[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

[Larry D. Keeler]

Most schools give you your dog after the third day or so. I went to Pilot 
and am working a labradoodle. Holly and i have been together for 6 years.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shelby Young" <blindatbirth at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide


> Hi Mark,
> How long did they come train you for? How many hours a day was it? Did 
> they have class lectures or materials they wanted you to read over? When 
> the trainer got there, did you get your dog on the first day?
> Thanks for answering my questions.
> Shelby
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 25, 2013, at 4:23 PM, "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Shelby,
>>
>>
>>
>> I have a Fidelco guide dog. Others will bad mouth the school due to a 
>> poorly worded ownership policy, and an incident of them reclaiming a dog 
>> under circumstances that have never been fully explained to anyone. That 
>> being said, I have never had a problem with them, nor have several people 
>> I know who are also Fidelco clients.
>>
>>
>>
>> Like all living things, my dog is not perfect, and has good days and bad. 
>> Sometimes he does things that are not ideal, however, 95% of the time, 
>> his work is spot on, and I have never had a significant issue with his 
>> work.
>>
>>
>>
>> The schools give you all the essentials, thus making the startup cost 
>> essentially zero. However, you may choose to get some things such as an 
>> air tight dog food storage container, a tray to go under the dog boles, 
>> or a dog bed. All of these things are useful, but not essential.
>>
>>
>>
>> Something to think about when considering a guide dog is cost. Some of 
>> the recurring costs to consider are:
>>
>> Food (monthly approximately $80)
>>
>> Vet (yearly approximately $150)
>>
>> Grooming (monthly approximately 25)
>>
>> Supplements, flee and tick preventative, ETC (annually $250 EST.)
>>
>>
>>
>> These recurring cost will vary depending on several external factors and 
>> will be different for each dog guide handler.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shelby Young" 
>> <blindatbirth at gmail.com>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 4:48 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide
>>
>>
>>> Hello everyone,
>>> I do not have a guide dog yet, but in considering getting one. I have 
>>> posted on the blind parents list and blind parents group on Facebook, so 
>>> if this is a repeat I apologize.
>>> Where did you get your dog from? Where would you consider getting your 
>>> dog from? What breed of dog do you like the best, why and why not? Do 
>>> you have children while using your dog? What things what I need to 
>>> purchase for my dog before hand, and what things do the schools usually 
>>> give?
>>> I am looking into Fidelco guide dogs foundation or leader dogs for the 
>>> blind. I talk to Fidelco and like that they do and community placement. 
>>> I have a son, almost 14 months old and don't have the option to leave 
>>> him for at least two weeks. I spoke with leader dogs and they said they 
>>> could come to my home as well. They only do that on special 
>>> circumstances though. Leader dogs will send me the class lectures before 
>>> hand so I can master them. Does anyone have any thoughts on either of 
>>> these schools? Please let me know the good, the bad and the ugly.
>>> I am not completely set on getting a guy, it's just something I am 
>>> looking into and would like as much information as possible.
>>> I apologize for any typing mistakes, I'm using dictation on my phone and 
>>> don't have the time to go fix everything.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Shelby
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>>
>>
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>
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