[NAGDU] Questions About Getting My First Guide Dog

Fri May 27 12:51:55 UTC 2016

I think the hardest thing for me with the first dog was giving over some of
the responsibility that I used to take using a cane to the dog. I wanted to
know all of the things about my environment that I used to know with the
cane because I trusted me more than the dog. Now I sort of wonder why I felt
that way, having retired the dog and gone back to using a cane.
Lots of wonderful times and happy trails, Rachel.
Cindy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rachel Grider via
NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 5:28 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Rachel Grider <rachel.grider at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Questions About Getting My First Guide Dog

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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