[nagdu] Considering A Dog

Mon Sep 24 01:04:23 UTC 2012

You're right, Cindy. It's a big dog thing. (I"m a little obsessed with big
dogs).  Big dogs - including labs and goldens - are prone to it. It's both
a matter of breeding and lifestyle, in the end. But I do think it is
somewhat more common in german shepherds.

On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 8:58 PM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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> >>>>
> >>>
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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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-- 
*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!*