[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

Thu Sep 26 14:35:14 UTC 2013

the captain is a gps unit. I don't know much about it though.
On 9/25/2013 6:48 PM, Shelby Young wrote:
> 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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