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

Tue May 16 21:27:29 UTC 2023

Hi all! I have a German Shepherd named Kahlúa, and I have to say getting a
shepherd as my second dog has been the best decision I’ve ever made. My
first dog, from Guiding, Eyes For The Blind was a bouncy, happy yellow lab!
I am glad that I went with a lab for my first dog as I integrated into
Being a dog user from being a cane user. It is true, German, shepherds, are
extremely loyal, fast walkers, and have a hard pull! There are several
qualities that I love in her, but they are very high, strong and extremely
attached, which has been a challenge sometimes.
I think it’s all depend Aunt, upon the needs of the Guide Dog User whether
they choose to have a German shepherd as their first or second, or even not
at all. :-)

On Tue, May 16, 2023 at 3:22 PM Diane Graves via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> 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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-- 
My best,
Tina Reisner