[nagdu] Considering A Dog

[Kody Keplinger]

Does anyone have experience with Fidelco's GSDs?? I know they are really
specific about the breeding there. Curious how they are with health.
 Unfortunately, some things just aren't avoidable.

On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 9:07 PM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:

> TSE worked hard to breed it out of their dogs, although I don't know how
> successful that was. I had two such dogs. All of my previous husband's dogs
> were GSDs, and one had that, one as far as I know had no problems, and two
> had lymphoma.
>
> Cindy
>
> On Sep 23, 2012, at 8:04 PM, Kody Keplinger wrote:
>
> > 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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> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.com
> >
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> -----
> >>>>>>>> No virus found in this message.
> >>>>>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> >>>>>>>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5277 - Release Date:
> >>>>>>>> 09/19/12
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
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> >
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
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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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> >> nagdu:
> >>>>
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rhondaprincess%40gmail.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >> nagdu:
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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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-- 
*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!*