[nagdu] Guide Dog Schools

Fri Nov 1 02:15:53 UTC 2013

Hi, my name is Laurel. I have a female yellow lab from guide dogs for the blind. Like many of these fine people have already said, graduate support and vet financial assistance are 2 critical factors in choosing a guide dog school. Ownership is also a critical one. Another important factor that I haven't seen mentioned, is contact with puppy raisers. Some schools don't allow puppy raiser contact at all. Some schools allow it but insist that contact be made through the school, and you never find out the names of your raisers etc. Some schools have you meet your raisers at graduation and openly foster and encourage puppy raiser contact. On all these issues, I suggest you research the various schools across the country, and decide what you would want from a school. Do you want puppy raiser contact? Do you want good post graduate support, and financial assistance for vet costs? Also, you should get to know graduates of the schools you are considering and speak to them privately about their experiences with the school, both good and bad. This could help you decide on a good school match for you. I can't speak for any other school, and which schools are better or provide better services is not a debate I wanna get into on here, but if you'd like to write me privately and ask me about my experience with guide dogs for the blind, or what I know of the other schools, please feel free. My email is laurel.stockard at gmail.com
Laurel and Stockard
On Oct 31, 2013, at 6:39 PM, Raven Tolliver <ravend729 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> I attended Guiding Eyes for the Blind primarily because I wanted an
> adult dog. As a person who never owned or handled a dog before, I
> thought it important to have a dog that was physically and mentally
> mature, and had established mannerisms. I wanted a golden retriever,
> and goldens and German shepherds have a better work ethic as adults.
> This has been proven in studies of guide dog programs and service dog
> programs.
> I also chose GEB because of the financial assistance. Students are
> allotted $200 annually, and if your dog is 10 pounds within their
> target weight, the student is given another $100. There is also an
> emergency fund, but it can only be used once during a particular dog's
> career. The GDB grads can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think GDB
> gives more financial assistance than this. Grads from that program can
> explain the logistics better.
> As far as what breed of dog is best at guide work, that depends on the
> person. I have always adored the gentle nature and laid-back
> temperament of a golden, and I would not want to live with the high
> energy and quirkiness of a typical labrador. German shepherds are very
> serious about their work, but they have high energy requirements. All
> three breeds are extremely loving, loyal and obedient if you bond with
> them properly. All three breeds have double coats, so they both shed a
> lot. I do not know as much about the other breeds put out by Pilot
> dogs, but people have success with them, so you would have to ask the
> handlers of poodles, dobermans, and Vieszlas.
> You have to decide for yourself what you like or don't like in a dog.
> And the personality is just as, if not more, important than breed.
> Also, know that if you are picky about breed that it may take longer
> to find you the right dog and get a class date. I was fortunate that
> my golden was available so soon after I applied, but I knew that being
> choosy might mean a longer wait.
> To determine which school might be right for you, you should rate the
> following factors by importance  to you.
> location of school, home-training program, special needs program, cost
> of the program, length of program, financial assistance, follow up
> services, ownership policy, training methods, choice to meet and keep
> in touch with your dog's puppy-raisers, graduation ceremony, breeds
> offered, life stage of dogs issued
> These are just what I can think of for now, but there are more factors
> that others will bring to your attention.
> If ownership is important to you, the Seeing Eye, Pilot Dogs, or Guide
> Dogs of America are options. If you don't understand why ownership is
> important to some people, then I will explain upon request, because it
> is a very serious issue that every service dog handler should have
> proper understanding of.
> If home-training is important to you this is offered by Fidelco,
> Guiding Eyes, and a couple other programs. Guiding Eyes usually does
> home-training with returning graduates, but they have been known to
> approve it for first time trainees.
> I would encourage you to complete your training with your first guide
> dog at the school if it is at all possible and convenient for you. The
> benefit is that you will not likely feel alone in the struggles you
> will experience, and also, you can get great training and doggie care
> tips from experienced guide dog handlers. In addition, you could
> develop long standing relationships with other classmates, which was a
> plus for me.
> Good luck, and email me off list if you want to know more about my
> Guiding Eyes experience.
> 
> 
> On 10/31/13, Shickeytha Chandler <shickeytha at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Thank you all for your responses. I have actually been leaning toward
>> a lab or a golden because I have heard in the past that those types of
>> dogs are very loyal and have an even temperament. But at the same
>> time, I want to have an open mind and consider what other types of
>> dogs might have to offer. By the way, I love the names of all three of
>> your dogs. Great dog names!
>> 
>> On 10/31/13, minh ha <minh.ha927 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi Shickeytha,
>>> 
>>> I want to echo what Hannah said in her email. I am working with my
>>> first guide, Viva from Guide Dogs for the Blind on their Oregon
>>> campus. As a college student, financial and post-graduation support
>>> were the two most critical aspects that I was looking for in a guide
>>> dog school. I felt like GDB provided both of these and I really liked
>>> their positive training methods as well as the respectful way they
>>> treat their handlers. Regarding the breed of dog, I think that
>>> ultimately needs to be your decision. Each individual has their
>>> preference and people are going to tell you their choice is the best.
>>> GDB only works with labs and golden retrievers. My girl is a lab and I
>>> couldn't have asked for a better dog; she's extremely energetic and
>>> playful, but she's an excellent worker once the harness goes on.
>>> 
>>> Minh
>>> 
>>> On 10/31/13, Chantel Cuddemi <jawsgirl87 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Welcome to the  list!
>>>> 
>>>> I am working my first dog from Pilot Dogs, a standard poodle named
>>>> Motley!
>>>> 
>>>> We've been a team for a year and eight months.
>>>> 
>>>> Good luck with what school you choose!
>>>> 
>>>> Chantel and Motley.
>>>> 
>>>> On 10/31/13, Hannah Chadwick <sparklylicious at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hey,
>>>>> Welcome to the list.  I'm working my second guide, Spritz.  She
>>>>> is from Guide Dogs for the Blind.  She is a black lab; I got her
>>>>> over the summer.
>>>>> Since I'm a college student and having had a previous dog that
>>>>> was very high-maintenance, I knew I would need financial
>>>>> assistance and after support.  Those were two of the major things
>>>>> I looked for when I applied to schools.  The training methods
>>>>> (positive vs negative) used in schools also mattered to me.  Of
>>>>> course which may vary on an individual and team basis, but I've
>>>>> come to realize that food rewards go a long way.  My first dog
>>>>> was from Pilot because I wanted a poodle, but she retired after
>>>>> almost a year.  My training experience at Pilot was good, but I
>>>>> wasn't as experienced so I didn't have the necessary tools to
>>>>> manage such a high-strung dog.  Please email me off-list if you
>>>>> have further questions.  Good luck with the application process
>>>>> and all that.
>>>>> Best, Hannah and Spritz
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: Shickeytha Chandler <shickeytha at gmail.com
>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Date sent: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:08:20 -0400
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Schools
>>>>> 
>>>>> No problem.  I understand that different people have different
>>>>> experiences and perspectives, and I think it is important to
>>>>> consider
>>>>> both positive and negative.  Thanks.
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 10/31/13, Mike <blinkin4342 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> As a Fidelco client I completely disagree with the statement
>>>>> that Fidelco
>>>>> has contract issues.  The issues are definitely personal and not
>>>>> Fidelco's
>>>>> fault.
>>>>> I have had nothing but good experiences with Fidelco over the
>>>>> last three
>>>>> years and I know a lot of people who feel the same way.  There
>>>>> are a certain
>>>>> handful of folks on this list who have personal issues with
>>>>> Fidelco and tend
>>>>> to be much louder than the people who have good experiences.
>>>>> You should definitely read the contract to make sure you are
>>>>> aware of the
>>>>> rules.  That is the case with any guy dog school.  Just keep an
>>>>> open mind.
>>>>> Every school has good and bad things.  Every school has someone
>>>>> who loves
>>>>> them and hates them.  I'd recommend that you decide what breed
>>>>> you want, see
>>>>> what school meets your needs the best, and go forward from
>>>>> there.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Mike
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Oct 31, 2013, at 12:18 PM, "Larry D.  Keeler"
>>>>> <lkeeler at comcast.net
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> First, watch out for Fidelco! They have contract issues.  Before
>>>>> you
>>>>> decide, make sure you read and understand the contract.  The
>>>>> other thing,
>>>>> schools when possible do give you a choice.  Now always can they
>>>>> accomidate
>>>>> but usually they can.  I went to Pilot because I wanted a
>>>>> poodle.  They
>>>>> breed them down there.  However, I ended up qith a labradoodle
>>>>> wich is
>>>>> almost as good! As for training at school or at home, I think it
>>>>> would be
>>>>> more useful to train at hom.  But, if you know your
>>>>> neighborhood, it
>>>>> doesn't matter as much.
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shickeytha Chandler"
>>>>> <shickeytha at gmail.com
>>>>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 11:44 AM
>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dog Schools
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am new to the list.  I currently travel with a cane, but am
>>>>> very
>>>>> seriously considering getting a guide dog in the near future.  I
>>>>> am
>>>>> doing research on guide dog schools to see which might be best
>>>>> for me.
>>>>> I am considering Fidelco, Guiding Eyes and the Seeing Eye. Does
>>>>> anyone
>>>>> on this list have either particularly positive or especially
>>>>> negative
>>>>> experiences with any of these schools? If so, I would be
>>>>> interested to
>>>>> hear your feedback.  Also, I noticed that Fidelco does training
>>>>> at your
>>>>> residence, whereas the other schools bring you to their campuses
>>>>> for
>>>>> training.  I would like to hear perspectives about the
>>>>> disadvantages
>>>>> and advantages of each of these methods of training.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Finally, I know that various types of dogs are trained as
>>>>> guides,
>>>>> ranging from labs to German Shepherds.  I would like to know if
>>>>> schools
>>>>> give you a choice as to what type of dog you are paired with.
>>>>> Also, I
>>>>> would be interested to hear from anyone who has worked with dogs
>>>>> of
>>>>> various kinds; I'd like to know your thoughts as to whether
>>>>> there are
>>>>> distinct qualities that one breed possesses that another breed
>>>>> does
>>>>> not generally possess.  Of course, I am sure all dogs are
>>>>> unique, even
>>>>> within a breed type.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I know that is a lot of questions for one email.  Thanks in
>>>>> advance for
>>>>> any insight that you can provide.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Shickeytha
>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
>>> recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
>>> but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
>>> their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence
>>> 
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>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Raven
> 
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