[nagdu] a dog for Tom was Washington DC metro area puppies (add Rockville ADA)

[Marianne Denning]

Julie has stated it very well and clearly.  I would also recommend
that you become actively involved in your state and local NFB so you
can be with other blind people who are walking or have walked the
journey you are on.  We all come to acceptance of who we are at
different places along that journey.

On 9/11/15, Julie J. via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Tom,
>
> You've had a lot of different ideas with a variety of accompanying
> questions.  I'll try to address all the options and my thoughts about each.
>
> This is probably going to be very, very long.  Go get a coffee now before
> you start reading this!
>
> Option One: a traditional guide from a program
> You've been rejected from two programs and have come to the conclusion that
>
> this isn't for you.   I've written extensively before on why I think you
> were denied.  You are fairly newly blind.  You haven't learned how to use a
>
> cane very well yet.  You do not travel with your cane very frequently.  You
>
> are not accepting of a non visual means of mobility.  It will be extremely
> difficult for you to suddenly quit using your vision to move about and rely
>
> on the dog.   Learning the underlying skills of orientation that are
> necessary to be able to use a guide dog effectively can take a few months
> with significant daily effort or even a couple of years.  Learning the
> larger skill set of accepting your blindness, being seen out and about with
>
> your cane, feeling comfortable with relying on non visual means of
> mobility...those things can also take a few months to a few years.  I know a
>
> few people who have been blind for a long, long time and are still trying to
>
> hide it.
>
> If you  want a guide from a program, I think that is possible.   Work on
> your blindness skills and reapply in a year.  there are a large number of
> programs in the U.S. and I am reasonably confident that at least one of them
>
> will accept you.  In short, you applied too early and are not ready.
>
> A guide from a program has some significant advantages.  It is an adult dog
>
> with all of the core training already done.  You will receive training on
> how to best utilize the skills of the dog.   You will be provided with
> information about your rights when accompanied by the dog.  In most cases
> you will have access to follow up services if you should run into any
> difficulties.
>
> Option Two: training your own service/guide dog
> It is completely legal to do this.  Three of my four guides were trained by
>
> me.  The fourth was privately trained for me by another blind person.
> However, training your own guide dog is much, much, much more involved than
>
> might appear at first glance.
>
> You still have to have the basic blindness skills.  The dog is not trained
> when you begin, so you still have to be able to use a cane to get about.
> If you start with an adult dog, it may take a few months to a full year to
> train the guide skills.  If you start with a puppy, it can take up to two
> years.  Owner training is not a quick fix by any stretch of the
> imagination.
>
> Add on to the training time, the time it will take to find a suitable dog to
>
> start with.  This is actually the most time consuming part of the whole
> thing.  Start with an unsuitable dog and you have just signed up for a lot
> of frustration and disappointment. Start with a dog who is suitable but
> needs a lot of socialization or fill in the gaps training and you will have
>
> the opportunity to learn patience on a grand scale.   Start with a suitable
>
> and ready to learn dog and the guide training is time consuming, but fairly
>
> straightforward.
>
> All of this is assuming that you have a background in dog training of some
> variety.  If you know nothing about dogs or dog training you will have to
> learn all those skills.   The steeper your personal learning curve, the less
>
> likely you are to be successful with owner training.
>
> I'm not trying to be harsh, but owner training is simply not for everyone.
> It takes an incredible amount of work and dedication.  You need to have good
>
> overall blindness skills, excellent orientation skills, the time, the
> financial ability to cover expenses, an understanding of dog behavior and
> training, a good understanding of how guide dogs work, a solid dog to start
>
> with, people to support you, a sense of adventure, a bit of fearlessness and
>
> a heaping helping of commitment to the process.  Some of these are
> absolutely essential and non negotiable.  Other items on this list can be
> learned as you go.  The more of these you have, the more likely you are to
> be successful.
>
> There are obviously advantages to owner training.  The main one is the level
>
> of customization.  I, personally, find it rewarding to train my own dogs,
> but I do a lot of things I find rewarding that others think are nutty.  I
> like to learn new things, to problem solve and all things DIY.
>
> Option Three: raising a puppy for a program
> If you want to do this, you really need to Google service or guide dog
> programs in your area and see what's available.  To be clear this is a
> volunteer project.  It will not be a trained dog.  It will not do anything
> to help you with your disability.  You will have no right to portray the dog
>
> as a service dog.  It isn't.  It is a dog who may one day be a service dog,
>
> but is currently a puppy, nothing more.
>
> Generally you would be expected to keep the dog for about a year, perhaps a
>
> little more.  You would teach the dog basic obedience skills like: sit,
> down, stay, come, etc.  You would teach house manners like: not getting into
>
> the trash, not jumping on people, relieving outdoors, not stealing food and
>
> anything else the dog needs to know to live peacefully with people.  You
> would socialize the dog, meaning taking the dog places to get him used to
> daily life with a person.   these might include: parks, stores, various
> modes of transportation, restaurants, etc.  It is possible to properly
> socialize a puppy while taking them only to pet friendly places.  Health
> care and food establishments are the only places where laws restrict pet
> dogs from entering.  Everywhere else, the florist, the hardware store, the
> hair salon, the computer repair, outdoor cafes, farmers markets and the
> like, it is up to the individual store owner whether or not they will allow
>
> dogs.
>
> Others have explained the legal issues with service dogs and service dogs in
>
> training.  Here's a review:
> In order for a dog to be legally a service/guide dog under the ADA it must:
> 1. be individually trained.  This means the training is completed.  The dog
>
> has basic obedience, socialization, manners and advanced task training.
> For a guide dog the advanced task training includes: avoiding obstacles,
> indicating environmental features, and responding to directional cues.
> 2. The handler must have a disability.
> 3. The skills the dog has been trained to do must mitigate the handlers
> disability.  If your disability is blindness and the dog is trained to alert
>
> you to the doorbell,  this isn't a legal service dog for you.
>
> I cannot stress enough that it is the disabled person who has the right to
> be accompanied by the dog to mitigate a disability.  A service dog has no
> civil rights.  Legally it is no different than a wheelchair.  A service dog
>
> is a tool, like a white cane, used to mitigate a disability.  White canes
> have no civil rights.   Think of a guide dog like a white cane in regard to
>
> legal issues.
>
> Raising puppies that may grow up to be guide or service dogs is a worthwhile
>
> endeavor.  It is needed and appreciated.  If you feel this is a volunteer
> opportunity that fits your lifestyle, then go for it.  Please understand
> though, it's not a service dog.
>
> Option Four: a pet dog
> I've had pet dogs all of my life.  I love dogs, enjoy having them around and
>
> would have a dog even if I decide at some point to not have a guide dog.
> There are health benefits to having pets, lower stress levels and
> companionship among others.  Having a pet dog is a perfectly respectable
> option.
>
> You can teach the dog anything you like, obedience skills, fun tricks, to go
>
> on nature hikes...even competition dog sports.   There are loads and loads
> of things you can go and do with a pet dog.  There are clubs to join and
> lots of pet friendly places to go.  If you want a dog for the sake of going
>
> and doing things with a dog, then there are lots of dogs who would love to
> join you.
>
>
> There are other options like private trainers, service dog programs for
> other types of disabilities other than blindness, having no dog, a mini
> horse and probably others I'm not thinking of at the moment.  The above are
>
> the most popular choices though.  I'd encourage you to work on your
> blindness skills diligently for a bare minimum of 6 months.  If you have the
>
> opportunity to get blindness skills training from your state's agency, then
>
> take advantage of that.  In the meantime, think very, very carefully about
> what it is exactly you want from a dog.   Do you want a companion to watch
> TV with?  A free spirited dog to free run along side you as you go hiking?
> A dog to indicate overhead obstacles? A way to get involved in your
> community?  All of these are totally legitimate wants in a dog, but what
> exactly you want and need will determine what type of dog will fit into your
>
> life.
>
> All my best to you!
> Julie
>
>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053