[nagdu] Considering A Dog

Lyn Gwizdak linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Wed Sep 26 22:59:55 UTC 2012 

Hi Kody,
I don't have a Fidelco dog but I have some friends who did during the 1990s 
up until several years ago.

But, I do remember Fidelco from back in the 1970s when I got dogs from Guide 
Dog Foundation. Fidelco provided GDF with the occassional shepherd they 
used - GDF used mostly Labs and Goldens then.  Back then, Fidelco was a 
breeding place for shepherds for the Connecticut State Police and they 
supplied shepherds to area guide dog schools - I think even to TSE.  Then, 
later in the 1980s, they became a "community training" style of guide dog 
school in and of itself with John Byfield becoming its head trainer.  They 
do not have a dorm for students like most of the other schools so they 
mainly train locally.  They do folks in NYC and all of New England.

>From what I've personally seen in the dogs my friends had, they seemed more 
suited to be police dogs than guide dogs.  Some had pronounced dog 
aggression problems, some had health problems and were nice but very strong 
willed.  These happen to be the dogs I've experienced and do not reflect 
anyone's current Fidelco dogs whom I do not know.  I hope the Fidelco grads 
on the list can tell you more about them.

Lyn and Landon
"Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kody Keplinger" <kodytheduff at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Considering A Dog


> Does anyone have experience with Fidelco's GSDs?? I know they are really
> specific about the breeding there. Curious how they are with health.
> Unfortunately, some things just aren't avoidable.
>
> On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 9:07 PM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> TSE worked hard to breed it out of their dogs, although I don't know how
>> successful that was. I had two such dogs. All of my previous husband's 
>> dogs
>> were GSDs, and one had that, one as far as I know had no problems, and 
>> two
>> had lymphoma.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> On Sep 23, 2012, at 8:04 PM, Kody Keplinger wrote:
>>
>> > You're right, Cindy. It's a big dog thing. (I"m a little obsessed with
>> big
>> > dogs).  Big dogs - including labs and goldens - are prone to it. It's
>> both
>> > a matter of breeding and lifestyle, in the end. But I do think it is
>> > somewhat more common in german shepherds.
>> >
>> > On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 8:58 PM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Rhonda, they don't all have hip dysplasia. It might depend on where 
>> >> they
>> >> were bred. I think it is a curse of many big dogs to develop it, 
>> >> though
>> I
>> >> co uld be wrong.
>> >>
>> >> Cindy
>> >>
>> >> On Sep 23, 2012, at 7:30 PM, rhonda cruz wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> hi kodi, it is rhonda. The only thing i will tell you that sheppards
>> >> have hip disspajia. when they get older.
>> >>>
>> >>> but  sheppards are great workers.
>> >>> and vary smart.
>> >>>
>> >>> I wish you a lot of luck.
>> >>>
>> >>> On Sep 23, 2012, at 5:20 PM, Kody Keplinger wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> Thanks for all of that awesome info, Lyn!! That makes a lot of sense
>> >> about
>> >>>> boxers. Luckily, my heart is much more set on a shepherd. I do love
>> the
>> >>>> idea of a boxer as a guide, though. Their personalities are just so
>> well
>> >>>> matched to mine - very upbeat and playful, even clownish.  How can 
>> >>>> you
>> >> not
>> >>>> be happy when you're with a boxer?  But, frankly, I do think a
>> shepherd
>> >>>> would be a better fit as far as a guide goes. So I'm glad I found 2
>> >> schools
>> >>>> that offer them.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 2:16 PM, Lyn Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Welcome, Kody!
>> >>>>> I wwent to TSE and they have lots of German shepherds, Labs, and 
>> >>>>> Lab
>> >>>>> crosses - mainly with the Golden retriever.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> What kind of Labs did you have as pets?  This breed varies alot in
>> >> size,
>> >>>>> color, and energy level.  I have a Lab/Golden cross named Landon 
>> >>>>> and
>> >> he's
>> >>>>> almost seven years old.  I grew up outside NYC and do not miss the
>> >> cold!  I
>> >>>>> live in sunny San Diego and have been here for almost 25 years.
>> >> Landon and
>> >>>>> I do pet assisteed therapy for our local Humane Society.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Because you live in NYC, there are many graduates from Fidelco,
>> Seeing
>> >>>>> Eye, Guiding Eyes, and Guide Dog Foundation in the area.  I'd talk 
>> >>>>> to
>> >> those
>> >>>>> schools and see if they'll put you in touch with graduates of those
>> >> schools
>> >>>>> to help you decide on whaich one is best for your needs.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Many of the schools don't use many Boxers because they are a
>> one-coated
>> >>>>> breed.  They have no fluffy undercoat like Labs and shepherds.
>>  Boxers
>> >> also
>> >>>>> have the same short life span as a giant breed such as a Great 
>> >>>>> Dane -
>> >> don't
>> >>>>> know why this is.  They will require a sweater or coat in winter
>> >> wheras the
>> >>>>> Labs and shepherds do not require a sweater because they grow 
>> >>>>> enough
>> >> of a
>> >>>>> coat to keep them warm in the cold.  Boxers and Dobies do not.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Good luck in your search for the right school for you.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Lyn and Landon
>> >>>>> "Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
>> >>>>> Users"
>> <
>> >>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 5:41 AM
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Considering A Dog
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> TSE sometimes has boxers. They tend to have to buy them because 
>> >>>>> they
>> >>>>>> aren't bred there, so they  mostly have them if someone with
>> >> allergies is
>> >>>>>> coming in. I've known a person or two who had them from TSE.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> I'm not sure why you really want to stay away from the Lab, but 
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>> crosses are nice.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Cindy
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> On Sep 20, 2012, at 7:31 AM, Julie J. wrote:
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Kody,
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Welcome!  I'm a big fan of the Boxer too.  Unfortunately your
>> options
>> >>>>>>> are very limited if you want one from a guide program.  Pilot in
>> >> Columbus
>> >>>>>>> trains some and Gallant Hearts in Mississippi does a few.  Your
>> wait
>> >> at
>> >>>>>>> Gallant Hearts is going to be pretty long because they are a 
>> >>>>>>> small
>> >> school
>> >>>>>>> that has just started up and they don't have very many Boxers.
>> >> Neither of
>> >>>>>>> these schools is located in a large city that has subways and 
>> >>>>>>> that
>> >> sort of
>> >>>>>>> thing.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> You'll have a lot more options for German Shepherds.   Also if 
>> >>>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>> school doesn't teach to find empty seats, it's a fairly easy 
>> >>>>>>> thing
>> >> to teach
>> >>>>>>> yourself.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Best of luck and welcome!
>> >>>>>>> Julie
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> On 9/20/2012 12:00 AM, Kody Keplinger wrote:
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Hi all!
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> I found this list yesterday and have been browsing the archives
>> for
>> >>>>>>>> info.
>> >>>>>>>> After some serious thought, I have decided to look into getting 
>> >>>>>>>> a
>> >> guide
>> >>>>>>>> dog.  I do have some concerns that I know others have brought up
>> in
>> >> the
>> >>>>>>>> past (I do have remaining vision, and I know it may impair my
>> trust
>> >> of
>> >>>>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> dog at first, but I believe I can overcome this, especially 
>> >>>>>>>> since
>> my
>> >>>>>>>> retained vision is only useful outdoors during the day.)  After
>> >> asking
>> >>>>>>>> around about different schools and commands, I know I want to
>> apply
>> >> to
>> >>>>>>>> schools that teach "find" commands (ex. "find a chair" or "find
>> the
>> >>>>>>>> stairs") as these are very difficult things for me in unfamiliar
>> >> indoor
>> >>>>>>>> settings.  I also want a school that trains dogs for
>> trains/subways
>> >>>>>>>> since I
>> >>>>>>>> live in NYC and that's an important part of my daily life.
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> I have a pretty strong breed preference to either a German
>> Shepherd
>> >> or a
>> >>>>>>>> Boxer. I LOVE labs, but they've been family pets my whole life,
>> and
>> >> my
>> >>>>>>>> gut
>> >>>>>>>> is telling me that, for my first guide dog, and one I'll work 
>> >>>>>>>> with
>> >> as a
>> >>>>>>>> partner, I want to step away from labs if at all possible. My
>> first
>> >>>>>>>> choice
>> >>>>>>>> of school was Fidelco, but I read today some of the controversy
>> from
>> >>>>>>>> last
>> >>>>>>>> year. I like their program because a.) they focus on german
>> >> shepherds
>> >>>>>>>> and
>> >>>>>>>> b.) I like the idea of starting, from day one, in my
>> neighborhood. I
>> >>>>>>>> know
>> >>>>>>>> some programs take you to NYC as sort of a final "challenge" - 
>> >>>>>>>> but
>> >> as
>> >>>>>>>> NYC
>> >>>>>>>> is my home, I'd rather it not be my big challenge, I'd rather it
>> be
>> >> my
>> >>>>>>>> regular, if that makes sense at all.  Is the controversy over
>> >> Fidelco
>> >>>>>>>> and
>> >>>>>>>> ownership still brewing? Has anyone worked with them lately?
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Looking at other schools, can any of you give me some info on
>> which
>> >> ones
>> >>>>>>>> teach the "find" commands as well as provide german shepherds
>> and/or
>> >>>>>>>> boxers
>> >>>>>>>> (and that allow you to specify a preference)? Also, any info on
>> the
>> >> wait
>> >>>>>>>> times for these programs (from turning in the application, to
>> >>>>>>>> acceptance,
>> >>>>>>>> to attending the school) would be incredibly 
>> >>>>>>>> helpful/appreciated.
>> (I
>> >>>>>>>> found
>> >>>>>>>> the old surveys on GDUI, but they were from 2008 and I wasn't 
>> >>>>>>>> sure
>> >> how
>> >>>>>>>> up-to-date they were.)
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Thanks for any info you can give, guys! I'm so glad I found this
>> >>>>>>>> listserv
>> >>>>>>>> already. The archives have already given me so much direction.
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Best,
>> >>>>>>>> Kody
>> >>>>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
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>> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.com
>> >
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> -----
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>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
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>> >>
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>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>
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>> >>>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> --
>> >>>> *Kody Keplinger*
>> >>>> http://kodykeplinger.com
>> >>>>
>> >>>> author of:
>> >>>> *THE DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) - an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick 
>> >>>> for
>> >>>> Reluctant Young Readers.*
>> >>>> *AVAILABLE NOW!*
>> >>>> *
>> >>>> *
>> >>>> *SHUT OUT - available September 5th!*
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>> >> nagdu:
>> >>>>
>> >>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rhondaprincess%40gmail.com
>> >>>
>> >>>
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>> >>
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > *Kody Keplinger*
>> > http://kodykeplinger.com
>> >
>> > author of:
>> > *THE DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) - an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for
>> > Reluctant Young Readers.*
>> > *AVAILABLE NOW!*
>> > *
>> > *
>> > *SHUT OUT - available September 5th!*
>> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> -- 
> *Kody Keplinger*
> http://kodykeplinger.com
>
> author of:
> *THE DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) - an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for
> Reluctant Young Readers.*
> *AVAILABLE NOW!*
> *
> *
> *SHUT OUT - available September 5th!*
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
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