[nagdu] Just saw this: Guide dogs and athletes

Sat Aug 22 13:23:52 UTC 2015

This does seem rather contradictory since most guide dog programs have
held the attitude that running with our guides is dangerous. From what
I understand, all of the people that have run with there dogs decided
to do so on their own and their dogs didn't receive any special
training. I was given suggestions for running with my dog while in
class by a couple instructors who definitely had had the same
discussion with other people in the past. I wonder how many people
actually run with their dogs, special training or not? Probably not
many, but more than you would think...

Danielle and Thai
On 8/22/15, Buddy Brannan via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> It's dangerous for mere mortal humans and dogs, but, as you know, only extra
> super special dogs can be guides. Extra super duper special uber amazing
> dogs can be guides that run.
>
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>
>
>
>
>> On Aug 22, 2015, at 6:34 AM, Julie J. via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I am quite amused by this.  First the guide dog programs said that running
>> was dangerous with a guide.  Now they have a special program for it.
>> Hmmmm...
>>
>>
>> Julie
>> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now
>> available! Get the book here:
>> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
>> -----Original Message----- From: Buddy Brannan via nagdu
>> Sent: Friday, August 21, 2015 8:58 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Cc: Buddy Brannan
>> Subject: [nagdu] Just saw this: Guide dogs and athletes
>>
>> Pasted below is the article from PR Newswire. While Guiding Eyes claims
>> the first guide dog "certified" to work with an athlete, I think Pilot
>> would take issue with that claim, having trained a guide to work with a
>> high school cross country runner several years ago. They were on ESPN
>> even, so it's kind of hard to dispute. Seriously, if you're going to do
>> PR, it would be really great to actually use factual information.
>>
>> First Ever Guide Dog Certified To Assist Visually Impaired Runners
>>
>> YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Klinger, a two
>> year-old German Shepherd, will make history this week by becoming the
>> first professionally trained running guide dog to assist an athlete who is
>> visually impaired. Klinger's placement marks the initiation of the Running
>> Guides pilot program at Guiding Eyes for the Blind—an internationally
>> accredited nonprofit that provides guide dogs to those with vision loss.
>> With this, it is hoped a new expansion of the organization's commitment to
>> increasing independence for people with visual impairments will follow.
>>
>> The Running Guides program, still in the developmental phase, was
>> established to support the underserved community of runners who are
>> visually impaired. "This pilot program is focusing on the feasibility of
>> selecting and specially training dogs for their partners on approved
>> exercise routes prior to being issued in class," said Benjamin Cawley,
>> class supervisor for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. "We will continue to
>> build our techniques and hope to one day shift from an experimental pilot
>> to a fully-implemented program."
>>
>> Following a graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 22 at Guiding Eyes for
>> the Blind's campus in Yorktown Heights, Klinger will join his new partner,
>> Lt. Richard Hunter of San Francisco. It was while serving in the United
>> StatesMarine Corps that Hunter was diagnosed with degenerative vision
>> loss. Now an accomplished marathoner and triathlete, his work with the
>> United States Association of Blind Athletes led to his collaboration with
>> Guiding Eyes in organizing a panel of blind runners to identify the
>> specific needs and challenges that a running guide dog program should
>> address.
>>
>> The challenge with training a guide dog to work at a running pace is the
>> speed at which they are working, which is why the Running Guides
>> curriculum utilizes specialized training techniques to ensure dogs are
>> able to provide clearance and guide work tasks reliably at higher speeds.
>> The program has specifically addressed these and other concerns with
>> training that has seen Klinger login over 200 miles with sighted trainers
>> as well as those with vision loss.
>>
>> For Hunter, Klinger's graduation will mark an upgrade in quality of life,
>> offering him a new sense of independence. "Being active and pushing myself
>> to the max is a passion of mine. Having Klinger by my side to help in
>> training will be a tremendous help," says Hunter. "And the best thing
>> about having Klinger as a running buddy is that he can't cancel on me at
>> the last minute." The two will begin training for the California
>> International Marathon upon their arrival in California.
>>
>> For more information on Klinger's graduation, the Running Guides program
>> or Guiding Eyes, visit https://www.guidingeyes.org/.
>>
>> Guiding Eyes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides superbly
>> bred and trained guide dogs to men and women who are blind or visually
>> impaired. Dogs not suited for guide work may become service dogs for
>> children on the autism spectrum. All Guiding Eyes dogs expand horizons for
>> people to achieve life's goals.
>>
>> SOURCE Guiding Eyes
>>
>>
>> RELATED LINKS
>> http://www.guidingeyes.org
>>
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: 814-860-3194
>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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