[nagdu] I'm back

Tue Aug 20 21:12:45 UTC 2013

Hi,

I actually think the problems with Pilot go back a little further than graduation. First, understand I’m not bashing the school, and I have definitely seen some fine teams come out of there, as from all the schools. I haven’t sen anything from the end product of todays Pilot, ’s some very fine teamwork to suggest that training is in any way subpar, and really, bad handlers and mismatched teams can come out of any school. I do observe, however, that dogs from Pilot that I’ve seen do require perhaps more handling than from other programs, just meaning that the ones I’ve met seem very exuberant and, being very intelligent, perhaps prone to push the envelope. Understand that I’ve only seen a very small sample of pilot dogs, and my experience may not be normal, and I probablydon’t know what I’m talking about as regards very general (and I mean *very* general) observations. Enough disclaimer?

However, I think that the problems with graduation of what might be ill-prepared students didn’t start at graduation, but rather at acceptance. By this, I mean that there doesn’t appear to be much of a screening process. A friend of mine got a dog from pilot recently, and they didn’t ask for a video, they didn’t send anyone out to observe her orientation skills or interview her, they didn’t have anyone to observe the environment the dog would be in, even from a home video. It seems they basically took her written word, and that of her O&M instructor or report or what have you, and of references (one such being me) and slotted her into a class. While I admire the belief that everyone should be given a chance to have the advantages afforded by travel with a guide dog, I do think that at least *some* screening of applicants would be helpful. 

Mind you, I fully understand that I’m doing a bit of Monday morning quarterbacking here, and I also understand that things may be different from what I observe. These are just my opinions on it, and they are subject to change if anything I’ve said is any ways inaccurate.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

On Aug 20, 2013, at 5:01 PM, Larry D. Keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net> wrote:

> Email me off list at lkeeler at comcast.net I really think that is Pilots biggest issue! Who did you have for a trainer!
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Snow White Dove" <jlperdue3 at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 2:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] I'm back
> 
> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I got Shasta at Pilot.
>> 
>> I was and am astounded by their training of their dogs and their students.
>> 
>> I know they have a fowl reputation.  but when I was there, I saw why.
>> 
>> There were a couple of women ther that never should've gotten their dogs because they didn't have to go through the full achievement walk to determine whether they are fit for a dog.
>> 
>> Basically what I'm trying to say, politely, but truthfully is, that the reputation of Pilot is marred only by the idiots they let go home with dogs they sshouldn't have giving to people.
>> 
>> For any questions on the details of this opinion.  Please email me off list so as to not clutter the list.
>> 
>> I just have to say this.  Pilot is, in my opinion, being considered a less than desirable school ecause of the idiots that are seen because they're obviously not suited to have a dog and Pilot's name is on that harness.
>> 
>> No one sees Pilot on the harnesses of those who handle their dogs well and just blend in.
>> 
>> Anyway, I'm done gushing over my experiences.  Please don't feel offended by anything I might have said.
>> 
>> If I've overstepped my bounds with the moderators.  Please know that apologize.
>> 
>> Jenny
>> On Aug 19, 2013, at 7:34 PM, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Jenny,
>>> congratulations!
>>> What an interesting name..Where did you get Mr Shasta? I don't remember what school you apply to. Sorry.
>>> May you both have many years of wonderful working relationship together.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Marsha drenth
>>> Sent with my IPhone
>>> 
>>> On Aug 19, 2013, at 7:02 PM, Snow White Dove <jlperdue3 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Wanted to write to tell you all that I finally did it.  I know Cynprobably let you guys know already, but I figured I'd write myself.
>>>> 
>>>> I came home August 9th with an English Black lab named Shasta.
>>>> 
>>>> He's a wonderful worker and has a great personality, but boy I wasn't sure of the personality part in the beginning or whether I could handle him at all.
>>>> 
>>>> If he had not been on leash I think he'd have bounced off the walls all on his own steam.
>>>> 
>>>> He settled down, and things are pretty cool now, but being 19 months old, he's a chewer.  I've had him on leash since I got him, and everything was fine till I got home with my brand new leather leash which he chewed in half in a perfectly streight line in two seconds flat.
>>>> Needless to say, I was embarrassed to call the school to order a new leash, but more embarrassed when the head trainer answered the phone. He was cool about it, well for him, and said to give him a couple of weeks to get more leashes as theyn were out.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm hoping they'll just give me a new one, but I don't think I'll be that lucky.
>>>> 
>>>> Also, he appears to be a dog, but is a beaver.  He eats anything wooden outside, and I can't seem to break him of it.  I've said no, leash corrections, drop it and removed sticks and twigs from his mouth.  ug.
>>>> 
>>>> Hope to hear from you guys soon.  I just did a mass delete before I wrote you all, so if you wrote me about Shasta, please forgive me and send it again.
>>>> 
>>>> Have a great day.
>>>> 
>>>> Jenny
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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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