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

Tue Jul 8 05:14:53 UTC 2014

She does have a few points but you're right. The biggest issue I could see 
in the country is that the chance of your dogs running into some interesting 
creatures is higher. From just riding threw outlyuing areas here we've been 
stopped by bulls on the loose, horses in the road, and a couple of really 
interesting ones! A guy walking a kangaroo down the street and once at my 
Uncles house, a monkey popped out of the bushes! Here, I've delt with 
bunnies, skunks squirrels and wood chucks. And of course, my pets. Usually, 
if you tell your school where and how you live, they keep it in mind and 
give you great tips! Most schools also have training out in rural areas. I'm 
sure if she gets a dog, her school will give her tips specific to her living 
situation.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicole Torcolini via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Star Gazer'" <pickrellrebecca at gmail.com>; "'NAGDU Mailing List,the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "'Raven 
Tolliver'" <ravend729 at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 11:56 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Seeking information,new member interested in getting a 
dog guide


> Candy never said anything about livestock or farming. You don't know about
> the living situations of others, so let them speak for themselves.
>
> Nicole
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Star Gazer via
> nagdu
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 8:36 AM
> To: 'Raven Tolliver'; 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of 
> Guide
> Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Seeking information,new member interested in getting 
> a
> dog guide
>
> 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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