[NAGDU] Guide dog schools

[lkeeler at comcast.net]

Pilot also helps out with vet costs some.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Passle Helminski via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 7:11 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Passle Helminski
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Guide dog schools

Hi Julie,

You do not have to pay for transportation to Pilot.  Pilot will do follow up 
on the phone and in person.  If needed they will pay your way back to the 
school for retraining and back to your home.

Passle

On Jul 21, 2016, at 6:20 PM, "Julie J. via NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Disclaimer, I've not attended any guide dog program.  I have owner trained 
> or hired a private trainer.  I have poured over all the schools offerings, 
> talked to numerous trainers, handlers and family and have just about 
> memorized that GDUI survey.
>
> Based on what you are saying the two schools that come to mind are The 
> Seeing Eye and The Guide Dog Foundation, in New Jersey and New York 
> respectively.
>
> GDB, GDA  and GDD are clear out in California.  GEB, Leader, Southeastern 
> do not give immediate ownership.  Some of the other schools are regional 
> only and I don't think you are in their service area.  Pilot is in Ohio, 
> but they don't do in person follow up and I think you have to pay for 
> transportation to the school.  Gallant Hearts is in Mississippi, but they 
> have a coownership agreement and I don't know if that fits in with what 
> you want. It's also a small school and I have no clue about wait times or 
> follow up.
>
> I'd just pick one or two and start the application process.  Remember you 
> are evaluating them just as much as they are evaluating you.  If at any 
> time during the process you get a bad feeling, just politely pull your 
> application and move on to other options.
>
> I wish guide dogs were like cars and you could take them for test drives 
> and negotiate options, but no such luck!  All my best on your adventure!
>
> Julie
> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now 
> available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> -----Original Message----- From: Andy B via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 4:37 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Andy B
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Guide dog schools
>
> From what I could tell, Seeing Eye looks like it would be the best fit. 
> They have everything I am looking for in a guide dog school. I can bend on 
> the financial help if needed. However, the other points are nonnegotiable. 
> Based on what you shared, it sounds like they will meet all of the other 
> needs.
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jul 21, 2016, at 5:12 PM, Nancy VanderBrink via NAGDU 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> My husband would be more knowledgable than I but I believe GDB helps with 
>> vet costs to some extent.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jul 21, 2016, at 4:36 PM, Andy B. via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> I have done extensive research on most of the schools out there. 
>>> However, I
>>> don't want to choose one if it appears to look good but has a bad 
>>> reputation
>>> with most owners. Here are the answers to the questions asked. Note that 
>>> I
>>> was approved for a dog at Leader dogs in Michigan. This was in 
>>> 2003-2004.
>>> However, I never attended because living conditions forced me to move 
>>> down
>>> state.
>>>
>>> what do you want in a school?
>>> Respect and dignity from the staff members. Both for me and the dog. 
>>> They
>>> must not discount or push aside any of my experiences in life, or lack 
>>> of
>>> such experience.
>>>
>>> How much time can you spend there?
>>> No longer than 4 or 5 weeks.
>>>
>>> Would you want to have a home turn over, or do something that was a
>>> combination of going there and returning?
>>> Both at home work and at their campus.
>>>
>>> What is their ownership policy, and do you want to own your dog outright 
>>> or
>>> do you want it to be a rental?
>>> Own it outright.
>>>
>>> How far would you want to travel to get the dog?
>>> I want to stay as close to home as possible [Virginia].
>>> What do you want in after graduation support?
>>> Lifetime support with occasional training at home. If possible, 
>>> financial
>>> support for extreme situations.
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy B. via 
>>> NAGDU
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 6:49 AM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Andy B. <sonfire11 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: [NAGDU] Guide dog schools
>>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I will start the process of applying for a guide dog soon. The only 
>>> stopping
>>> point now is which school to attend. Can owners give their experiences 
>>> and
>>> recommendations on what one to attend?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for your thoughts.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Andy Borka
>>>
>>>
>>>
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