[nagdu] Owner training questions

[Julie J.]

amber,

I would be happy to talk with you.  I'll send you my phone number off list.

To answer your questions briefly...yes, I relied heavily on the puppy 
aptitude test.  I also listened carefully to what the breeder was 
suggesting.   A part of the choosing is sort of instinct or intuition or 
something.  I used science and the breeder's experience to narrow down the 
options.  then when I went to look at puppies the pink collar puppy took to 
me more so than the others.  she was a strong contender anyway and the fact 
that she seemed to like me sealed the deal.  the cute factor is kind of a 
moot point, because all the puppies in a litter are equally cute, so you 
can't go wrong.

Costs...Jetta was $700 from a breeder.  My previous dogs came from rescue 
and were all around $100. I had all the usual expenses, vet, crates (you 
will need more than one if you are starting with a puppy), food, bowls, 
shampoo, brushes etc.  If you are starting with a baby puppy plan on some 
carpet cleaner and some chew damage.

I did take Monty to a beginner obedience class.  I think it was around $85. 
It was the only one offered here.  Jetta has gone to several levels of 
obedience classes, but where she goes there is a discount for service dog 
puppies.  Jetta also went to puppy play group when she was little.  Prices 
vary, but I'd anticipate $10 or so for a couple of hours.  If you find a 
training place you'd like, they could be a really great resource.

I make my own harnesses.  If you purchase one, you could expect to pay 
between $100 and $300 depending on materials and features.   I bought 
Jetta's puppy vest from Raspberry Fields.  I want to say it was around $30. 
She's used the same vest all throughout her puppy training.  They adjust 
quite a bit.  With Monty I just had an "In training" patch clipped to his 
harness.  I think it was something like $10 to $15.

I've had sighted family members help out with things like setting up 
obstacles and traffic training. You might need to figure in extra 
transportation costs, depending on your particular situation.

HTH
Julie


-----Original Message----- 
From: Amber Meloy via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2014 4:42 PM
To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
Subject: [nagdu] Owner training questions

Hi all,

There has been a large amount of discussion recently about owner training on 
the list and since I have decided to get a new guide dog, I have made a 
number of decisions, and I am now considering another one.

The first decision that I made was that I wanted a poodle because I would 
not have as much problem with hair.  I searched and searched but the only 
school that I could find that issued poodles to anyone who did not have 
allergies or someone in their family with allergies, was Pilot Dogs.

I applied and continued to research various topics about poodles, about 
training methods, about how I felt about training etc etc.  As I searched, 
and the more questions I asked myself, the more I started thinking that 
maybe I wanted to owner train.

There are a lot of things that I am very unsure how to handle, and I am 
writing here in the hopes of finding some advice.  I understand that having 
a grasp of the training methods you choose to use is essential, and I have 
every intention of practicing alone and in my head and reading before 
actually attempting to teach a dog anything.  But before I get to the point 
where I teach a dog anything, there are a few things I have to take care 
of…such as acquiring the dog…

And so this brings me to a few of my first questions:

What strategies have you, as an owner trainer, used to find the right dog? 
I have read a lot about a test that is done to test temperament, but I do 
not recall this test’s name at the moment, nor do I know for sure that this 
is what is used.  I understand that no one can be absolutely guaranteed to 
have made the right choice; that dogs wash out; that this is a fact I may 
have to face.  But there has to be something that you did in the beginning 
to say, yes, I think I’ll give this dog a try.  You didn’t pick him or her 
because s/he was cute.  Or cuddly.  Or energetic.  Or did you?

Another big question I have is about costs.  Before anyone comments that of 
course there will be costs, don’t.  I understand that.  But what I am 
looking for is a general idea of some of the things you bought/paid 
for/services needed, and maybe an average of how much that 
thing/service/experience costed you.  For example, if I choose to get 
various vaccines, I can look those up anywhere.  Any vet’s office will let 
me know those things.  If I want to know about the cost of a crate, I could 
look online or go to a pet store.  If I want to know the cost of foods I 
will feed, I can find that information.  But what I’m looking for 
information on is acquisition of your dog; acquisition of puppy vest for 
still in training; acquisition of harness; any assistance for sighted 
assistance in training, whether that was for training traffic checks or for 
observation only or for a trainer’s professional opinion etc.  Expenses that 
aren’t readily available for me to just look up.

Finally, if anyone is willing to talk with me off list, I would be very 
grateful.  If there is such a thing as a list for owner trainers so that I 
am not cluttering this list with my questions, I would also love to know 
about that as well.  I joined the clicker solutions list and am hoping that 
when I come across a problem with particular behaviors I am trying to shape 
that this will be a viable resource.

Thank you all for your input, however much or little it is.

Amber M
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