[nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach

Thu Aug 27 17:21:55 UTC 2009

Hi Tami,
Hope your visit with your friends went well.

I forgot to say, when Landon and I meet a new dog - or his friends - we 
allow the dogs to greet each other.  Under control. I find that if the dogs 
are allowed to greet, they are much more willing to then settle down to 
working.

Linda and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach

> Thanks!  I was poking fun at myself for those little bouts of nervousness
> about the "real" Seeing Eye dog.  And I am very interested in seeing how
> Mitzi does around another working dog!  It's a fun time trip, with hiking
> and a picnic and just good friends, so that will make it more relaxed for
> all of us.
>
> My friend and her dog do seem to be a real good match, and she shared a 
> lot
> during her time at TSE.  I was impressed, and so far this dog seems to be
> exactly what she wanted/needed.  I'm tickled pink. /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Linda Gwizdak
> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:56 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>
> Hey, Tami,
> Just relax and enjoy your visit with the Seeing Eye team!  If you're all
> nerved up, so will Mitzie and she'll really act up! (grin!) However, do
> expect Mitzi will act different if you don't usually work with other guide
> dog teams. She will definately be distracted by a new dog around. But, 
> make
> her behave!  This is true for any person - school trained or 
> owner-trained -
>
> who doesn't work with other guide dog teams.
>
> If your dog does act up, how you handle it is what people will notice, not
> that your dog has acted up.  Make Mitzi know that you expect good behavior
> from her whether you are working alone or with other guide dogs.
>
> When you apply to a guide dog school, you and the school work together in
> finding the right dog for you. Most of the time it works quite well -
> especially if you are very clear in what you want, what your needs are, 
> your
>
> lifestyle, etc.
>
> Most of the time, when you are getting a guide dog for the first time,
> you're not as sure as to what you want in a guide.  But, the application 
> is
> very detailed in its questions about you and your lifestyle.  They do 
> either
>
> an in-person interview or a video with you in your home area - at your 
> home.
>
> With all the info the school gathers they make a selection to what they 
> feel
>
> would be a good match for you.
>
> I have had nothing but good feelings about The Seeing Eye.  I was treated
> like a mature adult. When you go there, they expect you to be a mature
> adult.  I've been getting my dogs from there since 1997 and have no plans 
> of
>
> going anywhere else!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Linda and Landon
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>
>
>> Excellent point!  So now I'm trying some reverse projection, if you will,
>> wondering what I would do if, say, I traveled cheerfully off to guide dog
>> school, got settled in to a new place, met lots of new people, was all
>> excited and filled with nervous anticipation...  And they presented me
>> with
>> a lemon?  Given a 28-day period to deal with this theoretical problem 
>> dog,
>
>> I
>> would like to think that I would come to my senses at some point and 
>> "just
>> say no" as you suggeest.  Then again, I know myself, so I really hope I
>> never have to face that one. /grin/
>>
>> Funny thing.  I like to think I'm "over" the whole guide dog mystique
>> phase
>> of the guide dog newbie.  I can certainly talk rationally and, at times,
>> cynically about the pros and cons and issues and other nitty gritty
>> details...  But tomorrow Mitzi and I have an outing with a newly minted
>> guide dog team.  A Seeing Eye dog, at that!  Guess what?  I have serious
>> performance anxiety for both me and Mitzi.  What if we don't do it right?
>> OMG!  That would be horrible.  /lol/  It's just a silly thing in the back
>> of
>> my mind, and I have to mock myself for it, but apparently I still have
>> that
>> guide dog mystique image at the back of my mind.
>>
>> You are right.  Seeing the guide dog school as making a decision "for" me
>> instead of the more realistic view that whatever program I might attend 
>> in
>> future is working with me to make the best mutual decision is more than a
>> bit irrational.  If I do apply for a program dog in the future, I will
>> just
>> have to trust them and communicate to my very best ability so that we can
>> come to the right match together.  /smile/
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 12:00 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>>
>> Interesting post.
>> I wonder though why some of us view the schools as making decisions when
>> we are all free to say no?  It may mean we don't leave with a dog, but a
>> dog you don't want is way worse then no dog at all.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 12:56 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>>
>> Hm... Interesting thought.
>>
>> As a wild stab, I would say the schools are trying to increase the odds
>> that the teams they produce will be successful once they go out into the
>> world together.  They have only limited knowledge of each individual
>> handler, so they need some way to formalize the process of providing x
>> dog to y human.
>>
>> Take me, for example.  I say that I'm an experienced with dogs,
>> training, horses, etc.  I say that I am a fast walker with a busy life
>> (when I'm healthy!), and so on and so forth.  So I want a fast-paced GSD
>> and value quick intelligent judgment from the dog over sheer obedience.
>>
>> They don't know me from Adam, so how do they know I'm not making it all
>> up?
>> Or that, like so many of us, see myself inaccurately and, not being
>> experienced with guide dogs, per se, don't know what I would be getting
>> myself into with the above-described dog?  Maybe I'm really timid and
>> afraid and would be overwhelmed by that dog.  Maybe I couldn't keep up
>> or couldn't manage a dog with that temperament.  And so on.
>>
>> So Mitzi, besides being a poodle, is pretty much that type of dog.  And
>> I love her!  We work well together, we adventure together in and out of
>> harness and we just generally have a great time and I wouldn't trade her
>> for the world.  As we move on from her third birthday and I see the
>> adult she is, I am just dreadfully happy with her.
>>
>> She's also a complete pain in the butt.  Those traits I value most in
>> her as she applies them to her work make her fairly high maintenance in
>> termis of time and attention and play and...
>>
>> Let's say I keel over about the time you're thinking about getting
>> another dog.  You're an experienced handler, after all, so you know how
>> to use a guide dog, and Mitzi is still young enough to want to work.  So
>> DD thinks aha!  Rebecca wants a guide dog, I have this guide dog with
>> nothing to do...
>>
>> Only you have a demanding career and a child and other family duties,
>> and you need a dog that fits into that lifestyle.  I'm making a lot of
>> assumptions here, of course, but my first guess is that Mitzi would be
>> too busy to suit your needs, even if she settles down a lot more over
>> the next few months.  You might fall in love with her (who wouldn't?),
>> you might appreciate many aspects of her guide work and even her manners
>> (she actually has acquired some by now), etc.  But overall, I could see
>> her driving you batty.  Then again, you would have a kid to entertain
>> her and keep her worn out -- and vice versa.  /grin/  So it could work.
>> Not that I'm offering you my poodle! /grin/  I'll have DD donate a
>> gourmet meal instead.
>>
>> It is interesting to think about.  When I was thinking I would be
>> sensible and go through a program to get my first guide dog, I was
>> frankly a little nervous about that whole matching business.  I mean,
>> they have all this experience and know what they're doing and stuff, but
>> I don't thrill to the notion of having other people make my decisions
>> for me.  Had my life at that time continued according to plan, I would
>> have simply had to trust the professionals and do my part to communicate
>> well enough to enable them to make the best match. /smile/  I wonder
>> what the dog would be like sometimes.
>> When I'm not too busy with Ms High Maintenance!
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)
>> Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 8:56 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>>
>> Marian and list,
>> Does this mean that there is no merit to the statement that a dog and
>> person are matched?
>> If this is so, why must we as the end-users go get a dog and spend
>> several weeks at a school with it? Why can't I just go to a school, say
>> "I like that one" and then leave with that dog?
>> I am truly curious and would be interested to know people's thoughts,
>> both those who work for a school and those who do not.
>> If the dogs will work for anybody once they are taught how to guide, why
>> do theschools say "we matched x dog with y person"?
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Marion & Martin
>> Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 7:01 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>>
>> Dar,
>>    I cannot answer your questions, as I am not a representative of any
>> school. I am of the opinion that, if one owns their dog and for any
>> reason feels the need to transfer ownership to someone else, the school
>> should have no issue with it. If that person is blind and wishes to use
>> the dog as their guide, this, too, should be none of the school's
>> concern. These are the rights and privileges of ownership.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "d m gina" <dmgina at samobile.net>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 4:51 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>>
>>
>>> See I am not concerned about this team,
>>> I am not concerened about any of this, except asking one question.
>>> Has different matches like this happened with other schools as well?
>>> Lets say I give you the rite to have my dog if anything happens to me.
>>> You agree, and this would be coming from the school where I trained my
>> dog
>>> with.
>>> They would take my word that you are a swell handler, and they want
>> the
>>> dog to still be a team with someone.
>>> I feel this is a plus I am at not  time unhappy with anyone.
>>> My next question would be, lets say my dog had to retire, could I call
>> my
>>> school and say something like,
>>> "is there a team who has to brake up for what evere reason, and may I
>> have
>>> their dog/
>>> I am a swell dog handler as you know, what paper work do I need to
>> fill
>>> out to have this happen?
>>> I hope I explained better now.
>>> I think this is a swell idea.
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> --Dar
>>> skype
>>> dmgina23
>>> every saint has a past
>>> every sinner has a future
>>>
>>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
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