[nagdu] Guide Dog Schools

Shickeytha Chandler shickeytha at gmail.com
Thu Oct 31 21:22:24 UTC 2013 

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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>
>
> --
> "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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