[nagdu] Just saw this: Guide dogs and athletes

Sat Aug 22 18:26:59 UTC 2015

I've been running with three of my guide dogs and we had no problem.

Margo and Isis

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tina Thomas via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2015 1:59 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Tina Thomas
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Just saw this: Guide dogs and athletes

I have never heard that running with your guide is unsafe. If the person is running long distance, then it could work. Now, I could see issues with a dog running short distances such as 100 meters. What is up with all of this negativity anyway. 
JMO. 
Tina  

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle Sykora via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2015 6:24 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Danielle Sykora
Subject: [nagdu] Just saw this: Guide dogs and athletes

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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.c
>> om
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2012.0.2258 / Virus Database: 4365/9976 - Release Date: 
>> 08/21/15
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/buddy%40brannan.na
>> me
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dsykora29%40gmail.c
> om
>

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/margo.downey%40roadrunner.com