[nagdu] School, breed and reasons not to/ to get a guide dog

[Donna Elliott]

I've read with interest the posts over the last two or three days.
All four of my guide dogs have come from Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a school I chose because 1 it was highly recommended by two O&M instructors, 2 it has a strong breeding & training department and dogs were adult dogs about two years of age 3 it has an excellent follow up program if a guide dog team has any problems, from a 24 hour trainers line, to home visits when needed, 4 there are vet funds available for yearly vet & med expenses as well as more serious problems, and 5 it has a friendly, family atmosphere.
All four of my guides have been labs.  None have been stubborn or quirky.  One was a bit of a sniffer but with a trainer's assistance we curbed the problem.  None have been scavengers, not even those treat trained.  Perhaps that is because they were trained to ignore food on the ground while training, while I was in class and I continued this at home.  I also continued daily obedience at home though I certainly mixed it up and added off leash obedience.  Lastly, I think my experience as a responsible pet owner before becoming a guide dog handler eliminated any questions of what I was getting myself into!
My guide dogs have increased my independence and self confidence.  I'll have a guide dog as long as it is physically possible.
I believe both articles about the cons and pros of becoming a guide dog handler were written by quite young authors.  Mature adults are far less likely to be put off by the minor inconveniences mentioned, having learned that life is full of all kinds of inconveniences.  
The positive effects of being a guide dog handler, from speed of travel, to the ability to train a guide dog to "find" multiple targets from seats, to stairs, to elevators, to doors, to buildings, to subway entrances, etc to weaving through throngs of pedestrians or all the other wonderful things they do just can't be compared to a cane for me.  I'll gladly take my guide out in any weather to relieve, knowing my guide will take me out in any weather to get me where I need to go.  A friend from GEB is 87 and planning on getting his next guide in 2016!  His present guide helps keep him young on their walks together.  I'd like to follow in there footsteps and paw prints.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 


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