[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

Steven Johnson blinddog3 at charter.net
Thu Sep 26 22:57:58 UTC 2013 

The current device that LD uses is the Kapten Plus which is a talking device
and about the size of a credit card.  They are working with the company to
develop another user-friendly device that will enhance the existing features
even more.

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sheila Leigland
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 9:35 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide

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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>>>>> ail.com
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