer them.
>> 
>> On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 2:16 PM, Lyn Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> Welcome, Kody!
>>> I wwent to TSE and they have lots of German shepherds, Labs, and Lab
>>> crosses - mainly with the Golden retriever.
>>> 
>>> What kind of Labs did you have as pets?  This breed varies alot in size,
>>> color, and energy level.  I have a Lab/Golden cross named Landon and he's
>>> almost seven years old.  I grew up outside NYC and do not miss the cold!  I
>>> live in sunny San Diego and have been here for almost 25 years.  Landon and
>>> I do pet assisteed therapy for our local Humane Society.
>>> 
>>> Because you live in NYC, there are many graduates from Fidelco, Seeing
>>> Eye, Guiding Eyes, and Guide Dog Foundation in the area.  I'd talk to those
>>> schools and see if they'll put you in touch with graduates of those schools
>>> to help you decide on whaich one is best for your needs.
>>> 
>>> Many of the schools don't use many Boxers because they are a one-coated
>>> breed.  They have no fluffy undercoat like Labs and shepherds.  Boxers also
>>> have the same short life span as a giant breed such as a Great Dane - don't
>>> know why this is.  They will require a sweater or coat in winter wheras the
>>> Labs and shepherds do not require a sweater because they grow enough of a
>>> coat to keep them warm in the cold.  Boxers and Dobies do not.
>>> 
>>> Good luck in your search for the right school for you.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Lyn and Landon
>>> "Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
>>> 
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 5:41 AM
>>> 
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Considering A Dog
>>> 
>>> 
>>> TSE sometimes has boxers. They tend to have to buy them because they
>>>> aren't bred there, so they  mostly have them if someone with allergies is
>>>> coming in. I've known a person or two who had them from TSE.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm not sure why you really want to stay away from the Lab, but the
>>>> crosses are nice.
>>>> 
>>>> Cindy
>>>> 
>>>> On Sep 20, 2012, at 7:31 AM, Julie J. wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Kody,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Welcome!  I'm a big fan of the Boxer too.  Unfortunately your options
>>>>> are very limited if you want one from a guide program.  Pilot in Columbus
>>>>> trains some and Gallant Hearts in Mississippi does a few.  Your wait at
>>>>> Gallant Hearts is going to be pretty long because they are a small school
>>>>> that has just started up and they don't have very many Boxers.  Neither of
>>>>> these schools is located in a large city that has subways and that sort of
>>>>> thing.
>>>>> 
>>>>> You'll have a lot more options for German Shepherds.   Also if the
>>>>> school doesn't teach to find empty seats, it's a fairly easy thing to teach
>>>>> yourself.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Best of luck and welcome!
>>>>> Julie
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 9/20/2012 12:00 AM, Kody Keplinger wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi all!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I found this list yesterday and have been browsing the archives for
>>>>>> info.
>>>>>> After some serious thought, I have decided to look into getting a guide
>>>>>> dog.  I do have some concerns that I know others have brought up in the
>>>>>> past (I do have remaining vision, and I know it may impair my trust of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> dog at first, but I believe I can overcome this, especially since my
>>>>>> retained vision is only useful outdoors during the day.)  After asking
>>>>>> around about different schools and commands, I know I want to apply to
>>>>>> schools that teach "find" commands (ex. "find a chair" or "find the
>>>>>> stairs") as these are very difficult things for me in unfamiliar indoor
>>>>>> settings.  I also want a school that trains dogs for trains/subways
>>>>>> since I
>>>>>> live in NYC and that's an important part of my daily life.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I have a pretty strong breed preference to either a German Shepherd or a
>>>>>> Boxer. I LOVE labs, but they've been family pets my whole life, and my
>>>>>> gut
>>>>>> is telling me that, for my first guide dog, and one I'll work with as a
>>>>>> partner, I want to step away from labs if at all possible. My first
>>>>>> choice
>>>>>> of school was Fidelco, but I read today some of the controversy from
>>>>>> last
>>>>>> year. I like their program because a.) they focus on german shepherds
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> b.) I like the idea of starting, from day one, in my neighborhood. I
>>>>>> know
>>>>>> some programs take you to NYC as sort of a final "challenge" - but as
>>>>>> NYC
>>>>>> is my home, I'd rather it not be my big challenge, I'd rather it be my
>>>>>> regular, if that makes sense at all.  Is the controversy over Fidelco
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> ownership still brewing? Has anyone worked with them lately?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Looking at other schools, can any of you give me some info on which ones
>>>>>> teach the "find" commands as well as provide german shepherds and/or
>>>>>> boxers
>>>>>> (and that allow you to specify a preference)? Also, any info on the wait
>>>>>> times for these programs (from turning in the application, to
>>>>>> acceptance,
>>>>>> to attending the school) would be incredibly helpful/appreciated. (I
>>>>>> found
>>>>>> the old surveys on GDUI, but they were from 2008 and I wasn't sure how
>>>>>> up-to-date they were.)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thanks for any info you can give, guys! I'm so glad I found this
>>>>>> listserv
>>>>>> already. The archives have already given me so much direction.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> Kody
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>>>>>> 
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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> *Kody Keplinger*
>> http://kodykeplinger.com
>> 
>> author of:
>> *THE DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) - an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for
>> Reluctant Young Readers.*
>> *AVAILABLE NOW!*
>> *
>> *
>> *SHUT OUT - available September 5th!*
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> 
> 
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