[nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs

[Darla Rogers]

Hi Raven,

	GDA does not put out dogs much below two year either, so far as I
know because they do buck the trends and do what they feel works.
Darla & Huggable Huck


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 5:48 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs

Hi,
This kind of maturity is not a matter of how young a dog behaves, but has
more to do with a dog's work ethic, physical maturity and endurance, and
behavioral consistency. Adolescent dogs are not done growing mentally and
physically, and they do not demonstrate behavior consistently as older dogs
do. Not that certain adult dogs are not difficult or stubborn, but
adolescent dogs are difficult on a completely different level. They do not
generalize as well, and they definitely go through short periods of what
seems like forgetfulness.
Personally, I attended a guide dog program that gives out dogs ranging from
2 to 3, and not any younger. I'm glad that they go against what seems to be
common with many US guide dog schools.
If I opt for a program-trained dog my next go round, I might not be so picky
about my dog's age. With my experience in dog training, I will be far better
able to handle a teenage dog. But as someone who had never cared for, worked
with, or owned a dog before, I felt it was imperative to get an adult dog
for my first guide.
I've corresponded with the guide dog school of Sweden a couple times.
I think it's great that they only issue adult dogs. What's also nice about
that program is that they are a very small school, so the trainers are able
to keep the dogs in their homes for the duration of their training, rather
than putting the dogs up in kennels. The kennel environment is incredibly
stressful on a dog mentally and physically, and it deteriorates some of the
manners dogs are taught by their puppy-raisers.


On 2/19/14, Sherry Gomes <sherriola at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think the same could apply to labs. My current guide is a reissue, 
> so she was three when we trained together. what a difference! I don't 
> want my next guide to be 18 months old as so many are when graduating. 
> Two years old is the youngest I'd want and I'd jump to have a reissue 
> again. Though having said that, Bianca, who was about 2 when we 
> trained and is 13 now is still young at heart and full of spirit and a
sort of happy puppy mentality.
> Olga,
> my working guide is 8 and has a very old soul. I'm sure she was always 
> that way even when she was a baby.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tami Jarvis
> Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 12:01 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs
>
> Ooh! Research! Poodles are said to mature later, both physically and 
> mentally, and I did find that with mine. She really came into her own 
> between 3 and 4. Then again, I've heard of a few people getting really 
> young poodles that seem to work out well. Okay. Off to read. /smile/
>
> Tami
>
> On 02/19/2014 10:22 AM, "Leye-Shprintse Öberg" wrote:
>> BS"D
>>
>> Raven,
>>
>> * "... I did some research and found a study on Seeing Eye dogs that
> concluded that goldens and GSds are more successful as guide dogs if 
> they're formal guide training is longer than the standard 4 months. 
> This is because these dogs mature around age 2, not 1.5 or 1.75 years, 
> which is when many schools seem to be pushing dogs through. Here's the 
> link to the abstract.
> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787806000256  ..."
>>
>> I think this is very interesting. I know that SRF:s 
>> Ledarhundsverksamhet
> (Guide Dogs Sweden) took the decision that the dogs needed to be 
> between the age of 2 and 3 years when they did the qualifying test 
> some years ago. The dogs here generally get around seven months of 
> training by a guide dog trainer. Anyhow, they think this has led to 
> more stable partnerships; I've any statestics tough.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> Leye-Shprintse and Hera <3
>>
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--
Raven

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