[NAGDU] I walked with a guide dog-in-training yesterday!

Tue Apr 11 22:49:50 UTC 2017

Hi everyone,

I wanted to address everyone's questions.

Buddy, thanks for saying the things I should keep in mind. Although I already know those things, it's always good to have a reminder... Gaia will be going for guide dog training in July. Anne said I was the first blind person Gaia had ever met. During my mini-walk, I had my cane in my right hand and Gaia's strap in my left.

Miranda, Anne is a very close of my friend and I, so her being a puppy raiser is pure luck for us. But there must be a directory of puppy raisers all over the country, or if not, maybe it can be started?

Jen
spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 6:37 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Buddy Brannan <buddy at brannan.name>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] I walked with a guide dog-in-training yesterday!

Bear in mind that, wonderful as guide dog puppies are, they're still puppies and have no formal guide training. They probably don't even have informal guide training. The job of the raiser is to socialize the pups and give them a good foundation to build on. That is, good public behavior and house manners and basic obedience. So the puppy will know how to walk nicely on leash. This really won't give you a feel for what it's like to work with a fully trained guide dog, because working with a harness vs. working with just a leash feels a *lot* different. This, by the way, isn't meant to discourage you, or reprimand, or anything like that. My aim here is to set expectations. Likely you already knew these things, but it's easy to get excited and not have the right perspective.

Having said that, I think this is fantastic, and it's a wonderful opportunity for you certainly, but it's a great opportunity for the puppy. We don't know how much exposure the puppies have to blind people or disabled people generally, and any exposure like that is good exposure. Positive exposure to blind people with canes, too, can do nothing but help. It's also great for you, because you'll have some idea of what it's like to have a dog right with you. No, it isn't the same as a fully trained guide dog, but especially with puppies, you get all the happy fun of keeping them settled and noses where they should be instead of where they shouldn't, for example. 

Finding puppy raisers could be a challenge. Not everywhere has them, or even has puppy raising clubs or groups. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name

> On Apr 11, 2017, at 6:08 PM, Miranda via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> I would love to have an opportunity like this. Does anyone know of a way to connect with puppy raisers in my area? I certainly would not want to impose on guide dog schools, as they are too far from me to come and have me just walk with a dog.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Apr 11, 2017, at 6:03 PM, Jessica Dail via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi,
>> This is great news.
>> 
>> I’m highly considering getting a guide dog eventually.
>> 
>> Do you know what breed of dog you worked with yesterday? Just curious.
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>> 
>> From: Jen via NAGDU
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 5:56 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Jen
>> Subject: [NAGDU] I walked with a guide dog-in-training yesterday!
>> 
>> Hi everyone!
>> 
>> So yesterday, a friend and I went out with a puppy raiser, Anne (not her
>> real name, to preserve privacy.)
>> 
>> Anne's dog, one of three dogs, is named Gaia. And yesterday, Anne asked me
>> if I wanted to walk with Gaia into the restaurant. I did, and it was so fun!
>> Gaia did not have a harness on, but she had a strap. She also had a jacket
>> that said she was a working dog. And Gaia may not be a guide dog yet, but
>> she's guide dog material - she's so quiet and friendly. And despite all the
>> distractions around her, Gaia was undistractible. And when you say "touch,"
>> she'll kiss your hand! Also, Gaia's pace was just right for me, not too fast
>> and not too slow, either.
>> 
>> I'm still happy with my cane but thought I would share this little
>> experience. Thoughts welcome!
>> 
>> Jen
>> spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net
>> 
>> 
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