[NAGDU] Training with my first dog while taking two light[er] online college courses?

[Star Gazer]

				Yes, you will be learning how to work with a dog and you will be learning how to work with a specific dog. It's like learning a sport and also how to work with your teammates, learning their strengths and weaknesses all at the same time. 
And, when you get home, everybody you meet will expect you to be fully functional. 

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2018 10:34 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Training with my first dog while taking two light[er] online college courses?

I wouldn’t do it with a first dog because there is a lot of stress you feel when you get your first dog. Your full attention needs to be on the training and the dog, not distracted in other ways. Jay MO.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 18, 2018, at 8:42 AM, Miranda B. via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I currently have a tentative class date to get my first dog at The 
> Seeing Eye in late May, but I'm admittedly impatient. I'm considering 
> researching whether it would be possible/practical to move my class 
> date up to April, and I would love input from anyone who has trained 
> while taking online classes. I do recognize that my goal and reason 
> for going is to train and bond with my dog, and I don't plan to be 
> locked in my room away from my classmates for every spare moment.
> 
> You may be asking why I don't consider a March class date. My 
> reasoning for this is two-fold. First, I am traveling out of the 
> country for the first time from March 17-24. Second, even if I was 
> staying home for spring break, I feel it would be less likely that the 
> school would have an opening in March.
> 
> As I noted, I'm traveling to the Dominican Republic with a team from 
> my university for an international field experience/study trip from 
> March 17-24. Recognizing that this would be my first trip outside the 
> United States, I'm thinking through the implications of possibly 
> moving my class date to as soon as one week after my return from the 
> Dominican Republic. I'm thinking through my reverse culture shock, 
> processing my trip, ETC. I'm wondering if a week at home would be enough time.
> 
> 
> 
> Next, if I were to move my class date from May to April, I would be 
> taking two online courses at that time, and my training would fall in 
> weeks 2-5 of those courses. When I wrote out a daily to-do list for 
> the 8 weeks of these courses, I noted a few pros.
> 
> The readings are relatively short and easily spread throughout each 
> week, the longest of which is 15 pages and would take approximately 30 
> minutes to complete.
> 
> Each class includes 15-20 minutes of video presentations per week, and 
> I could watch these while getting ready for breakfast on the weekends.
> 
> I have my required quizzes and discussion posts of 250-350 words 
> scheduled for the end of the week and weekends.
> 
> My two shorter writing assignments are able to be spread out, one of 
> which can span 2-3 weeks with some advanced preparation.
> 
> I'm estimating 1-2 hours per day during the week, and 2 hours per day 
> on the weekends for coursework.
> 
> I will have downloaded my course materials, discussion prompts, and 
> video presentations at the beginning of the courses, in order to 
> minimize my need to be online. This is in the event that I need to 
> rely on my phone's data plan for internet to submit assignments and 
> complete quizzes, in case the WiFi is unreliable.
> 
> Is this practical?
> 
> As my husband attended The Seeing Eye this past summer, I am familiar 
> with the long days and full schedules from 5:30 AM-8:00 PM. However, 
> my husband did note increased down time during the freelance portion of training.
> 
> Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.
> 
> Thanks as always for your feedback, and have a wonderful week!
> 
> 
> 
> Best wishes, Miranda
> 
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