[nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs (was: Why I decided notto owner train.)

[Nicole Torcolini]

Lexia went back to GDB for training  at fifteen months. She was ready to be
matched at twenty months, but she was held for one more month for me. That
put her at twenty-one months when I got her. I do not think that it was too
young, but I would not have wanted her any younger. Is there anyone on the
list who has been to GDB recently who has received a younger dog who would
be willing to talk about the experience?

Nicole and Lexia

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daryl Marie via
nagdu
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 1:02 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs (was: Why I decided notto
owner train.)

As I stated before, jenny was 18 months old to the day when we did our first
training session.  the first three months in particular were very VERY hard.
Tying into your other question about length of training, Jenny and her
brother, Topher, did 4 months of guide dog training; it could have been
extended further had the matching process been different.  BC/AB Guide Dogs
doesn't do training in Alberta during the winter months, which could start
as early as Canadian thanksgiving and last as long as past Easter.  Winter
is not a good time to test street crossing when it's -30 outside; stressful
enough just walking to the car in that!
So the school perhaps jumped the gun for both Jenny and Topher; but as for
me, Jenny and I have worked hard this past year and are really starting to
mesh like a good team.

Daryl

----- Original Message -----
From: Leye-Shprintse Öberg via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 13:25:32 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: [nagdu] Age of Qualifying Guide Dogs (was: Why I decided not to
owner train.)

BS"D

Debby,

In Sweden, the guide dogs qualify between the age of 2 and 3 years old
depending on how mature the dog in question is. Personally, I think it's
best for both the dog and the handler. I got Hera when she was 25 months and
2 days old; I wouldn't want to get her when she was 18 months since she was
still immature when I got her.

LeSholom,
Leye-Shprintse and Hera
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