[NAGDU] schools giving Shepherds to first time handlers..

[madison.martin2000 at outlook.com]

Hi all,
I was telling my O&M instructor the other day about meeting a lady with a German
Shepherd guide dog and I told him that I don't think I'd want a Shepherd as I
don't want people to be afraid of my guide (I know they aren't aggressive but
still not everyone would know that and I don't want people to be scared of my
guide which is also why I don't want a Doberman) and also I know that sometimes
they need a firmer hand then a Retriever though I know every dog's personality
is different but I don't think I have the ability to handle one successfully. He
said that schools don't give Shepherds to first time handlers; so I'm just
curious with the exception of Fedelco since they only train Shepherds is this
generally true or is it a case-by-case thing? Just curious as if it's generally
true then I wouldn't have to exclude schools simply because they train Shepherds
but if it's a case-by-case thing then I may have to exclude schools that do
train them so that if I were to get excepted I wouldn't be worrying about
whether or not I'd be matched with a Shepherd as I know for a fact that I'd
worry about it (I know that I could tell them that I don't want a Shepherd but I
know that the pickier you are about what you do/don't want in a dog the longer
it'll take/the harder it'll be to find a suitable match). I'm not currently
applying to anywhere; I'm simply asking out of shere curiosity. Look forward to
reading peoples' thoughts/hearing about their experiences!!!! Thanks
Madison