[nagdu] Guide Dog School

Elise Berkley bravaegf at hotmail.com
Tue Mar 10 03:45:30 UTC 2015


Yes, Rusty.  This is exactly what I am told is available for Becky.  Thanks 
for validating that.
Elise and Becky

-----Original Message----- 
From: Rusty Perez via nagdu
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2015 8:24 PM
To: Vivianna ; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School

I will add my impressions here about Guide Dogs For The Blind in
California / Oregon.

Since many details have already been mentioned I will not repeat.

In my experience, GDB has been completely financially supportive of my
dog's veterinary costs. My first dog had trouble with allergies which
required consultations and medications totalling over $1000 each year.
This lasted for the dog's entire working life and it was covered.
Recently, my current dog had some unexplained fainting spells. When
GDB was notified they authorized kardeology and nurology consults to
try and assess the problem. They have even been known to pay the
clinic directly if the clinic is willing to bill GDB.

Their followup schedule seems to have changed over the past few years,
but there is some sort of yearly followup for the first three to five
years I think, then every two years or so. But, the area rep is always
open to talk and will come out if necessary.

GDB has never required me to pay anything. The handler is incouraged
to pay as much of the vet bills as he or she is willing or able to
pay, but in my experience, reasonable and necessary veterinary care is
covered if requested.

It does feel a bit corporate, but the school, in my opinion, is very good.

The training program has also changed in the past few years, but I
believe retrains are one or two weeks, and GDB is willing to
accomodate students with special requests such as in-home training.

Good luck making your choice.

Rusty


On 3/9/15, Vivianna via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> pilot will pay up to $250 a year toward vet bills.
> and, yes, john was correct, they train the dogs for 6 weeks.  no way 6
> months.  as you recall, folks are receiving dogs that are 13 and 14 months
> old.  if, they get the dogs at 1 year, now then, how can they train them 
> for
> 6 months?  they can’t.
> that’s why i strongly advise that first time dog users do not go there. 
> the
> dogs are not solidly trained.  IMHO.
>
> Vivianna
>
>> On Mar 9, 2015, at 8:15 PM, Marion Gwizdala via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I must respectfully disagree with the statement that Pilot will pay
>> veterinarian expenses. I was contacted yesterday by an employee with a
>> state
>> division of blind services who has a consumer with a Pilot dog that
>> requires
>> medication that costs $140/month. It seems Pilot is refusing to help the
>> consumer with the expenses.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John Sanders
>> via
>> nagdu
>> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 12:38 PM
>> To: Raven Tolliver; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>> Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School
>>
>> Hi,
>> I'm a graduate of Pilot dogs.
>> Pilot dogs takes ownership of there dogs for two years before handing it
>> over to you.
>> The guide dogs are in formal guide dog training for 6 weeks.
>> Pilot dogs doesn't have a ceremony.
>> Pilot dogs will reimburse you for vet bills.
>> The only thing you have to do is send them a copy of  the receipt showing
>> that you paid for the service that the vet worked on the dog.
>> Pilot dogs is located in Ohio.
>> I just thought that I would  chime in.
>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>> Sincerely,
>> John an the always beautiful, always gorgeous  Mollie!
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Raven Tolliver via nagdu
>> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 12:05 PM
>> To: milissa61 ; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>> Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School
>>
>> Since ownership is prime for you, some alternative programs are Pilot 
>> Dogs
>> in Ohio, Guide Dog Foundation in New York, and Guide Dogs of America in
>> California. They all grant ownership upon completion of your training, 
>> and
>> none of them charge you for the dog.
>> I attended Guiding Eyes, so I cannot testify on behalf of the above
>> programs. Hopefully, grads from those schools will chime in.
>> I suggest clicking around those programs' websites and finding out what
>> they
>> offer to their students and grads. Consider what else is important to you
>> in
>> a guide dog school. Below is the checklist I provide to anyone looking 
>> for
>> their ideal guide dog school. The answers to most of these questions can
>> be
>> found on a school's website, or you can call the schools and speak with
>> their admissions staff.
>> Figure out what is important to you,.
>> What is the wait time between acceptance of an application and provision
>> of
>> a class date?
>> How long do students spend training at the school?
>> What is the student to instructor ratio?
>> Where is the school located?
>> Are there follow-up services to your home area?
>> Is in-home training offered?
>> What is the school's ownership policy?
>> How long do the dogs spend in formal guide training?
>> What training methods are used on the dogs?
>> How old are the dogs when they are given to students?
>> What breeds are offered?
>> Is assistance with veterinary costs offered?
>> Can you return to the school for brush-up training if necessary?
>> Do you have a choice in contact with your dog's puppy-raisers?
>> Is there a graduation ceremony?
>>
>> Here are the websites to the aforementioned schools.
>> pilotdogs.org
>> guidedogsofamerica.com
>> guidedog.org
>>
>> Good luck with your search for your ideal program.
>> --
>> Raven
>> 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 3/9/15, milissa61 via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> All my dogs have been from Guiding Eyes. They are a great school and
>>> the director of training is phenomenal. When you get a dog from
>>> Guiding Eyes, GEB owns the dog for the first two years. After that,
>>> you are able to apply for ownership provided your dog is in good
>>> health. GEB is very strict about making sure their dogs are not over
>>> weight. I like GEB's ownership policy because if anything goes wrong,
>>> (like the dog is being abused) GEB can step in and take the dog. They
>>> are not in the practice of taking people's dogs away. If something is
>>> wrong, they really go out of their way to help you straighten things
>>> out. But, I am glad it's an option. I've seen way to many dogs from
>>> schools that give ownership right away not be able to do anything if a
>>> dog is not being treated well or if the dog is overweight. Let me know
>>> if you have any other questions about GEB.
>>>
>>> Just my two cents.
>>>
>>> Milissa
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby
>>> Phillips via nagdu
>>> Sent: Monday, March 9, 2015 11:27 AM
>>> To: nimerjaber1 at gmail.com; semisweetdebby at gmail.com; nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School
>>>
>>> You might want to look at Guiding EYES.  They produce some great dogs,
>>> the training is very good, I'm told, (the Director of training was my
>>> first instructor at Seeing Eye).  I'm not sure what their ownership
>>> policy
>> is.
>>> I
>>> almost applied there before I got Neena, but at the last moment, I
>>> just couldn't make the change.  I've been getting dogs from TSE since
>>> 1981.  I have concerns too about some of the direction then are going,
>>> and concerns about their ability to do good follow up.  But for me, I
>>> just couldn't make the change.  Neena is a great dog, and I love how
>>> she works.  We will see, in the future, if I need follow-up
>>> if it will happen or not.  Good luck with your search.    Peace,
>>> Debby with Neena
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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/milissa61%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/ravend729%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/starmy22%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/blind411%40verizon.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/irishana%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/rustys.lists%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/bravaegf%40hotmail.com 





More information about the NAGDU mailing list