[nagdu] Just saw this: Guide dogs and athletes

Sat Aug 22 13:30:21 UTC 2015

I think it is great that a school is training dogs to run with their
partner.  Remember, schools used to have policies against all kinds of
things but have changed those policies.  I hope they change with the
times.  Many blind people are much more active and want their dogs to
guide them in all activities.

On 8/22/15, Danielle Sykora via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053