[NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools

Mon Oct 26 17:28:32 UTC 2020

Hi everyone. Hope all are staying healthy during this pandemic. One thing
to consider is that the schools are doing things differently now than they
did before COVID. Another thing for firsttimers to consider is that if you
are open to any breed, you may get into class sooner.

For me, I've worked labs and a few shepherds. None of the shepherds worked
out. Two of them had issues I couldn't live with and the other was a good
dog but I sustained an injury that caused me to have to give up guide dog
use for a year. Two of the shepherds were from Seeing Eye the other from
Eye Dog in Phoenix. All three were very sweet. Even the one who barked on
buses and other public places that scared the public. Shepherd guides are
not that common in San Diego. For all three shepherds, the schools never
blamed me for the partnership failures. The ones from Seeing Eye had
behavior problems which caused their early retirements. After I retired my
previous shepherd, TSE wanted to give me another shepherd which I declined
because I was not wanting the behaviour problems. I wanted another lab
since I seem to work best with them. A shepherd is too active for my needs.
I am an older guy who has other physical issues besides blindness. Turns
out my sister who lived with me was diagnosed with alzheimers and she lost
her ability to walk. This happened a year or so after I got my current lab.
Because my sister is also blind, I had to take her on paratransit. My lab
adjusted to a reduced work load. I could only push my sister's manual
transport (four small wheels) chair to the other end of our city block to
our fave restaurant with me heeling my dog. With my very limited vision we
couldn't cross streets and push the wheelchair. I dont think I could have
done this with a shepherd. Now, my sister has had to move to a memory-care
facility and I just moved to a one bedroom apartment. With the pandemic,
there aren't my old usual activities that I use the public transportation
to get to. Ari and do get some more good working walks with going to stores
as I need to or walks in Balboa Park or down by the bay.

Heather, your very long post was most informative with good advice about
the various schools and about their breeds of dogs. I enjoyed reading it.

My advice to newbies to the guide dog life is to really know your needs and
desires and dealbreakers in the ideal dog for you. What kind of lifestyle
do you live, household make up (kids? What ages? Other pets?), etc. Be open
to breed you will accept. As far as scavenging goes, none of my labs were
big on doing that. It might happen very occasionally. Alot of that happens
when you aren't as attentive to what your dog is doing when you are in
areas where there is likely to be food on the floor or ground. A head
collar does wonders in discouraging this behavior. Nothing is perfect in
life. I love The Seeing Eye but acknowledge that they have their
imperfections. Schools are run by imperfect humans. Like all living beings,
there will be imperfections. Realize this as you explore the various
schools. Large or small every program has something for everyone's needs.

Lyn and Aristotle

On Mon, Oct 26, 2020, 8:24 AM Jordan Gallacher via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> September was right in the middle, and up until October 31st of 2012 when
> she was attacked, nothing phased her.  If I were to end up with a dog
> similar to her, I would be happy.
> Jordan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mike Hingson via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 11:06 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com; 'Tracy Carcione' <carcione at access.net>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools
>
> Tracy,
>
> Having received my latest black lab from GDB in 2018 I assure you that not
> all their dogs are too soft. The newer training techniques actually give
> GDB
> the ability to better train dogs for a variety of work environments.
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
> Michael Hingson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 6:36 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question Regarding Guide Dog Schools
>
> 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
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/nellie%40culodge.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/mike%40michaelhingson.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jordangandoliver%40gmail.
> com
> <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jordangandoliver%40gmail.com>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/gwizdaklyn%40gmail.com
>