[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

[rhonda cruz]

 hi shelby,
 i have a german sheppard from pilot. dogs.
 and. i've been working with her.
 for 4 years.
 i'm totally blind.
 

On Sep 25, 2013, at 2:23 PM, Mark J. Cadigan 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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