[NAGDU] Guide dogs of America

[Elizabeth Rene]

Hello fellow Listmates,
Having just rejoined this list after an absence of several years, I've enjoyed Reading everyone's comments about their experiences at The Seeing Eye.
My eighth guide dog, Scotty, died in late November after a shockingly short struggle with lung cancer. He was seven years old. It is only just now that I feel ready to begin the process of applying for my ninth guide.
I would like to know if anyone has recently trained for a guide dog at Guide Dogs of America (GDA) in Sylmar California.
I have gotten my last three Guide Dogs from there, and they have all been successful matches, but my old guide dog instructor friends have all retired and the school has expanded its focus to include service dogs for people with other disabilities such as PTSD and autism. It's a very small school, and has had a reputation for giving extra support to students who need it while offering extra challenge to more able veteran guide dog handlers.
Living on the west coast as I do, I'm tempted to go back to GDA because it's so close. Yet they can't afford to make in-home visits, Service dog and guide dog classes may share the building simultaneously, they sometimes seem overprotective, and there is a bit of an emphasis on using the white cane with a guide dog. I spoke with the training manager today, who is also blind and a wonderful person, and he spoke of using the white cane on the Juneau walk so that students could know what to expect on the route –such as deep curbs and big cracks in the sidewalk. I can see the wisdom of having a cane handy in case of unexpected emergency, but wonder about using one to scope out a route before traveling with one's dog. I've never needed it for that purpose before.
I would truly like to hear other peoples opinions of their recent experiences at GDA. TSE grads are welcome to chime in too. I remember the old days when guide dog instructors told people to put their canes away once matched to their dogs. I like to see more flexibility in peoples ability to choose whether or not to have a cane with them. What are handlers experiencing at their schools and beyond regarding the use of white canes with their dogs? Do all schools approach this question the same way? Somehow, to me, getting out a cane while navigating with my dog seems to say to the public," I'm lost." But I have some usable vision. Opinions may very, so I'd like to hear yours.
I'm also applying to The Seeing Eye.
Thanks.

Elizabeth M René 
Attorney at Law 
WSBA #10710
KCBA #21824 
rene0373 at gmail.com