[NAGDU] Please Join Us for The First In Our Series of School Interview Calls This Sunday

[Ryan Boudwin]

Will these calls be recorded for those that can't attend it live?

Ryan

On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 1:28 PM Heather via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> We will be beginning our guide dog training program series in January with
> Lucas Frank as our guest speaker on our monthly conference call. It is our
> intent to feature any and all guide dog training programs in or serving
> those living in New York state over the course of 2019 and into 2020. There
> are over a dozen guide dog training programs across the US, all or most of
> which serve New York State. There may be additional programs outside of the
> United States which will serve citizens of the US, and therefore residents
> of NYS If I find them I will attempt to obtain guest speakers for the
> calls.
> . This month Lucas Frank, from the Seeing Eye will present on some of the
> things that make TSE unique among guide dog schools, including their
> clicker
> program which optimizes this training method by pairing the clicker and
> treats with an audible target to empower the blind handler to expand and
> enrich the command and behavior repertoire, the ownership policy and other
> aspects of this program. The call will begin at 8:00 P.M. on Sunday,
> January
> 20th 2019. The call-in number is (605) 475-4786 and the pass code is
> 869-480. This call is held by the New York Association of Guide Dog Users,
> a
> proud division of the NFB of New York State, but these calls are open to
> nonmembers. We welcome members of NFB, ACB, or those who choose to belong
> to
> neither. We welcome graduates of any guide dog training program as well as
> owner trainers. This series is intended to help expand knowledge of the
> many
> options that exist for those wishing to partner with guide dogs. The NYAGDU
> does not endorse or accredit any particular training programs. There are
> organizations which do accredit such programs, such as the ADI, Assistance
> Dogs International and the IGDF, International Guide Dog Federation. Please
> see below for a preview of upcoming calls in this series.
>
>
>
> January: The Seeing Eye, Lucas Frank, clicker training meets audible
> targets, ownership policy and why it matters, etc.
>
> February, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Lisa Derleth, Running Guides Program,
> GEB's GSD breeding program, etc.
>
> March, The Guide Dog Foundation, America's Vet Dogs, serving the needs of
> blind veterans, compare and contrast GDF and AVD and how do they dovetail,
> etc.
>
> April, Owner Trainer Call, Julie Johnson, and other owner trainers will
> hold
> a panel discussion about the pros and cons of owner training a guide dog,
>
> May, TBA, possibly Freedom Guide Dogs,
>
> June: Guide Dogs, Guide Dogs, Everywhere, discussion about taking your
> guide
> dog to large gatherings with other guide or service dogs such as the NFB
> and
> ACB national conventions, the Beep Baseball World Series, etc.
>
> July, TBA, possibly Guide Dogs for the Blind,
>
> September, TBA, possibly South Eastern Guide Dogs,
>
> October, TBA, possibly leader dogs for the blind,
>
> November, TBA, possibly Pilot Dogs,
>
> December, TBA, possibly Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation,
>
>
>
> Please share this with your guide dog handling friends, whatever school
> they
> have graduated from, and especially with those who are in the process of
> researching a school to attend, for the first time, or for their next
> successor. Knowledge is power, and we as consumers of guide dog training
> programs, and handlers of these amazing dogs have the right to make our own
> decisions about where to obtain our dogs and the responsibility to make
> informed decisions that best meet our needs and fit our situations.
>
>
>
> Disclaimer. Every guide dog training program is different, as is, every
> dog,
> handler, trainer, puppy-raiser and situation. Schools change over time:
> amazing schools can go downhill, below average schools can improve
> drastically and become good or even awesome schools. A wonderful school can
> put out an awful dog. A substandard school can put out an outstanding dog.
> Two people can have drastically different experiences at the same school or
> with the same trainer. A good handler can receive a good dog, that is not a
> good match. For a team to be amazing, many elements must all be good, the
> dog, the training, the program, the puppy-raisers, and, if one or more
> elements in the equation are less than ideal, other elements being above
> average can more than compensate and still result in a fantastic team.
>
>
>
> What I tell people at my in-person presentations: "research is crucial. If
> it has been more than five years since you last researched guide dog
> schools, it is usually advisable to conduct at least some research before
> deciding on what school to apply to. What works for me, may not work well
> for you. Please do not select a school, just because I or anyone else has a
> dog from that school, or because it is the closest school to you
> geographically. Please find the school that best meets your needs, for your
> own unique situation."
>
>
>
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