[nagdu] i'm getting my first guide!

[Craig Heaps]

How wonderful.  I went through my first week of training wiht a dog that 
didn't walk fast enough.  And it just didn't work.  So they switched me to 
Chase, a fast walker.  What a wonderful feeling to have a dog that feels as 
if it just fitrs.

Blessings to you as you go forward.

Craig and Chase
craig.heaps at comcast.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fatmir Seremeti via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2014 3:59 PM
Subject: [nagdu] i'm getting my first guide!


>
>
> Hi all!
>
> Ive been a member of this list for about 6 months now and i have learned a 
> lot. i really enjoy reading what you people write. Especially following 
> those getting new guides.
>
> I Applied for a guide dog in may of this year and got a visit at home just 
> a couple of weeks after i sent in my application.
> I was eligible for a Guide dog so now i had to wait for an information 
> course that would be in the end of October of this year.
> I Felt very angry and disappointed that i had to wait for so  long but i 
> didn't really had a choice.
> How ever time whent by and October came.
> about a week before I was to go to this info course in Stockholm i had a 
> person call me and ask if i wanted to go to a meeting with people 
> intrested to get a guide dog, get some more info, talk to guide dog owners 
> and if we where lucky we would have a instructor there and we would get 
> the chance of walking with a dog.
> I of course took the chance and i will be for ever happy that i did.
>
> There i met Gibson a male black labrador and we really found each other 
> instantly.
> Gibson is three and a half year old and he has been out working for a year 
> but for some reason it didnt work out with this girl that he was at. He 
> was back at the school. There was nothing wrong with Gibson at all. It was 
> more a matter of bad matching meaning that Gibson is a fast walker and 
> needs lots of activity and this person couldnt provide it.
> I really enjoyed this day and it seamd that Gibson also liked me.
> One week later i was in Stockholm with 8 other people 10 dogs and fore 
> days of info, dogss, food and trying all sorts of dogs with instructors. 
> We learned everything from the raising a dog to taking care of a dog, we 
> got to feel and walk with dogs. Walk with all diferent sizes of dogs.
> I got to walk with real big labradors to realy small ones. I also got the 
> chance to walk a lot more with Gibson.
> I like them all but no one fellt as good as Gibson. He is a middle hight 
> dog and i feel very natural and comfortable walking with him.
> The course was fast over and I was so happy that i had the chance to meet 
> Gibson again but also sad that I had to leav him and that I probably would 
> never meet him again. I Knew that there are about 30 people waiting to be 
> matched with a dog and that my chances of getting a dog so soon was very 
> slim.
> I also knew that Gibson has to go out working quite soon because of his 
> age.
> I Whent to a goalball tournament during last weekend in Stockholm and even 
> though we won my head just wasn't quite there. I kept wondering if there 
> is any chance that i would get Gibson. non of the people who was at the 
> course really connected with Gibson as i did but i couldnt know if there 
> was any other waiting since before who would be matched with him.
>
> This monday i finally got the magical call from one of the instructors.
> He told me that they had noticed my connection with Gibson and that he 
> knew we would be a perfect match and that Gibson was mine if i wanted him.
>
> I immediately replyed that i would love to have Gibson so i am going to 
> Stockholm for a week of training with him on monday the 17th November and 
> on monday the 24th the training will continue at home.
>
> I am so happy guys so i thought i would share this with you.
> Hugs to you all from
> Fatmir and Gibson
> Skickat från min iPad
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