[NAGDU] Insisting on a particular breed of dog

[S L Johnson]

Cindy:

If you really want another dog, I hope you will at least consider it.  You 
already know how much a guide dog can enrich your life and make traveling 
around much easier.  Due to health issues which result in difficulty walking 
I did not think I would be able to get another dog when my golden Tara 
retired in 2014.  I had almost given up hope as I received rejections from 
school after school.  I had one more school to try and fortunately for me, 
Pilot Dogs felt they had the perfect dog to meet my needs.  Two weeks after 
receiving my last bit of paperwork I received the call that they had a 
wonderful little female golden for me.  I was thrilled because I had 
requested a female golden.  I have worked a shepherd and lab but my 
preference is the golden.  They assured me that this little golden walked 
slow without pulling.  They said she was very calm in harness and easy to 
control with voice and not needing lots of leash corrections.  They were 
willing to allow me to use my support cane when walking and would shorten my 
routes to what I was able to do without me getting too weak and in too much 
pain.  Their daily schedule working from the building not requiring taking 
everyone out in the vans to work I was able to rest in my room when I was 
not out on a walk or attending lectures and meals.  I am very glad I did not 
give up when schools kept ejecting me because I could not walk fast enough 
or far enough to suit their criteria to get a dog.  Eva is a pleasure to 
work and when I have bad days when we cannot get out she is perfectly 
content to stay at home.  She brings me a lot of joy and unconditional love 
which is a great comfort to me as I live alone.  No matter how bad I feel 
she is always there to comfort me.  When I do work her she is very well 
behaved and does excellent work even if it has been many weeks or months 
that we have not been able to get out.  I just wish that more guide dog 
schools would consider their graduates as they apply for new dogs.  As we 
all age, we may develop medical issues or just the normal aging process that 
effect our walking speed and endurance.  Although we have limitations we do 
still want to have a guide dog and deserve the chance to at least try. 
Cindy, good luck to you whatever you do decide about getting another guide 
dog.

As for requesting a specific breed, I feel it is our right as a consumer to 
be able to get the breed we want to have.  The dog will be with us for many 
years so we should have right to request what we want.  Many schools get mad 
when applicants ask for a golden or shepherd because they do not have as 
many of them as they do the labs.  I wish this was not the case but right 
now that is the way it is.  If you have a preference then you will probably 
have to wait longer.  Good luck to all of you seeking your next dogs and I 
do hope you can get what you want.

Sandra and Eva, my amazing golden girl
-----Original Message----- 
From: Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 4:02 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Cindy Ray
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Insisting on a particular breed of dog

I guess I would as soon go with the flow even though it would be fun to have 
another GSD. I probably won't have any dog anyway, so I don't know why I'm 
using up my posts on the topic except I keep thinking maybe ...
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmaikl.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica Diaz via 
NAGDU
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 2:52 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: savedbygrace0421 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Insisting on a particular breed of dog

Hi,
I love Ms. Talent btw. She was in my class. They say if I want a gSD which I 
want for my next, I will need to apply for one 2 years before mine retires. 
Around the 8th birthday or sooner if needed.
Jessica
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tara Briggs via 
NAGDU
Sent: February 26, 2018 12:17 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Tara Briggs <thflute at gmail.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Insisting on a particular breed of dog

Hi all! My friend just got back from guiding eyes for the blind. She has a 
beautiful German Shepherd named talent. This is the third German Shepherd I 
have had the chance to interact with and I think I fallen  in love. The 
three  German Shepherdâ?~s that I had the pleasure of meeting all had such 
dignity and calm  beautiful natureâ?~s. Iâ?Tm thinking about insisting on a 
German Shepherd for dog number three. I go in September. Perhaps insisting 
is the wrong word. Since I will be getting my dog from the Seeing Eye and 
they know the dogs  that are available I feel like they should still make 
the ultimate choice. However, I have fallen in love with the German Shepherd 
breed. I am wondering if any of you have  insisted on a particular breed. If 
so, what were your reasons and how did it work out for you? I look forward 
to any responses.


Tara
Sent from my iPhone
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