[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

Thu Sep 26 12:36:44 UTC 2013

Nicole is spot on about the time. There are tasks you will need to do
everyday with a guide dog because you are relying on the dog's
functionality. This isn't true with a pet. Pet dogs should probably be
walked everyday, but if you don't, you aren't expecting them to function as
a mobility aid. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 8:37 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide

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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