[nagdu] German guide dog system

[Nicole Torcolini]

Ugh, insurance. In the United States, health insurance does not pay for
guide dogs, but they do definitely play games with trying to not have to pay
for things. Anyway...
There are several guide dog schools in the United States. Most do not charge
for a guide dog, and the few that do seem to charge only as a terms of
ownership or something but not nearly the amount for the training. That is
good that you found a school that you like. There has been a lot of
discussion on the list about the way that different United States guide dog
schools treat the dogs and the handlers. United States guide dog schools
have training completely at the center, part time at the center and part
time at home, or completely at home with some of the schools that that do
completely at the center doing completely at home in certain circumstances.
That is interesting about the exam at the end of the training. It sounds
like they have found a way to do it where it would not be biased. That is
good that the school offers follow up if needed. The different schools in
the United States offer different follow up depending on the school and
where you live. Yes, I agree that training in a familiar environment is
advantageous as the dog will most likely be looking to you for direction and
support, which is easiest to give when you know your surroundings. What are
the laws regarding guide dog access in public in Germany? Does the school
give you ownership of your dog?

Nicole and Lexia

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisa via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 7:40 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] German guide dog system

Hello everybody and thanks for the warm welcome!

I'll try to answer your questions in one e-mail, I hope i'm not neglecting
someone.

So, here in Germany, guide dogs are listed as things that help blind people.
Like a cane or a braille display. I know this sounds horrible but it's just
a law on paper that makes it possible the health insurance pays for the dog.
They do pay for those other helpful things, too. But since a guide dog or
its training is expensive, they try to refuse often. They make up reasons
why you shouldn't get a dog just to avoid the costs. Which is why I had to
struggle so long. Health insurances in Germany are rich, really, but
penny-pinching as hell. It's a terrible thing, in my opinion, to be so
dependent on them when it comes to having or not having a guide dog.

There are a lot of guide dog schools in Germany. I cannot estimate an actual
number but really, there are dozens. I picked one where I noticed that not
only the dog as a guide, but also a dog as an animal with needs was
considered. Sadly, it seems like some schools only concentrate on the guide
aspects and not on the dog itself. So I was happy to find this school where
it was so balanced.
Normally, the training phase has two parts: At first, you are working with
your new dog at a training centre and in the second part you go to your
place with the trainer and continue training there. At the end of the
training, there is an examination where an independent expert comes and
watches how you and your dog work together, if the dog obeys yu and if
everything is okay. If so, the training is over, the trainer leaves, the dog
stays, the health insurance pays and your life together starts. If not, then
the reasons are examined. So if the dog and you just don't match, it's okay.
The dog will get back to the guide dog school and you and your trainer will
start looking for another one. (Of course this could happen within the
trainng also, not necessarily during the exam).

The school I chose, however, does the whole training in your hometown. So on
September 8, the trainer is going to come to my place with Taylor. Then
he'll stay in a hotel for three weeks and work with me and Taylor every day
until I qualify at the end.
But still, if there are problems afterwards, the trainer can come back to
continue the training.
I like the idea of training where you live. I'm glad that I can stay here
and get to know all the new things in my familiar area.

And yes, I grew up with different dogs in my family. I love dogs and feel
prepared to have one living with me.

OK, this has gotten quite long. But I hope this is interesting to some of
you. :-)

Lisa



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