[nagdu] Figuring out what I need in a dog

[Darla Rogers]

Dear Jewel,

	As you have already heard and figured out for yourself, even the
most careful matching process might not work as the instructors and you
hoped.
	I changed schools more about attitudes than their dogs; then after
another large school, I went to a smaller school to get Huck, and I couldn't
be happier, though I'd not put down either GDB or Seeing Eye.
Darla & Happy Huck


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jewel
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 4:10 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Figuring out what I need in a dog

Thank you guys for the advice and suggestions. I guess by friendly I meant
s/he wouldn't be standoffish toward others when she isn't working. I've seen
some dogs, particularly poodles and GSD's that are one-person dogs all the
way.
Faye came from the Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, NY. They have been a
huge help in this process and I wouldn't even consider changing schools. I
don't think it had anything to do with the school, but just rather a dog
that isn't meant to be a guide. Thank you for asking, though. Sometimes,
you're right, it might be time to look elsewhere.
If I have three failed matches, I will consider a new school, but this is my
first guide and my first from GDF.
Thanks again for all t he advice and suggestions! I just sent in my guide
dog application to the school, because my instructor said he might be able
to get me into the March 31 class. Faye would go back to the school on that
date either way. I'll keep y'all updated.
~Jewel

On 3/3/14, Alyssa <alyssahenson95 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Where did you get Fay? Do you think it's time to look for another 
> school at all. I like Raven's idea of getting a golden. You just need 
> to figure out if your school has this breed. I'm currently 
> transitioning between dogs as well. Sophie was quite the food driven 
> little girl. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.
> Alyssa
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Mar 3, 2014, at 9:06 AM, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi all,
>> As it gets closer to time to relinquish my current guide dog, Faye, 
>> back to the school, I am thinking about what kind of dog I need and 
>> want. Maybe you guys can help me figure out what to ask for.
>> *I need a dog that doesn't get bored walking slow, but also doesn't 
>> get distracted at these slow speeds.
>> *I need a dog that is trainable (to other small tasks, like standing 
>> still to help me stand up off the floor), but isn't overly 
>> food-driven *I need a dog that's soft enough to give me emotional 
>> support, but tough enough to handle city and university walking *I 
>> need a friendly dog, but one that isn't going to great everyone s/he 
>> comes across.
>> *I need a  dog that will take city or country walks all in stride, 
>> particularly going off-trail hiking.
>> *I need a dog with lots of energy for working around a university, 
>> but not so much energy that I can't relax on the weekend.
>> Maybe I've just described what I need myself, but I don't know how to 
>> take that and write it in a way that makes real sense to instructors 
>> and the school. Any advice?
>> Thank you all for your support and help so far. I don't know what I'd 
>> do without this group.
>> Yours,
>> Jewel
>>
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