[NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Megan.
My dog is from The Seeing Eye.  My boy is a lab, but they have enough
shepherds to easily serve the people who are devoted to that breed.  The
Seeing Eye does not do home training for first-time guide dog users, so far
as I know. Many people have asked, but I've never heard of anyone getting
it, as a first-timer.
They are an excellent school, and their shepherds are high-quality.

I had dogs from GDB for many years.  I was very happy with them, though that
was before GDB substantially changed its training methods.  I am not sure
that their current dogs are tough enough to work in the urban conditions I
live and work in.  I hear they're very soft now. But, more to the point,
part of the reason I switched to TSE is that I live about 45 minutes away
from the school.  I train in very similar conditions to the places I live
and work.  If I have a problem, someone can be out to help me pretty
quickly, much faster than it took for someone from GDB to arrange a plane
flight, if they felt it was worth that much effort.  I think it's something
to consider when choosing a school, if a person happens to live near one
they feel is of good quality.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Janell via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2020 5:06 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: nellie at culodge.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools

Hello,

I have a very good friend with a GS from Fidelco who is an absolute dream of
a guide dog!  He is a long hair, black male GS that has been a terrific
guide, could not ask for more out of a guide dog!!  I can hook you up with
him if you are interested, you can email me off line at:
nellie at culodge.com

Good luck in whatever school you decide on, Janell and Miss Rosy from
Occupaws out of Madison Wi

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Megan Borella via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2020 3:19 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Megan Borella <meganborella at gmail.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools

Hello,

I am in the process of choosing a guide dog school to apply to in order to
obtain my first guide, and was hoping to receive input from recent graduates
regarding the programs I am considering. I would very much like to work with
a German Shepherd, but have found that options for this breed are more
limited than I had expected. I live in California, and no schools in my
vicinity breed German Shepherds, which is why Fidelco's program caught my
eye. Their in-home training was also of interest to me, as I would prefer to
not have to go to a program in a different state for an extended period of
time.

However, as I have conducted more thorough research, stories I have heard
about Fidelco, its policies, and the quality of the guides it has produced
in the past decade have raised some serious concerns. Does anyone know if
Fidelco has undergone any improvements? Is their program worth applying to?
I also know that the Seeing Eye is another school that specializes in German
Shepherds, although I do not know if they would be willing to conduct
in-home training. Has anyone graduated from their program recently who might
be able to provide feedback?

Finally, I live very near Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., which I have heard
nothing but wonderful things about. I have visited their campus and adopted
one of their dogs through their career change program, and she could not
have been any better. My only hesitation about applying to their program is
that they do not breed German shepherds. Either way, the quality of the dog
matters to me more than the breed. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether
the quality of the schools that do specialize in German shepherds is high
enough to warrant submitting an application?
Thank you so much,
Megan
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