[nagdu] Number of DOGS!

[Tami Jarvis]

Ken,

I'm on my first guide, and I know *exactly* how you feel! I got her when 
she was 7 months and ended up training her to be a guide dog because she 
had "the right stuff." So I got to spend an awfully long time wondering 
if she was every going to grow up enough to really take on the job... 
Then I noticed she had and have been worrying she is getting old ever 
since... That can't happen! The good thing is that it reminds me to 
appreciate her every day and savor our time together. From knowing all 
these long-time guide dog users, I've come to understand that a real 
"heart dog" is not necessarily the norm.

She's been working since she was 2 and turned 7 this summer, so I am 
figuring on another 2 to 3 years of her working life. Poodles seem to 
have longer life spans than other large breeds, so I'm planning around 
an 8 to 10 year working life for her, with a nice long retirement when 
she's ready. I want to owner-train again, and it's weird somehow to 
think about a "replacement for Mitzi." How can she need a replacement 
since she will never grow old?

I am a silly sap! And, like you, I feel privileged to have the time with 
a dog that works so well and that I can love so much.

Tami

On 08/17/2013 03:43 PM, Ken Ace wrote:
> I truly appreciate your candor. I have bonded sooo closely to this being I
> just can't imagine my life without him. I know how that sounds and I am not
> prone to depression, I am a DAV with 50 surgeries under my belt so I can
> handle adversity like the rest of us. But this dog is truly special.
> Thanks,
> K&A
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 6:36 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Number of DOGS!
>
> So, I'm really not sure why schools are still setting expectations for an
> average working life of 8-10 years. If you ere told to expect 10 years,
> while this may be something your dog can deliver, I'd say that in general,
> this isn't, on average, very realistic. My experience, and informal
> observations as long as I've been a guide dog owner, tells me that 6-8 years
> is more realistic. While I think 8-10 years may well have been the norm in
> days past, a combination of generally softer dogs, plus faster, more hectic
> and stressful working conditions, quieter and faster traffic, all contribute
> to on average shorter working careers. Both of my previous dogs each worked
> roughly 6 and a half years each, and I felt privileged and pleased to have
> gotten that amount of service from them. So, just saying, if you get fewer
> than 10 years, don't by any means feel cheated.
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> On Aug 17, 2013, at 6:13 PM, Ken Ace <ken at acenovels.com> wrote:
>
>> I was going to wait till tomorrow to broach this subject but in
>> listening to members I have noticed that several of you are on your 4th,
> 5th or 6th dog.
>> Ace will be four in Jan. and I sincerely hope he out lives me.
>>
>> How long have your dogs lasted in service. I was led to believe that I
>> could expect ten good years of service. I am pushing 73 and frankly
>> can't imagine another dog.
>>
>> Perhaps I was very lucky in getting Ace because he is very close to
> perfect.
>>
>> K&A
>>
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