[NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools

[d m gina]

Original I am not able to open the site, says it can cause problems.
Don't remember the wording, but that is ok.
Hope the rest of you can enjoy what is out there.
I was just interested.
Dar message:
> Here is a link to a guide dog school survey provided by GDUI. The survey
> covers many areas from training, types of breeds, home or training at
> school, meals and more!

> https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/gdui-school-survey/

> Best,
> Sarah

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Charlene Ota via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 2:21 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Charlene Ota <caota4 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools

> Hi, one thing to always keep in mind is that one person's experience isn't
> always a good way to evaluate the schools by. Over the years, I've heard
> criticism of one school or another based on rumors and one dog or one
> person's experience. Once the handlers leave the school, sometimes they
> don't follow through with things like they should, so just be careful in
> basing decisions on what you see from a graduate. Mike had good advice about
> asking all your questions when you go through your interview. I had a
> shepherd as one of my guide dogs and I'd make a couple of comments. He was
> an excellent guide, but being as smart and as he was and with his strong
> personality, I'm glad I had him when I was young and had the energy. I
> needed to find alternative routes to go places so he wouldn't get bored and
> I really had to commit to keep up his training. He liked to challenge me
> once in a while! If you're looking for a shepherd, I'd consider whether you
> are wanting to be pretty active all the time. I always said that boy needed
> a job, he wouldn't have been a good pet in somebody's backyard, there
> probably wouldn't have been much left of it if he'd been left alone every
> day. But, don't get me wrong, again, he was a wonderful guide. When you're
> looking at getting a guide dog, you might consider your lifestyle, how
> active you normally are, what kinds of circumstances you'll be in most of
> the time. In the end, I think we all appreciate dogs that are focused,
> compliant, well-behaved, don't require a lot of constant attention. I wish
> you all the best getting your first dog!

> Charlene

> -----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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