[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

Shelby Young blindatbirth at gmail.com
Thu Sep 26 00:48:24 UTC 2013


I like to go for walks each day for about twenty minutes or more, so I know the dog will get exercise each day.  I have a pet dog, a small one.  
I'm looking at GDB's site now, and still considering the other schools I listed.  Leader dogs gives out something called a captin, does anyone know what this or anything?  
Shelby
On Sep 25, 2013, at 7:36 PM, "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:

> Another consideration is time. Having a guide dog will add at least another
> hour of time to your day. Your dog should probably get out to work at least
> every few days. Regardless of if the dog works during a day, the dog usually
> needs some other way to use its energy, especially when it is young ,
> although some dogs have less energy than others.
> 
> I got my guide dog from GDB. I like that school for several reasons. I am
> happy with the breeds that they have, and I feel that they make good
> decisions with their breeding program. They have a good number of grad
> services, including field representatives and vet assistance. I have not
> heard as many bad stories about GDB as I have heard about other schools. I
> also like the way that they treat the guide dog recipients for the most
> part. That is, there are no rules about not using your cane when you are not
> using your dog during training. This may not be a factor for some people,
> but I like the fact that the puppy raiser comes to the graduation if
> possible, and then you have the choice of staying in contact with the puppy
> raiser if you want; the school leaves it up to the puppy raiser and new
> handler. I also feel that GDB continues to try to improve their training for
> both the dogs and the handlers. For example, they switched from using choke
> chain collars to using martingale collars whenever possible.
> Also, just to clarify, although GDB does provide vet assistance, it is
> usually something that you have to get approved.
> 
> Nicole
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Shelby Young
> Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 5:14 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide
> 
> Mark,
> How long did it take them to match you with a dog?
> The other day I called guide dogs for the blind, and the lady told me they
> do not do in-home training because you need to focus all your attention on
> the dog for that two weeks. I just called a little bit ago and spoke with a
> guy, he says under special circumstances, like a single mom who has no one
> to leave her children with. That's my situation. He said that things may
> have changed and that they may not come out anymore, but to call back
> tomorrow and find out for sure. I will be doing that.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Sep 25, 2013, at 7:04 PM, "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Shelby,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I am a college student, so my training experience may be different than
> yours. The Instructor works with you for 15 days. Yes, you do get your dog
> on the first day, however, it is just spent doing paperwork, teaching you
> how to care for the dog, and bonding with the dog. No, there are no lectures
> as such that they give you before hand, however, on the first day they give
> you a packet of information to go over. This may have changed in the past
> two years since I received my dog, however, all the information was in
> print, not terribly accessible, so, you will either have to ask the
> instructor, or someone else, to read it to you, or scan it like I did.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Each day, the instructor will work with you at minimum for 5 or so hours,
> however, I don't know if there is some sort of set formula to determent how
> long the two of you work together on any given day.  On the first day the
> instructor brings you the essentials for caring for your dog, from memory
> they were 2 dog boles, 30lbs of dog food, a chew toy, pick up bags, a brush,
> the leash and harness, and, a mat for the dog to lie on.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Feel free to email me with any further questions,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Mark
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ----- 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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