[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

Larry D. Keeler lkeeler at comcast.net
Thu Sep 26 02:18:25 UTC 2013


That is a GPS. I hear its not that great but, I don't know for sure. Being 
from Michigan, I see a lot of grads from Leader. It is certainly good that 
you and the dog will get exorcise! Dogs love it! They also love to sniff and 
check out stuff while walking!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shelby Young" <blindatbirth at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "Nicole Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide


>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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