[nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question

Mon Jan 27 21:14:22 UTC 2014

Marion, I don't know how many times and how many folks come to me and say 
something like my doctor says I need a dog, how do i get one. Clearly, some 
don't know have any mobility skills to speak of. I am currently trying to 
convince someone I know not to get a ddog. She has a fair amount of sight 
and doesn't want to use her cane. She does need it in the dark or where 
lighting is poor but only wants to be identified as blind when its 
convenient for her. She just lost her pet dog and now wants to get a guide 
dog. As I know the woman and do a lot of volunteer work with her in town, I 
think its a bad idea for her but, what can ya do! She'll probably get one 
and only use it when its fashionable. She says she also needs the dog for 
balance as well. But, the school she has applied to doesn't do balance dogs. 
I asked her for what balance issues and she said that she has a hard time 
with ice and her stairs. Any way, I am a firm believer in learning to travel 
on your own before using a dog. I waited 45 years before trying the dog 
thing and I love it! Well except for when the general public tries to tell 
Holly where I want to go! That doesn't work!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "National Association of Guide Dog Users" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 3:56 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question


> Barb,
> I agree with your assertion that there are those who should not receive a 
> dog until they have better O&M skills. O&M is the basic skill of travel, 
> whether by cane or dog. Some training programs require proficiency in cane 
> travel as a prerequisite for training, while others seem to believe the 
> myths held by the general public that a dog will solve a blind person's 
> mobility problems. If the person cannot get there independently, how can 
> that person give the dog the proper direction to get them there? .
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> barbandzoe at comcast.net
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:10 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question
>
> HI everyone, I hope you and your dogs are staying warm.
>
> I have not gotten my dog yet, and I am also looking at Fidelco.  but the 
> reason I am sending this is because, everyone talks about ownership, and 
> Yes I do think it is nice to have the ownership, but I also see why some 
> schools don't let you just take the dog and run.  I think with all schools 
> there should be a time of about a year, on your first dog, before you have 
> ownership, because this way the school can make sure you know how to 
> handle a dog, both as a guide and as a pet.
>
> I say this because I have been watching a couple of guys in my city who 
> have  guide dogs, and they don't seem to know how to travel by themselves, 
> and then they have to tell this poor confused dog which way to go.  They 
> get off the bus and stand there just trying to decide if they should go 
> left, right or forward.  the dog is just standing looking around and then 
> at his person waiting to go. How I know that the people on this list are 
> probably some of the better dog users, because to me you wouldn't be on a 
> list like this if you didn't care about your dog and helping other with 
> theirs.   But I see this and I think to myself, why did they give these 
> guys a dog, because to me he looks like he needs a bit more O&M training 
> before he can be responsible for this dog. I say this because when I talk 
> to the schools, they tell me time and time again, that I need to walk and 
> work these dogs almost every day to keep their skills sharp, No problem. 
> So I think, does the school know how the guy travels and is this still OK. 
> I have also seen some very good dog users and the dogs seem so much 
> happier and confident in what they are doing.
>
> As I look at the  things people say and have said about their best and not 
> so best guide dog school, It looks to me that you find a school with the 
> kind of dog you want and the kind of training you can do, plus if you want 
> to travel a long way from home or stay nearby.
> I chose Fidelco because I wanted a GSD, and if I were to take four weeks 
> off work, I wouldn't have job to come home to. I think most of the schools 
> are very good, we mostly near about them when things go wrong.  there are 
> a lot of people out there that have guide dogs from all the schools and 
> are very happy in their choice.  so I think you need to look at what they 
> offer and see which one feels right for you.
>
> Barb
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "National Association of Guide Dog Users" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 5:09:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question
>
> Matt,
>        Please read my article in the April 2011 Braille Monitor concerning 
> Fidelco and my blog post at
>
> Harnessup.wordpress.org
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Matthew 
> Dierckens
> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 3:57 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question
>
> Hello everyone.
> I thought I'd come over here and introduce myself, and I have a bit of an
> inquiry.
> My name is Matt, and I am from Ontario Canada. I am hoping to get a guide
> dog sometime in the future, my goal is to have one by the end of this 
> year.
> I've done extended research and spoken to various schools.
> I came across this school called Fidelco. If there's anyone on this list 
> who
> have had experiences, good or bad with Fidelco, I'd like to hear about 
> them.
> Thank you. :)
>
> Matthew Dierckens
> Macintosh Trainer
> Blind Access Training
> www.blindaccesstraining.com
> 1-877-774-7670 ext. 4
>
>
>
>
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