[nagdu] choosing a particular breed and reasons why?

[Sherry Gomes]

I love goldens, my current guide is a golden. But I have special needs, and
since all my dogs have been from GDB and they know what I need, years ago I
had to choose between waiting up to a year or more for a golden or accepting
the best dog for my needs. I had a golden before from 1990 to 1999, and she
was the best dog I ever had till that point. I wanted another golden so
badly but for a long time, GDB just didn't have goldens. They had no
breeding stock and they had trouble finding good breeding stock to meet
their needs and requirements. I understand that for a while, goldens became
extremely popular due to movies like Air Bud and Homeward bound, and puppy
mills played havoc with the breed for a while. I don't know how true that
is, just what I've been told from several sources. GDB has worked hard to
reestablish their goldens and they have several in training every all the
time now. Last year, when I was applying for retraining, I told the person
who did my home interview that of course, with my special needs I'd be happy
with any dog, I've loved all my sweet labbies after all. And the best
working dog I ever had was a lab, though her house manners were terrible.
Lol. I went on to say, but if there just happened to be a suitable golden or
cross that I'd really love it. and I got my golden girl. So, in some way, I
don't have a breed preference because I need to be able to take the best dog
for me or be prepared to wait forever, but if I could always have my choice,
I'd take a golden every time. Petunia is funny and sweet, a good worker,
cautious, focused and slow, perfect house manners and just plain fun to have
around.

Sherry



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
nagdu
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 6:04 PM
To: Pam; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] choosing a particular breed and reasons why?

Hello:

I always request a female golden.  That is the only kind of dog I've had for

the past 20 years.  In my 40 years of using guide dogs, I've worked with a 
male golden, a lab and a shepherd but, my favorite and preference is the 
golden.  I love their long luxurious coat.  I do not like the male dogs 
because the ones I had either peed on my feet or humped my legs.  To me 
those behaviors are unacceptable.  In my experience, the golden is more 
sensitive, gentle and easier to handle than the more   hyper stubborn labs. 
Now, I know this is only my experience and some of you have different 
opinions about labs.  I always hated it when schools said they don't like us

to have breed preferences.  I always tell them that we don't tell them what 
breed of pet to have or what kind of car to drive so, they shouldn't object 
to our request for a specific breed.

Last year when it was time for me to retire my golden Tara,  , I had schools

tell me they did not train goldens, they only had labs.  I am not sure why 
so many schools are not using the golden anymore.  Many of us on this list 
can honestly say, golden retrievers are wonderful guide dogs.  Pilot Dogs 
was the only school willing to offer me a female golden so, that is where I 
went.  Eva was the only golden that Mike had in his group of dogs.  The rest

were two male poodles and male labs.  I'm thrilled with Eva.  Due to 
arthritis and multiple sclerosis, I use a cane for balance.  Eva is gentle, 
with a very light pull and moderate pace.  She is easy to control, never 
needing leash corrections.

Sandra and Golden Princess Eva

-----Original Message----- 
From: Pam via nagdu
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 3:11 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] choosing a particular breed and reasons why?

so just wondering if any of u chose a particular breed as a guide dog and 
your reasons why? I didn't mind what breed I got as long as it suited my 
needs but I was told I would be getting a sensitive dog. I know a couple of 
people who always go for shepherds so they usually have to wait a bit longer

for a new dog when the time comes.

Sent from my iPhone
_______________________________________________
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/sljohnson25%40comcast.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/sherriola%40gmail.com