[NAGDU] Questions About Getting My First Guide Dog

[Rachel Grider]

Thank you all for your advice! This makes me feel better. I am leaving
for NJ on Monday and should meet my new guide dog on Wednesday.
Getting excited!

On 5/24/16, Star Gazer via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 			I like the compromises others have suggested. In
> public, I'd bring the dog, your friend doesn't get to decide that. At home,
> in her home, then she does as do you.
> Really, you need to realize that relationships always change, people get
> married, have children, move away, find hobbies. Only you can know if you
> want t his change to happen. If no, then don't get a dog. If yes, then get
> one.
> I no longer have a dog. When I did, a good friend and I weren't very close.
> When I stopped using a dog, we became close. He just doesn't like dogs and
> that's fine. It put a crimp in our friendship while I was using one but he
> was never a butt head about it... he just didn't want to hang out when my
> dog was present, and I didn't want to leave the dog just for him.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tara Wiseman via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 9:40 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tara Wiseman <thflute at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Questions About Getting My First Guide Dog
>
> Hi, first of all I want to say congratulations! I have loved having a dog
> from the Seeing Eye! My brother has allergies to dogs and is also not a dog
> fan. Here is the compromise that we have come up with. If he is hosting a
> family dinner, and I have family taking me to and from, I leave any at
> home.
> If we were meeting at his house to then go somewhere where I would need to
> use Emmy, or if I were coming to his house on my own, I would be OK to
> bring
> Amy. I didn't make it totally clear at the beginning, but Amy is the name
> of
> my dog. Congratulations to you and keep us posted!
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On May 17, 2016, at 4:01 PM, Rachel Grider via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hello, Friends!
>>
>> I don't usually post to this list because, having never used a guide dog,
> I have nothing productive to contribute. This is shortly going to change,
> though, as I will be going to the Seeing Eye to train with a new guide dog
> in two weeks! I am very excited, though this decision has been a very long
> time coming. I am still unsure about some things, but I know that I will
> need to try it out in order to know for sure if a guide dog will be the
> best
> mobility aid for me.
>>
>> I have a few questions for y'all about adjusting to a new guide dog. I
> will probably think of many more as I proceed, but here are a few with
> which
> to start:
>>
>> 1. I teach private voice lessons. I have already notified my students
>> that
> I will be away for most of June, but I have not yet told them why. I know
> that it would probably be common courtesy to let them know that I am
> getting
> a guide dog before they show up to my studio and see my dog there. I am
> nervout about telling them because I don't know what kind of reaction I
> will
> get. What have some of you done in similar situations, and how have your
> students/clients/associates reacted?
>>
>> 2. I happen to own a cat who is not only quite territorial but also
> extremely emotionally attached to me; I mean, when I am home, this cat
> literally follows me around and is always trying to get me to either play
> or
> cuddle with her. The man who did my home interview didn't seem too
> concerned
> about her adjusting to a dog, but because the emotional well-being of my
> cat
> is extremely important to me, I cannot help being worried. I know this
> sounds really stupid, but I am afraid that because my dog will go with me
> whenever I leave my house, and then return home with me, my cat will begin
> to associate me with the dog and instead of growing used to my dog over
> time, she will resent me and not want to be around me as much. Am I reading
> too much into this? Regardless, what are some ways in which you have made
> the transition easier for your pets?
>>
>> 3. I have two good friends who are allergic to dog hair. Both of them are
> not worried about being around me with the dog, as long as I keep it
> brushed, but I am concerned that despite their reassurances, my
> relationships with them will suffer. One of these friends told me that
> service dogs have been brought to her house before, and as long as the dog
> stayed in the back yard, everything was fine. Is that appropriate to do
> with
> a guide dog? How have some of you dealt with this?
>>
>> That will be it for now. Any advice would be appreciated. I am counting
> down the days until I will get to meet my new guide, but I still want to
> make sure that all proactical considerations are made.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Rachel
>>
>> http//www.rachelgrider.com
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