[nagdu] Top Dog

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Marilyn.
Thanks for the comprehensive report.  Makes me even more interested in going 
next year.
Does anyone know if Top Dog is always in Savannah?
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "marilyn" <t21114 at optonline.net>
To: "nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 9:19 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Top Dog


> Hi Everyone,
> On Jan.10 , 4 of us from Long Island flew out of our local airport with 
> our guide dogs to attend the Top Dog Conference in Savannah , GA. No 
> problems going through security or changing planes in Philly. We flew US 
> AIR who had a wonderful staff helping us.
> The weather in GA was warm and sunny all 4 days we were there. The hotel 
> Holiday Express was very helpful too. Two sides of the hotel was section 
> off for our dogs to relieve themselves. Pick up bags and hand cleaner were 
> placed on a bench and near the door was a garbage can. Some people did not 
> pick up so two announcements were made about asking volunteers for help if 
> they couldn't clean up after there dogs. Two Trainers from Southeastern 
> were there and very helpful.
> Thursday evening about 12 of us went for dinner at Carrabbas' an Italian 
> restaurant.
> Friday more people arrived. We went on a trolley tour of Savannah and the 
> 2 tour trolley drivers  were very informative with the history of 
> Savannah.
> I am not sure but someone said there were 75 or 80 teams of dogs there. 
> all well behaved.
> John Byfield from Freedom dogs was there with 3 dogs he is training. One a 
> white Sheppard that he raised, a yellow lab, and a black poodle.
> A few other schools Leader, GDF, GEB and Southeastern had tables with 
> information. Jenine also had a table with grooming supplies and dogs nails 
> and ears were taken care of for free.
> Someone spoke about the history of GA, we took a red cross course and got 
> certification in animal CPR , and the guest speaker at the dinner was Sue 
> Martin who wrote a book about how she went blind.
> Saturday I meet Anna's puppy walker and my consumer who came with us met 
> his for the first time. It took both walkers 4 hours each way to drive.
> There were 3 puppy walkers from GDF at Top Dog and one from Southeastern 
> who had the youngest pup there. A black lab 4 months old.
> There was also a boxer guide dog, lots of Sheppard's , labs, crosses, an 
> aussie, one guide poodle, a collie/Sheppard mix guide and golden's. One 
> person used two dogs . One for balance and one for guiding.
> I also won a set of holiday bandanas for Anna.
> The rooms had a living room , 2 TV and 2 queen size beds. The only thing I 
> didn't like was the bathroom sink was not in the bathroom but in the room. 
> There was a small kitchen with a sink , refrigerator and microwave.  It 
> was a very nice set up.
> Our breakfast was also included in the price of the room.
> On Sunday some of us who stayed the extra day went to River St and walked 
> on the cobble stone streets where the trolleys go. My friend and I went on 
> a sail ship. We had to walk up and down the gang plank . It was steep but 
> our dogs had no problems. We ate lunch in a restaurant called Dockside and 
> got to sit outside to eat. It was hard to believe it was January as we 
> didn't have jackets on.
> Marilyn and Anna
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