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

Tue May 16 21:21:39 UTC 2023

Hi All,

I think the Shepherd sounds like an awesome breed, and have heard they are extremely loyal dogs. Unfortunately for me, I have also heard that they also have a hard pull, and move very quickly. These are qualities which, sad to say, I do not have. I am not a fast walker and so have been told I would likely not be matched with a shepherd if I go back for a 2nd dog. Can anyone tell me whether this information is accurate, or are there, in fact, shepherds that are more gentle?

Diane Graves

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jody ianuzzi via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 3:23 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jody ianuzzi <thunderwalker321 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] schools giving Shepherds to first time handlers..

Hello Madison,

Oh you don’t have to worry. I am a shepherd person and I only want a shepherd. I have on shepherds as guys and pets for over 50 years! I love the breed. The only schools that train Shepard at this point are limited. Fidelcois really the only school that exclusively trained shepherds but all the other schools are more than happy to meet your request. 

  When I applied to the Seeing Eye I’ve requested a male shepherd that walks fast and that’s exactly what I got and he is a love of a dog JODY

To Boldly Go  🖖🏻 

thunderwalker321 at gmail.com 

"What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS  Erik Weihenmayer

> On May 15, 2023, at 2:34 PM, Paul Ferrara via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Madison, this should not be a concern since most of the schools will not match you with a shepherd unless you ask for one.
> That may not be true for everyone in all cases but is true enough of the time that you shouldn't have to worry about this.
> 
> Paul Ferrara, CPACC, ADS, Certified Braille Transcriber Communications 
> Accessibility Editor, Dot6 American Printing House
> 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 Main 502 895 2396 
> pferrara at aph.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Madison Martin via 
> NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 2:26 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: madison.martin2000 at outlook.com
> Subject: [NAGDU] schools giving Shepherds to first time handlers..
> 
> 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
> 
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