[nagdu] Re Schools? and update on return from Gdb

[Ioana Gandrabur]

Hi all,


Things were a bit crazy after my return so I am now taking the time to give 
an update of our progress and also talk about the new gdb program. I have 
noticed there were some questions about schools and in home training so I 
thought I connect those topics in one long message.

I'll start with what I know the least about:
1.Stepper, I know that GDB has started doing home training but have no idea 
about the conditions and the results of this new offer. In my class there 
were 2 people trained in home so their names were mentioned at graduation 
without them being there.

2.  I am not sure I remember who was asking about schools so I thought I'd 
talk a bit about the new gdb classes. I did not really read all your posts 
so I hope I am not being too redundant.

Relatively recently GDB has started offering 3 week classes for first timers 
and 2 week for retrains. You can still opt to go for 3 if you so wish even 
if you are a retrain. I understand that at the Oregon campus they are even 
offering 2 weeks for first timers. I am somewhat surprised but I suppose 
that for some this might be a valid option to minimise time away from family 
or work.

This reduction in time means that they have much smaller classes. Max 12 per 
class. In my class we were only 9. 6  two week and the rest 3 week people. 
We had about 5 instructors at times more would jump in to help out with 
longer routs etc. The 2 and 3 weekers would do quite a bit of common 
training especially in the last week when everybody was kind of rapping 
things up. There were many more opportunities to chose what kind of route 
you want to do (e.g. sidewalkless or freelancing or city work. everybody in 
my class was confident and ready to go home after the program.

I had my concerns coming from a 4 week program but so far I am happy to 
report that things are fabulous!

Julie, you once asked if the stress I had experienced in training was 
because of the tight schedule or something of the kind. I don't think the 
actual training was more stressful. What got to me at times was the 
sensation to have to rush from one thing to an other and not wanting to miss 
or be late for things with relatively little time in between to really 
relax. But I think that some managed their time better than others. Training 
itself was much more relaxing for me now than with Adrian but this might be 
also because I am at my second dog and have a better idea of what I am doing 
and also Loyal is a more willing to please dog. I did talk to a few people 
that knew Adrian and they all agreed that he was a hand full so combining 
this with my total inexperience was a bit challenging.

Loyal is adapting well to Montreal and to Adrian. I had a bit of a melt-down 
when the first day Adrian was ignoring me totally and giving me the cold 
shoulder. I ended up putting Loyal on tie-down in a different room to give 
Adrian some pets and undivided attention with frustrating results. Adrian 
was as I said completely ignoring me and the other pup was crying in the 
other room for being left alone. That combination and the emotions of coming 
home etc. basically ended up in a  rather tearful episode but after I had 
let it all out things kept improving. I am now feeding both at the same time 
in a very civilised manor. They ignore each other completely when Loyal is 
working and attempt to play somewhat. I am monitoring this very carefully 
because I don't want any dominate stuff going on in the early days. But the 
nice thing is that if I ask them to stop they both listen. Adrian has 
resumed more friendly relations with me so I end up holding 2 bones one for 
each dog or playing tug with Loyal while petting Adrian.

Loyal's work is impeccable! No sign of testing me. The only small question 
mark is some miscommunication between us and sometimes he seems hesitant and 
rather too happy for my taste to reach home or final destination. Hope it is 
just adjustment and not a more serious issue with insecurity. He is very 
very, very diligent and remembers reworks perfectly. I have not taken out 
the leash for a correction in 3 days. Simple gestures and verbal refocusing 
work most the time. Exceptions are at the vet where his sniffing and 
crawling around got quite out of hand.

Well thanks all for listening to my babbles and sharing our adventures!

All the best to you and good luck for those that look for the best program 
that fits their needs.

Ioana Loyal and Adrian From: "Elizabeth Rene" <emrene at earthlink.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 9:39 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Re Schools?


> Hi!
>
> I want to put in a plug for Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar, California,
> just outside of Los Angeles.
>
> Although GDA is about as old as Guide Dogs for the Blind of San Rafael, 
> California, it has always remained a small school, with classes no larger 
> than 10 at the max.
>
> First-dog classes last for 28 days, and two-week classes are held for
> seasoned graduates.
>
> I got my first five dogs from GDB, and my last two from GDA.
>
> Wilson, who retired in 2007, was trained at home with me at the Graduate 
> Theological Union in
> Berkeley, and Alvin, who graduated last July, trained with me at the 
> Sylmar
> campus.  I joined a regular class and graduated after three weeks.
>
> Though everyone is going to have his or her own preference about schools,
> and can probably relate good and bad experiences about each one, I can't
> find enough good things to say about GDA.
>
> Since you plan to get your first guide dog, let me tell you about my 
> campus
> experience at GDA.
>
> GDA was founded by the International Association of Machinists and 
> Aerospace
> Workers because one of its members, who lost his sight in his 50's, was
> turned away by other schools because of his age.
>
> Because of its small size and ethic of nondiscrimination, and maybe 
> because
> of its activist Labor origins, GDA has taken students sometimes turned 
> away
> by other schools because of their perceived inability to keep up.  when I
> was once at GDB, one of my classmates was removed from the program because
> she was unhappy with the dog assigned to her and had problems with the
> instructors' training techniques and interpersonal styles.  Within weeks,
> she was admitted to GDA.
>
> My experience and observation is that GDA takes extra time and care with
> those who need added encouragement and support, while training veteran 
> guide
> dog handlers in a spirit of collegiality, giving individual attention to
> the strengths and needs of each student.
>
> Each student has his or her own large, comfortable bedroom suite with a
> full-size bed and private relieving area.
>
> Everyone--students, instructors, and dogs--sits together at one large 
> dining
> table for all three daily meals, where delicious food is served to order.
> These meals are very pleasant and relaxed, and are supplemented by a 
> roomful
> of snack food that is as healthy or as junky as one wants.
>
> Everyone travels to training destinations in the same van, and, because 
> the
> class is small, last-minute changes in scheduled training routes can be 
> made
> as the weather or student needs dictate.
>
> Admittedly, the school is small and runs on a relatively low budget.  The
> lion's share of resources are used for the dogs, for training, and for
> individual student comfort.  There are no music rooms or scented gardens,
> game rooms or formal lounges.  There is a well-stocked tape library, but
> students are asked to bring their own playback machines, etc.  There are
> nice grooming facilities, and a path around the campus.  But the campus is
> small.  GDA is a comfortable place to be, but it is not high end or fancy.
>
> I didn't feel at all deprived there, though.  The program is highly 
> structured like that of most schools, but the feeling was informal and 
> relaxed,
> not at all authoritarian or custodial.
>
> GDA graduates own their dogs.  There is good follow-up support for 
> graduates
> if  problems arise, and instructors visit grads at home if needed.  But
> medical expenses after the first six months of ownership are the owner's
> responsibility.  In contrast, GDB provides a veterinary safety net for its
> grads, and the new guide dog owner might really like this.
>
> As mentioned, GDA classes are small and tailored to student needs.  But
> they're held two or three months apart.  So you might have to wait longer
> for your first dog than at a larger school.
>
> I expect that GDA has had its lean days as well as its lush ones.  Small
> schools do struggle to make ends meet.  But GDA does some fun fundraisers,
> and it has enthusiastic financial support from the surrounding community 
> and
> from its loyal founding union members.  The Boeing airplane manufacturer's
> shop stewards raised $75,000 just this Spring.
>
> I've been delighted with both my GDA dogs, and my 2009 classmates were all
> very happy.  One classmate did have to return to the school owing to a
> previously-undiagnosed health problem in her dog.  Her dog was adopted by 
> a
> GDA staff member, and she graduated again early this year with a new
> partner.
>
> I want to close with an anecdote that typifies the spirit of GDA.
>
> Although I was happy with my last dog Wilson, and with my in-home GDA
> training experience with him, I wanted, once in my life, to attend The
> Seeing Eye.  I was fascinated by The Seeing Eye's history and traditions,
> and wanted to be imbued with the spirit of Morris Frank.  The Seeing Eye's
> CEO and many of its board members are blind, and that was key for me.  So,
> when it was finally time to come back to guide dog school, I told GDA that 
> I
> wanted to go to Morristown.  They supported my choice, sending reference
> letters for me, and asked me to stay in touch.
>
> I enjoyed three days at The Seeing Eye, meeting interesting classmates and 
> a
> very good instructor assigned to my four-student cohort.  But to my 
> dismay,
> I found the dog assigned to me completely unsuitable.
>
> Who wants to say that they don't want a sweet, lovable, cute little dog?
> Surely not me!  But I'd struggled through two mismatches from GDB, and
> didn't want the heartache and frustration of another one.  The Seeing Eye
> told me there weren't any other dogs available for me, and sent me home!
> They were gracious to me as I prepared to leave, but home I had to go,
> without a dog.
>
> Immediately after learning this, I called GDA and told them my story. 
> Their
> response: "Don't worry!  WE love you!  We'll take you back."  Before that
> call was finished, I was scheduled for the next GDA class.
>
> I packed for my trip home knowing that I would get the right dog from a
> school that knew me and respected my judgment.  I indeed felt loved, and
> have never regretted my decision to go back.
>
> You are wise to check out the many guide dog schools, and to think about
> what you want in class and after graduation.  Guide dog school is a great
> place to bond with your new dog, to learn new skills in a supportive
> environment, and to make friends with other blind people.  It's a
> life-changing  experience, wherever you go.
>
> I know this has been a long message.  I hope it's been a helpful one. 
> Good
> luck in whatever you do.
>
> Elizabeth
>
>
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