[nagdu] Seeking information, new member interested in getting a dog guide

[Star Gazer]

The country isn't as laid back as people think. It's at the pace of the
growing season for both crops and animals. I can see why Candy would have
concerns especially if she farms or tends to crops and livestock. A mama
horse having a baby requires just about as much help as a human mama. Hay
needs to be made at certain times. Weather impacts this. Hay is also very
very flamible so you can't just toss damp hay into the barn and wait for
another day.  The country is great, but I wouldn't call it laid back, just
different from the city.
Raven's answer is correct in that guide dogs are trained for both the city
and country. You will have to integrate the dog into your lifestyle and that
integration is something you and the dog both have to work at. 


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2014 6:28 PM
To: Sean Robertson; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Seeking information, new member interested in getting a
dog guide

Candy,
Guide dogs receive proper training to live with other pets, and also to work
in different kinds of environments. Obviously, different dogs favor
different working environments. Guide dogs are just as perfect for the
bustling city as they are for the more laid-back country.
rural travel is a part of formal guide dog training, and also a focus in
class for the students. You can also inform your class instructor that you
would like to focus ,ore on rural travel with your dog during class.
If you have some really unique circumstances that you think might be
difficult for you and your dog to work through independently, you can either
look into home-training, or ask for follow up service.
Home-training involves training with your dog in your home environment.
Follow up involves an instructor or field rep visiting you in your home
environment after you attended class at the school.
The instructor will offer assistance with guide dog mobility, and some
training or troubleshooting tips.
One school you could look into for home-training is Guiding Eyes. I believe
the program is 10 days. I don't think they prefer this for 1st-time guide
dog users, but if your circumstances are special enough, you will likely be
able to make it happen if you get accepted.
There are over a dozen schools in the country. Here's a checklist of factors
that will help you get started on deciding which ones you will want to apply
to:
ownership policy
training methods
location of the school
length of class time
class size
home-training offered
assistance with veterinary expenses offered age of dogs issued breeds
offered puppy-raiser contact graduation ceremony

This list is not comprehensive; however, it includes some of the factors
that are most important to prospective students. Some factors are more
important to certain people than they are to others. For instance, I was
more hell-bent on breed than anything else, and I also wanted an adult dog
because I had never owned or cared for a dog beforehand. My secondary
concerns were financial assistance with veterinary costs and getting into a
school in NYC. Other people focus on ownership or training methods as a
primary concern.
Decide what matters to you most, then research the schools that offer what
you want. Don't settle for less than what you want unless you exhaust all of
your options.

On 7/5/14, Sean Robertson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Candy welcome to the list. My name is Sean, I liv in a rural part of 
> the country too. And I had two guide dogs so far. I'm soon to get my third
dog.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Candy Berg via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2014 2:14 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Seeking information,new member interested in getting 
> a dog
>
> guide
>
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>>
>>
>> I  just joined this mailing list in hopes of getting some information 
>> regarding dog guides and schools. I  am totally blind, been so all my 
>> life, I've always wondered about switching from cane travel to dog 
>> guided travel but with school, busy career, etc., I  never fully 
>> explored this option.
>> I
>> want to do so now. We live in a  rural area, so my travel needs don't 
>> involve heavy traffic situations, more open areas (rural roads and
>> beaches)
>> which seem to me would lend themselves particularly well to dog 
>> guided travel. I  love dogs and have always had them as pets; I  know 
>> a  dog guide is a  completely different relationship and 
>> responsibility. The other reason I'm investigating dog guides at this 
>> time is that my last pet dog died a few months ago, so I  don't have 
>> the issue of introducing a  dog guide into a  household with a  pet 
>> already in residence.
>>
>> I would appreciate anyone's input on my situation, including thoughts 
>> about schools; I'm especially interested in programs with some 
>> community training element given the nature of where I  live and my 
>> travel needs. Any input would be welcome, or suggestions where I  
>> might research all this further.
>>
>> I
>> live in northern California.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Candy
>>
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>
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--
Raven
"if God didn't make it, don't eat it." - John B. Symes, D.V.M.
http://dogtorj.com

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