[nagdu] process of getting a guide dog from leader dog

[Raven Tolliver]

Julie,
Leader provides GPS units to their guide dog graduates. Those who take
the AMP are allowed to use it, but I don't think they are gifted one.
It's called the Kapten, and from what I've heard, it's a pretty
inexpensive device. I think it costs around $250, but don't quote me.

Debby, I don't think all guide dog users are reflective of their
particular guide dog program. GEB advises us to work our dogs on a
daily or several times a week basis. What that means for each person
is different. Some people walk about 3 miles each day because of their
schooling, employment, community service, errands, etc., and other
people use vehicle transport to most places and primarily work their
dogs indoors. If it doesn't seem like that guy's dog has a lot of pent
up energy, he is likely doing something with his dog.
At the same token, I understand what you mean. Too many people just
call a dog's name if the dog is being nosy or not settling, but don't
tell the dog what they want it to do. That is very irritating. My
family does that to the Golden Guy when they want him to come to them.
But he will not come unless you tell him to. Calling his name simply
gets him to look at you, and if you're not me, you might not get that
much since he is trained to only respond to specific tones of voice.

Regardless of how the special needs instructor worked with this guy,
it is still up to him how to handle, work with, and travel with his
dog.

John, people who don't have a good sense of direction rely heavily on
GPS technology. I think you would benefit from it greatly if you got
the chance to try it out and familiarize yourself with it.
Turn-by-turn directions would likely make you an improved and more
confident traveler.

You can aso Google walking directions to certain places, and write
them out or record them and take it with you. Even if you have to stop
and recheck the directions after every turn, you're still going
somewhere. The only way to improve your travel skills is to travel
more. Finding specific places to travel to helps because it
familiarizes you with different areas. When you do a route over and
over again, you don't have to be too concerned with sense of
direction.

I am offended for you at the instructor who said you wouldn't benefit
from a GPS unit. I don't know you or that person personally, but I'd
say that whatever expectations they have of people who use GPS tech
are unrealistic. If you can follow simple instructions and use a phone
or computer, you can use a GPS. Come on now!

The Commisssion, or whatever they call themselves now, are extremely
irritating. They should have no issue paying for O&M instruction for
you. The program at Leader didn't even cost them a cent, so what are
they whining about? Have you been to a training center? There is one
right in Kalamazoo. I've been there twice and had wonderful O&M
instruction that has proved extremely useful for route-planning and
exploring unfamiliar territory. Maybe you want instruction in your
particular area, and that's okay, too.
I just think most of the folks at the commission get paid for drinking
coffee and thinking about doing something, but I won't go there. Some
people there work really hard, and some people think about working
really hard.
-- 
Raven
Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
www.1am-editing.com

You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
have or what you do.

Naturally-reared guide dogs
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs

On 8/22/15, Debby Phillips via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Rox, although mostly I agree with you, I know for me having my
> first dogs with me as I went out and about gave me a lot more
> confidence.  When we first moved here in the winter of 2013, I
> learned a lot by walking with my cane, but I had just graduated
> from the Colorado Center a few months before, and I felt more
> confident about traveling around with my cane.  Plus I didn't
> want to be in a totally new neighborhood with a new dog.  So I
> did walk around a lot.
>
> But I remember when I moved to Portland in 1992.  I came home
> from Seeing Eye with Nat.  I did not know my neighborhood at all.
> But I walked around and got lost and got found again all with my
> third dog Nat.  It actually helped us bond, I think.  But there
> has to be a certain confidence and determination to do that.  You
> have to be very motivated to get out by yourself.  If you're not,
> then forget about getting a dog.  Work toward finding that
> motivation within you.
>
> I know a gentleman who has a dog from GEB.  He lives here in
> Spokane.  He was at my house recently for a meeting.  My husband
> commented afterward: "I kept waiting for that dog to bite him".
> The reason was that he just kept calling the dog's name and not
> giving him a command.  I'd have wanted to yell at him, "Shut up!"
> It would be like somebody saying, Debby, Debby, Debby? Debby! The
> guy adores the dog, but I think it's more like the dog has
> trained the guy.  Does the dog bring him happiness? Yeah, I
> suppose so.  But does the dog guide him? I don't think he does
> too much.  The guy uses Paratransit or a cab.  It's not my place
> to question GEB, but I just don't exactly understand what the dog
> does for him, other than provide companionship.  He's a nice dog,
> too.  I rode in a van with him and his dog for like five hours
> once, we were all scrunched together and he refused to take the
> dog's harness off, even though the dog would have been much more
> comfortable and taken up less space.  His reasoning? "My school
> wouldn't like it".  So I haven't exactly figured out why he has
> the dog, and what he does with the dog when he isn't taking
> Paratransit somewhere.  Perhaps someone could explain GEB's
> Special Meeds program to me, then I would understand a little
> more, perhaps.    Debby
>
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