[nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs

Thu Feb 20 18:35:44 UTC 2014

I too have to say that some of this is very dependent on the dog's personality and just like people, some of them never grow up, while others are born about 30. I have had four dogs issued under the age of two and only one of them didn't work out. She could have been fifty and it wouldn't have mattered. some dogs do not want to be guides. The other three were absolutely excellent dogs and I am glad I got all the time possible with them. I never felt like an assembly line was in place. Trainers have mentioned that these wondrous critters have such a short life anyway, it's good if they can do the job well at a young age and we get the benefit. I know that some dogs are held because they need a bit more time in training. though it may not be common, it has occurred.

I had a dog that was three when I got her. I had a great relationship with her, but she was also very set in her ways and could not be shaped in much of any way by me as her handler. This is not always good either.

Kristeen & Mendle, who was 21 months old when I got him and has the soul and the steadfastness of a very old and wise one.

On Feb 20, 2014, at 2:17 AM, Shannon Dyer <solsticesinger at gmail.com> wrote:

> I understand that everyone has their opinions and preferences. However, I feel the need to point out that all three of my dogs were under the age of two when I got them. Each was solid in his or her own way. I've never felt like I was part of an assembly line. GDF pays very close attention to the matching process. I never wondered about the maturity of any of my dogs. After all, you can have problems with a dog even once it is past two or three. It's a matter of what you're comfortable dealing with.
> 
> Shannon and the Acelet
> 
>> On Feb 20, 2014, at 12:15 AM, Raven Tolliver <ravend729 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> That's good to hear. They are doing right by their dogs and their
>> graduates by hanging on till 2 years of age. Some of the schools that
>> push the dogs through earlier are indulging in assembly line
>> evaluation and training, in my opinion.
>> 
>>> On 2/19/14, Darla Rogers <djrogers0628 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 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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>>>>> com
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>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Raven
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Raven
>> 
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