[nagdu] Why I decided not to owner train.

[debby phillips]

Hey, I'm not saying that people shouldn't owner train if they can 
and want to.  And some of the things you say about dogs from 
schools is very true.  I don't get the getting into garbage, 
shredding stuff, not being able to be by themselves without 
making a fuss.  Between the time they go from their puppy raisers 
and finish training as guides, they seem to lose some of their 
house manners.  I will say though that Neena is improving.  She 
still shreds stuff, especially paper.  But it is becoming less 
and less, (though I doubt she'll totally ever stop).  As far as 
length of training, Seeing Eye made the change from three months 
to four quite some time ago.  I worry about the shortening of 
class times, even though it isn't easy to be away from home.  You 
made a comment about adolescent dogs.  I'm just curious about 
what age you think dogs should be trained and then turned over to 
us.  I know that there are dogs out there that are 16 months old, 
and to me that seems awfully young.  Neena will turn two in 
November.

I know that I don't have the patience, time, and all to train my 
own dog.  I'm grateful that I don't have to.  But I am curious 
about the cost of having a private trainer.  And where do you 
find trainers who know about guide dog training? Also, have any 
of you had dogs from a program that does home training rather 
than going away somewhere else? How did that work? Mind you, I'm 
hoping that Neena will be with me for the next ten years, so I'm 
not planning on doing anything other than making us the best team 
we can be.    Peace,    Debby and Neena