[nagdu] dog breeds and owner training

Allison Nastoff anastoff at wi.rr.com
Sat Feb 7 01:13:39 UTC 2009 

Dear Julie,
I would be glad to tell you a little about my training.  It was a 
wonderful experience, and I would reccomend that anyone who wants 
to get trained for a guide dog in their home environment to look 
for programs in your state, or check out Occupaws if you live in 
Wisconsin.  My training with Gilbert lasted three weeks.  The 
first day, the trainer came to my house, met my parents, and 
taught me the basics: how to groom him, how to give corrections, 
how to care for him.  Then, I was left with the dog for the rest 
of the day to bond with him.  Every day after that, the trainer 
met at my house where we did the discipline routine, and then we 
would go somewhere to work.  Usually we worked at Carroll 
University's campus, the college that I now attend, but we also 
practiced walking on the country roads by my house, as well as 
other situations like the mall where we practiced using an 
escelator, night routes, and restaurants to practice getting him 
under tables.  The day usually lasted from 9:00 in the morning 
until about 3:30 in the afternoon, with a break for lunch.  
Either my mom or dad would also accompany me every day during 
training so that they could help me once the trainer left.
This kind of training was perfect for me because rather than 
learning routes in an unfamiliar area and then applying what I 
learned back home, I got to learn routes that I would actually 
use in college.  Besides that, my training was individualized to 
my particular needs.
Again, I would definitely reccomend that people look for similar 
programs where they live.  If anyone has questions for me, feel 
free to ask.  I love talking about my experience, and bragging 
about Gilbert.  (laugh)
Allison and Gilbert

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Julie J." <jlcrane at alltel.net
>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 07:29:50 -0600
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] dog breeds and owner training

>Allison,

>Welcome!  I'm Julie, the moderator.

>I am very interested in hearing more about your experience at 
OccuPaws.
>Could you tell us about the training?
>Again, Welcome!
>Julie

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Allison Nastoff" <anastoff at wi.rr.com
>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users"
><nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 8:30 PM
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] dog breeds and owner training


>> Hi Mardi,
>> If you live in Wiscosin, there is a guide dog training program 
called
>> Occupaws, which also does home training.  I got my first guide 
dog, a
>> yellow lab named Gilbert from Occupaws six months ago.  For 
medical
>> reasons, I was also unable to be away from home by myself for 
four weeks.
>> I have been very happy with Gilbert, and I received wonderful 
training
>> right on my college campus.  Whereever you live, I strongly 
encourage you
>> to look into home training programs.  They are out there, and 
they make
>> much more sense for some people.  By the way, I am also a new 
member of
>> this list.
>> Allison and Gilbert

>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>From: Haben Girma <habnkid at aol.com
>>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>Date sent: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:54:31 -0800
>>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] dog breeds and owner training

>>>Hi Mardi,

>>>I wonder where you live? Perhaps up north like Alaska where
>> huskies are
>>>so common? You mentioned that you could not get a program trained
>> dog
>>>because you could not leave your home and business for 4 weeks.
>> There
>>>are schools like Fidelco that do in-home training.  By the way, I
>> just
>>>joined this list.

>>>Cheers,
>>>Haben

>>>Mardi Hadfield wrote:
>>>> Hi every one,  I have had many different breeds of dogs as pets,
>> But all of
>>>> my guide dogs have been Huskies.  I tried a border collie, and
>> he would have
>>>> been a good guide,but he was an abused dog before I got him and
>> he could not
>>>> handle being out in public.  Wanagi is a shepherd / husky cross
>> and she was
>>>> coming along very nicely with her training, when the weather
>> changed to cold
>>>> and rainy and I discovered that she had a hip problem.  I think
>> she would
>>>> have made an excellent guide if she did not have that problem.
>> I should have
>>>> had her  xrayed, but the vet said she moved fine so I thought
>> she was OK.  I
>>>> will not make that mistake again.  Tracy said it, not all dogs
>> make it as
>>>> guides.  I kept Wanagi as we did bond, right from the start.
>> She is still
>>>> very special to me.  I hate that I have to retire Nala.  As much
>> as I loved
>>>> Lily, my first guide, Nala is a much better guide and she really
>> loves her
>>>> job.  I have continued to work her only because she does not
>> want to retire
>>>> yet.  But I know that when the weather here gets hot, she will
>> not be able to
>>>> work.  I am going to try out a german shepherd tomorrow.  I hope
>> this dog will
>>>> work out.  If I were able to walk and use a guide dog, there
>> would have been
>>>> several dogs that I tried out that would have worked.  Finding a
>> dog that can
>>>> keep up to my pace with the wheel chair and remain in the right
>> position
>>>> next to the chair, is not easy.  I am spoiled,as Nala was
>> perfect from the
>>>> very beginning, when I got her.She learned very fast and really
>> enjoyed
>>>> working.  The first time I took her on the bus, she went up on
>> the lift ,just
>>>> like she had been doing it all her life.  In the time period of
>> 4 months,she
>>>> was a finished, trustworthy guide dog.  This time is not so
>> easy, as I just
>>>> can't seem to find a dog that even wants to work, let alone keep
>> up with me
>>>> and stay in the correct position.Things would be much simpler if
>> I could get
>>>> a program trained dog,but I just can't be away from my home and
>> other
>>>> animals and my business for 4 weeks.  So I will keep looking for
>> that so far
>>>> allusive dog.  I know that I will find it , I just hope it is
>> soon.  I love
>>>> Huskies and for me they make a good guides, but I am open to
>> other breeds,
>>>> if that dog can do the job for me.   Have a great day,  Mardi
>> and
>>>> Nala,semi-retired
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>> 
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>> aol.com





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