[nagdu] A cane user interested in a dog guide

Fri Apr 12 15:08:09 UTC 2013

Hello Angelina,
Welcome to the list. It is great that you are looking into getting a guide dog. However, as others have mentioned there are many factors to consider when getting a guide dog. For one thing, I chose the school that my dog came from for its great reputation. Additionally, I chose that school for the great follow up services that they have two offer for graduates. As a first time guide dog handler, I wanted to be sure that someone would be able to follow up with me if anything were to go wrong. Furthermore, I chose guide dogs for the blind because they offer veterinary assistance and as my financial stability hasn't been great, I wanted to be sure that my dog would be covered in case anything were to happen to it. I know it is difficult to make a decision, but in the end it's all up to you. Honestly, to me breed was not a first priority. I just wanted a dog who would work well and who would be great at being a guide. After attending Guide Dogs For The Blind, I could honestly say that I got everything I was looking for. I have a very loving dog, a great worker, a great relationship with my school, and I have all the support I need if anything were to happen. If you do decide that a guide dog is for you, Good luck in choosing a school.
Juanita Herrera

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 12, 2013, at 5:47 AM, "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net> wrote:

> To me, location did matter, though it used not to.  I got my first 5 dogs from GDB in San Rafael, but, for the last almost 30 years, I've lived near New York City.  It was hard to find areas in San Rafael or even San Francisco that were very similar to NYC, so I switched to TSE.  I can train in my home area and routine conditions, and, if I have trouble, someone can come out to help me very quickly.  And TSE dogs are trained to deal with New York and New Jersey drivers.  Not that my GDB dogs weren't also great with traffic.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve Sanchez" <celticyaya at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] A cane user interested in a dog guide
> 
> 
>> I myself would not worry about the location unless you want your
>> training to double as a vacation. haha  I believe all schools will
>> take you no matter where you are with maybe a couple of exceptions
>> like one in NY and one in Texas. I myself chose based on multiple
>> things. The breeds available, the amount and type of training avalable
>> and yes, assitance and support afterwards. Ideally I would have gone
>> to San Rafael as I am from Northern Cal originally and still have
>> family right there, but I did not under any cercumstance want a
>> labrador (no offense people). The school I chose have a variety of
>> breeds, yes including poodles for the allergic. They also have
>> Dobermans, shepherds, boxers, labs, goldens, and vizlas. I probably
>> spelled that last one wrong. Once in a while they have crosses like
>> labradoodles. Most are bred for the program and some are donations by
>> breeders they work with. All are screened for suitability. The
>> training process is there at the facility as I would have been very
>> uncomfortable doing it at my home. Just me, but as I was also in
>> process of moving it made sense. Look at all the schools online, call
>> and talk to their staff, and make your own decision. I could tell you
>> that my school is best, but it may not be best for you. Either way, be
>> prepared, there will be people found who could tell you what is wrong
>> with each school. Again, judge for yourself. I am also thinking you
>> are not even sure at this point if a dog is right for you. For this I
>> will tell you the same thing. When I struggled with this, I had some
>> very opinionated people tell me why I should not get a dog. I also had
>> sympathetic wusses tell me it would be wonderful for me to be taken
>> care of. What finally helped me decide was an incident in which I was
>> left alone in a park and had no idea where I was. I realized at that
>> moment that, though a cane helps me be safe, it does not tell me where
>> to go. A cane is also crappy companionship when on your own. When I am
>> in an unknown area with my dog, though some people say this is not
>> true, I could tell my dog to find the sidewalk or whatever. She will
>> and then once I have a landmark, I have my bearings and can go on from
>> there. Yes, a cane is safe, but a dog gets you places AND is safe. You
>> decide though and talk all that we say with what you think it is
>> worth. Blessed Be. Eve
>> 
>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 12:10 PM, Chantel Cuddemi <jawsgirl87 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> I chose Pilot Dogs because they trained standard poodles, the breed I chose
>>> to train with, and I also chose Pilot because they're right here in Ohio.
>>> 
>>> Good luck with whatever school you choose.
>>> 
>>> Chantel and Motley.
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Anjelina Cruz
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 10:31 AM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [nagdu] A cane user interested in a dog guide
>>> 
>>> Good morning all,
>>> I am currently a cane user who recently has been interested in
>>> choosing a dog guide school. How did you choose your school?
>>> Thanks for any feedback.
>>> --
>>> Anjelina
>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
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> 
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