[nagdu] Number of DOGS!

[Cindy Ray]

That could be, but at least some of the schools do a lot of genetic work, too. Anyway, I'm hoping for eight years anyway because Fisher is the end of the road for me.

Cindy Lou

On Aug 17, 2013, at 6:16 PM, "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net> wrote:

> I also think that a lot of the pure bred dogs may have limited geen pools. I've noticed that some folks have a lot of health issues and that a lot of there dogs are pure bred. I'm hoping that Holly will give me a couple more years because I'm depending on her mixed breeding.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 6:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Number of DOGS!
> 
> 
>> Also, some people may have had one or two dogs more than some other people
>> because some of their dogs had to be retired early for whatever reason. How
>> long a dog works also depends largely on the individual dog. For example, I
>> think that certain breeds may be more likely to develop physical medical
>> problems that would shorten their careers.
>> 
>> Nicole
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
>> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 3:36 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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>> 
>> 
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