[NAGDU] Hello, An Introduction from Heather With Ilsa

[Heather Bird]

         Wow, so glad to meet you, and all of the people who have 
responded to my introduction. It is always nice to hear from 
owner-trainers. My husband and I owner trained his current service dog, 
and there is a large stigma surrounding owner training, so having the 
opportunity to chat with fellow owner-trainers is really helpful. What 
an interesting cross. TSE had two litters of golden retriever GSD 
crosses some years ago. From what I've heard one litter was a complete 
failure and the other was a complete success. To me, that would seem to 
warrant further breeding, but they did not seem to think so. It is a 
shame. GSDs are amazing, but they are high drive, high need dogs, and 
crosses might help to provide a dog with some of the drive and special 
type of intelligence, but with a softened edge on their drives, 
instincts and energy level. Could you please share with us some of the 
temperament and personality characteristics of your GSD lab cross? I 
have told people that for a working dog, I far prefer a GSD to a lab, 
but that for a pet dog I would far prefer a lab to a shepherd. So, I am 
very curious about how these two distinctive breeds, both commonly used 
for guide work would combine in a single specimen. He must be a very 
beautiful dog. Is he a very short sleek coated GSD body shape with ears 
that perk half way up like on a collie? Or, is he a lab body type with 
slightly higher ears than a lab and a slightly bushier tale? Or, what? 
What are his top three best and worst personality traits and how do they 
contribute to his work? I am a total guide dog geek, so this is really 
neat to me.


Have a great day,



On 5/14/2017 11:38 AM, Wayne & Harley via NAGDU wrote:
> *Hello Ms. Heather,
> Welcome to the group!
> I'm Wayne and I'm currently working Harley D, a male American White 
> Shepherd X Labrador Retriever cross, my fourth Guide Dog overall, but 
> the first that I've Owner Trained. My first three Guides came from 
> Leader Dogs For The Blind. In addition I've Owner Trained two other 
> Guides  that were placed with two friends after they proved a better 
> fit for my friends than Harley did for me. Harley will turn seven on 
> 04 July. One of the other dogs that I Owner Trained was medically 
> retired due to the onset of hip dyspepsia.
> I am also a, relatively, new NADGU member and NFB-Illinois member.
> If you've any questions lay them on me. *grin*
>
> Wayne And Harley
>
> *On 5/5/2017 2:25 PM, Heather Bird via NAGDU wrote:
>> Hello. My name is Heather and I have a Seeing Eye dog named Ilsa. She 
>> is a black and tan German Shepherd Dog. She just turned two around 
>> Thanks Giving of 2016. She is my second guide from the Seeing Eye, my 
>> fourth GSD. I have previously had shepherds from Fidelco Guide Dog 
>> Foundation. I am a mother of two boys, who are both visually 
>> impaired. My mother is also blind and also a guide dog handler. My 
>> husband and my father are both sighted. I am a member of NYAGDU, as 
>> are my mother and my husband. I am also the chapter president for our 
>> local NFB chapter in Rochester NY.
>>
>> Ilsa is very bright, a bit softer than my first TSE shepherd, Frieda, 
>> but just as smart. My husband has an owner-trained psychiatric 
>> service dog, a seven-year-old smooth coat collie named Dante. He is a 
>> sable and he is a very soft, very intuitive sweet dog. My mother has 
>> a black lab named Octane from the Seeing Eye. I have her permission 
>> to disclose this fact and as many of my best guide dog stories 
>> involve both her and my dogs, you may see mention of Octane from time 
>> to time.
>>
>> I am also a member of IAADP. I am an attachment parent, student of 
>> social work, stay-at-home mom and a member of API, and LLLI. I am 
>> supportive of owner trainers, handlers of small breed service dogs, 
>> handlers with invisible disabilities. I am a big advocate of informed 
>> choice in guide dog training program selection, and a big proponent 
>> of the rights and responsibilities of all service dog handlers.
>>
>> That's the nuts and bolts of me as a handler. Please feel free to ask 
>> if you have any additional questions.
>>
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>
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