[nagdu] Breeds for successor

Tue Dec 2 13:53:54 UTC 2014

If I were thinking of training my own guide, I think I'd take a look at 
Airedales.  They're a nice size.  They have an all-weather coat.  They have 
terrier toughness, which could make them excellent city dogs, though it 
would add a challenge to training.  They've been successful in police and 
military work.  I don't know if this indicates aggressiveness--they are 
terriers--or a willingness and ability to do hard work.  Anyway, I think 
they'd be an interesting breed as guides.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Raven Tolliver via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Valerie Gibson" <valandkayla at gmail.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2014 2:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Breeds for successor

> Everything Valerie said is true.
> Boxers are not easy to train, and are not for everyone. They are high
> energy, playful, and very stubborn. Mind you, I've only worked with
> boxers in the shelter setting, and I trained my sister's boxer, so
> nothing in the ways of guide work. But Boxers can be more stubborn and
> distracted than black labs. Anyone handling a boxer must be firm,
> consistent, and extremely patient. It takes more patience to work with
> any guide dog than it does many pets, but boxers will require even
> more. It's like teaching the class clown to become the overachieving
> teacher's pet.
>
> On 11/30/14, Valerie Gibson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> hi,
>>
>> If you're going to use a boxer, prepare to have a puppy for about 8 to 10
>> years. lol  I'd recommend an active lifestyle, and preferably one where 
>> the
>> boxer can go everywhere with you, and I do mean, EVERYWHERE.  I know 
>> that's
>> a given with a guide dog, but boxers seem to become depresed if they're 
>> not
>> with their family all the time.  I had a boxer as a pet once, and she 
>> jumped
>> out of a second story window to catch a car that was taking me to school.
>> Boxers are the clowns of the doggy world, so keep that in mind.
>> They're great dogs, and eventually, if i have a family, I'd love to own
>> another boxer.  Not sure I'd want one as a guide dog though.  To me it 
>> sems
>> like trying to train the class clown to behave.  But that's just me. :)
>>> On Nov 30, 2014, at 8:53 PM, Aaron Cannon via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> What do folks think of using the Boxer?
>>>
>>> Aaron
>>>
>>> On 11/29/14, Tracy Carcione via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Julie J suggested as possibilities the Chesapeake or flat-coat 
>>>> retriever.
>>>>  I
>>>>
>>>> have heard the Chessies are quite large, and strongly work-oriented,
>>>> though
>>>>
>>>> I've never met one.  I've heard the flat-coats are a fairly mellow 
>>>> bunch.
>>>> TSE tried a couple, at some point.
>>>> HTH.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Karyn & Thane via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> To: "Nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2014 4:07 PM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Breeds for successor
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I'm trying to begin my thought process towards choosing a breed for my
>>>>> successor to Thane. Before I get any questions asked about him (ie- is
>>>>> he
>>>>>
>>>>> OK?, what will happen to him? Etc) Rest assured, Thane is fine. He 
>>>>> isn't
>>>>> in immediate need of retirement, but it takes me two to three years to
>>>>> train.
>>>>>
>>>>> He has had health problems (thankyou Lyme and its lifelong 
>>>>> complications
>>>>> due to late diagnosis) so I just don't want to tempt fate and lose him
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>>> be left scrambling to find and train a dog while also trying to
>>>>> accommodate my multiple disabilities (DB, incomplete quad) in the
>>>>> interim.
>>>>>
>>>>> I owner train my dogs for ALL of my disabilities. Its big paws to fill
>>>>> for
>>>>>
>>>>> sure.
>>>>>
>>>>> Though Thane and I have been a team for a little over 6 years, he has
>>>>> always been a bit on the small side at 21 inches tall.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am looking for a more resilient dog than my BC that sheds with a
>>>>> minimum
>>>>>
>>>>> height of 2 feet at withers. I don't want to spend all day grooming, 
>>>>> but
>>>>> can handle coats such ad golden retriever, rough coat Border Collie. I
>>>>> do
>>>>>
>>>>> all my own bathing, rinsing from wet muddy NW Oregon weather, 
>>>>> grooming,
>>>>> nail trims, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> Though labs make good guides, lets face it many can be shrimps so 
>>>>> unless
>>>>> I
>>>>>
>>>>> found an awesome adult male lab where I can be sure of height, they 
>>>>> wont
>>>>> fit the bill.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've been reading some of the recent posts regarding GSDs as well as
>>>>> some
>>>>>
>>>>> of Julies posts about Jetta's issues with the cold.
>>>>>
>>>>> My first dog was Border Collie GSD.  Thane is Border Collie. Some day 
>>>>> I
>>>>> want a GSD, but right now I really want a healthy dog also.  After
>>>>> reading
>>>>>
>>>>> about health problems others on the list have experienced with GSDs, I
>>>>> am
>>>>>
>>>>> leery of them right now. I prefer male, but most of that is experience
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>>> size based.
>>>>>
>>>>> I do live in a small apartment, but have access to an awesome dog park
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>>> trail system once trained for fixed route transit, a few other trail
>>>>> systems not too far from home and my folks yard in summer time.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now that I am healthier and more mobile, Thane and I have been 
>>>>> visiting
>>>>> the great dog park trail system where I am able to see size and
>>>>> temperament in some other breeds that I may not be accustomed to.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know many of you have been working dogs much longer than me, so
>>>>> thought
>>>>>
>>>>> I would see what some of you think about breeds that might be tall
>>>>> enough
>>>>>
>>>>> for what I am looking for. From there I can do more research and 
>>>>> narrow
>>>>> down my options. I will also be communicating with hearing and service
>>>>> dog
>>>>>
>>>>> lists so don't worry if you can't think of a good option for me, but 
>>>>> if
>>>>> you can, AWESOME!
>>>>>
>>>>> Karyn and Thane
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> Raven
> Stop being a victim, and choose to be a victor.
>
> Naturally-reared guide dogs
> https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs
>
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