[nagdu] Getting a dog guide

Thu Sep 26 23:50:46 UTC 2013

One of the reasons I waited for my dog was because of the kids. I have 3 kids ranging from age 3 to 9. When I did go for training, I had my husband look after the kids. He was lucky he had long service leave. Even after getting the dog home, you still have to spend quite a few weeks getting used to the dog.
Steph

Steph

----- Original Message -----
From: Star Gazer <pickrellrebecca at gmail.com>
To: "'Nagdu Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2013 10:44 pm
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a dog guide

>
>
> The lady you spoke to is right to a point. You will need to focus your
> attention on the dog, so you will need another adult life form to do
> childcare while you are starting out with the dog. You can get in home
> training (though maybe not from GDB) but you will still need someone to look
> after your son. 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Shelby Young
> Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 8:14 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
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> nagdu mailing list
> >>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
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> >>> 
> >>> 
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> >> 
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> > 
> > 
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> om
> 
> 
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Mum to 3 kids
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