[NAGDU] Special needs

Tue Aug 22 09:36:28 UTC 2017

What a wonderful dog, Sandra, thanks for telling us about Eva.

Dan

On 8/21/2017 10:28 PM, S L Johnson via NAGDU wrote:
> Debbie:
>
> I went through the same thing three years ago when it came time to retire my
> golden Tara.  I have degenerative joint disease and multiple sclerosis which
> causes weakness and balance problems.  I use a support cane in my right
> hand.  I need a dog that walks slow without pulling too hard and that is
> easy to control.  I also had the problem of not being able to walk the speed
> or long distances that most of the schools require during training.  I
> applied to all the guide dog schools.  I found many of them unwilling to
> consider my application.  They felt that someone with my medical problems
> and physical limitations could not be successful with a guide dog.  First
> this is ridiculous because I have been doing it for the past forty years
> since my MS diagnosis at age 21 just before going to class with my first
> dog.  I began to be discouraged when I received one rejection letter after
> another.  Finally there was one school left and fortunately they were happy
> to accept my application.  I graduated from Pilot Dogs with Eva, a small
> female golden on April 24th 2014.  Eva was only 14 months old when I brought
> her home but she was and still is an amazing guide.  The only special
> training she had was her trainer worked with her to get used to the cane and
> to go down stairs pausing at each step to be sure I would not lose my
> balance before we moved down to the next step.  This wonderful little golden
> is the perfect dog for me.  She had an amazing ability to sence my needs
> right from our first walk together.  If it was a good day for me she would
> step out at a nice pace without any sudden jerks or pulls that would cause
> me to lose my balance.  If it was a bad day she slowed down to a very
> careful slower pace.  She seems to anticipate when I am going to lose my
> balance and she will lean against my legs helping me not to fall.  With the
> support cane in my right hand and her harness handle in my left hand I have
> support on both sides as I walk.  She is very careful on any uneven surface
> that might cause me to trip.  I often have MS relapses where I cannot get
> out and work her for several weeks or months.  It does not matter.  When I
> am well enough to go out again her work is still as excellent as it was on
> class.  There goes the statement that all the schools tell us that the dogs
> must be taken for long walks every day.  There were two other ladies who had
> to use support canes on my class.  I found the trainers at Pilot Dogs very
> willing and able to accommodate my special needs.  Please feel free to
> contact me off list if you have any further questions about my school search
> and training.  Good luck to you as you begin the search for your next guide
> dog.
>
> Sandra Johnson and Eva
> SLJohnson25 at comcast.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Debbie Cole via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2017 7:15 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Debbie Cole
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Special needs
>
> Thank you Danielle.
> I really appreciate it.
> I've contacted one program today and am waiting for them to return my call.
>
> On 8/21/17, Danielle Sykora via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> There are several programs that will cross train a guide dog to
>> perform mobility tasks. Guiding Eyes and the Guide Dog Foundation do,
>> and at least one other program... maybe Leader. There are other
>> programs however that are perfectly willing to train a guide for a
>> person with multiple disabilities; however, they do not actually train
>> dogs to perform additional tasks (bracing, retrieval, etc.) Depending
>> on what you are looking for, this is something to consider.
>>
>> You could also get a guide from a program that does not teach mobility
>> tasks and teach them yourself once your dog gets home, provided that
>> the dog is big enough.
>>
>> Danielle and Thai
>>
>>
>> On 8/21/17, Debbie Cole via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Thank you Jeff
>>> I'm getting ready to call them as soon as they open.
>>> Have a good day
>>>
>>> On 8/20/17, Jeffrey Young via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Your closest option sounds like  Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring
>>>> Oregon..
>>>> I do not know if they do any work with balance assistance. I would give
>>>> them
>>>> a call to find out.
>>>>
>>>> Jeff Young
>>>> jeff.young8806 at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 20, 2017, at 7:32 PM, Debbie Cole via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Guide Dogs of the Desert in Palm Springs.  I'm in Oregon and
>>>>> interested in staying closer to home.
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/20/17, Sandra Burmester via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi Debbie,
>>>>>> May I ask what school did you get you guide from?  It depends on the
>>>>>> school
>>>>>> that you get a guide from.
>>>>>> Sandra
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 20, 2017 at 4:59 PM, Debbie Cole via NAGDU
>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I hope I'm sending this to the right place.
>>>>>>> I have a guide dog and it is getting close to the time where I will
>>>>>>> retire her.  I am looking into places where I might train for a guide
>>>>>>> dog and a dog to assist me with BALANCE.  Are there any schools out
>>>>>>> there that I might try?
>>>>>>> thank you,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> warmest regards,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Deborah A. Cole
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> warmest regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Deborah A. Cole
>>>>>
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>>>
>>> --
>>> warmest regards,
>>>
>>> Deborah A. Cole
>>>
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>