[Nfbf-l] Fw: [Flagdu] NBC New show premiering about growing up with a guide dog...

Fri Feb 28 15:48:32 UTC 2014

Hi all.

I must say, I did see the show, and was not impressed with it, but instead, 
a little concerned.  I do plan on watching it a second time though, just to 
affirm my initial reaction.  I personally didn't find anything humorous 
about it either, but that's just me.

One of the things I am concerned about is how his dog is openly fed table 
food.  Personally, I think taking this lightly is risky business.  In 
thinking outside of the box, I think it is very important that we consider 
the perception of the general public.  Although I do understand some of you 
view the show as the main focus as being about a blind person going through 
a divorce, and thinking feeding his dog is secondary to this focus, There 
are many people throughout the United States who may be viewing this show 
who no nothing about guide dogs and how they work, thus thinking our guide 
are treated the same as pets, and feeding them table food is ok. .  We all, 
as handlers, know that a guide dog should never be fed table food.  The fact 
that some handlers choose not to obey this golden rule is irrelevant.  We 
are all taught through our training when we are in class, that this is 
definitely not a good idea, and know this is one of the big "no no."  To 
make light of the fact that this is being portrayed as something normal and 
ok in this show bothers me.  Again, I will say, we should consider the 
perception of the general public, and the power of subliminal messages.

I, as well as many of you I'm sure, have had people try to feed some sort of 
table food to your dog one time or another.  Harmless as this might have 
been, it is usually due to a lack of knowledge.  Some of us may use this as 
an opportunity to educate, explaining that this was inappropriate, and 
should never be done, others may not.

Personally, I take owning a guide dog seriously.  For me, being a guide dogs 
user for many years, When Gertie and I are out in public, It is a continuous 
education no matter what we are doing, whether she is sitting at my side 
behaving herself, or navigating through tables in a restaurant, the general 
public is always watching.  I feel it is my duty, when presented with an 
opportunity, to educate anyone unfamiliar with guide dogs and their proper 
practices.  It is my concern, as minor as it may seem to some of you, that 
this show can taint the image of guide dogs in general, and the hard work 
that goes into the training they receive.

Just my two sense.  Thanks for reading.

 From: Doug Hall <flhalls at earthlink.net>
> To: "'Florida Association of Guide Dog Users'" <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 1:29 pm
> Subject: Re: [Flagdu] [Nfbf-l] NBC New show premiering about growing up 
> with a guide dog...
>
>>
>>
>> Well Sherrill, I viewed the show last night.  For one, I don't see the
>> problem.  True, he did some things that are not good, but so do many 
>> guide
>> dog users.  I kind of doubt that any of us do exactly what we are taught 
>> by
>> the trainers.  The show isn't what should be done, but what the son
>> remembered.  Nancy thinks that future shows will likely show that the
>> inappropriate behaviors can cause problems.  Besides, it is a comedy and
>> depicts what happened, not what we might want to happen.  At least this 
>> show
>> includes descriptions of actions, not like so many others.  As you said,
>> Guide Dog Foundation seems to have passed on its content.
>>
>> Doug
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Flagdu [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sherrill
>> O'Brien
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 6:01 PM
>> To: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [Flagdu] [Nfbf-l] NBC New show premiering
>> aboutgrowingupwithaguidedog...
>>
>> Hi Kathy and all,
>>
>> The show starts at 9:30, and runs half an hour. As I said before, the 
>> young
>> son of the blind father in the show, all grown up now, is the producer. 
>> He
>> wants us to realize his family's experiences are theirs, and not 
>> indicative
>> of how other blind people and their families may react and live their 
>> lives.
>> Guide Dog Foundation was definitely consulted for the show.
>>
>> I hope lots of us watch and enjoy the show tonight, and I'm going to try 
>> not
>> to let the little things I don't agree with drive me crazy.
>>
>> Sherrill
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Flagdu [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On Behalf Of Kathy Davis
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 5:38 PM
>> To: crystalbay at verizon.net; 'Florida Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [Flagdu] [Nfbf-l] NBC New show premiering
>> aboutgrowingupwithaguidedog...
>>
>>
>> What time is the show on this evening? I certainly want to check it out. 
>> It
>> will be on channel 4 - NBC in the Greater Daytona Beach area but I have
>> forgotten the time.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Kathy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Flagdu [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debbie
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:10 AM
>> To: 'Florida Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [Flagdu] [Nfbf-l] NBC New show premiering aboutgrowing
>> upwithaguidedog...
>>
>> Hello all, I did see the program and at first I was horrified as well.  I
>> watched it with my sighted husband and a blind friend that currently does
>> not have a dog.  I also saw the interviews with the creator.  I too am 
>> going
>> to hold judgment.  First of all, it is not about growing up with a guide
>> dog, it is about a young man growing up with a blind father and divorced
>> parents.  The blind father never had a guide dog before, and in reality, 
>> we
>> all know blind users that feed their dogs people food and do other 
>> seemingly
>> inappropriate things.  The program has the blessing of the Guide Dog
>> Foundation so I'm sure they are keeping an eye on it as well.  I can only
>> hope the father gets educated along the way to more appropriate guide dog
>> etiquette .  In the meantime, keep in mind it is about the blind father 
>> and
>> written through the eyes of an eleven year old boy watching his father
>> adjust,  or not!  I will be watching tonight.  Debbie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Flagdu [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sherri
>> Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 2:35 PM
>> To: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users; NFB of Florida Internet 
>> Mailing
>> List
>> Subject: Re: [Flagdu] [Nfbf-l] NBC New show premiering about growing
>> upwithaguidedog...
>>
>> When he first got the dog and was in the hotel room and sent his son home
>> after an ice cream Sunday, he was feeding the dog veel cutlets. When he 
>> was
>> entertaining his friends, he gave the dog a chip so he wouldn't bark. The
>> question I had is when did he get trainnig with his dog? If it takes 
>> roughly
>>
>> 4 weeks, didn't his family realize he was missing? And it is comedy after
>> all, but all tha aside, it was rather humorous.
>>
>> Sherri
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Sherrill O'Brien" <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; "FLAGDU
>> List" <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 10:47 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Flagdu] [Nfbf-l] NBC New show premiering about growing 
>> upwith
>> aguidedog...
>>
>>
>> Sherri and all,
>>
>> I want to watch the show a couple more times before passing judgment too
>> quickly. I didn't realize he was feeding his dog people food. Do you know
>> what he fed it? Did he feed it from the table? From the get go, that's 
>> not a
>> very good message to put out there. No one has yet said a word to the 
>> dog.
>> Small thing, I know, but it bothered me. Also, I thought that shutting 
>> the
>> dog up in the pantry to help make his son feel needed was rather weird. 
>> The
>> thing is, apparently this guy, in real life, is pretty eccentric and
>> forceful. That's his personality, so the show reflects that and will
>> irritate us sometimes. And this is TV, after all, with ratings as their
>> bottom line. I fear that part of my objections may simply be not caring 
>> much
>> for current TV comedy.  But I certainly plan to give it another chance
>> tomorrow night.
>> Have a great week, even if you suffer from Olympic withdrawal!
>> Sherrill
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
>>
>> February 21, 2014
>>
>> GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION APPLAUDS NBC'S NEW COMEDY SERIES "GROWING UP FISHER"
>>
>>
>>
>> "Growing Up Fisher" TV Show is Inspired By Creator's Experience with His
>> Father's First Guide Dog from the Guide Dog Foundation
>>
>> The Guide Dog Foundation (www.GuideDog.org) is thrilled to support NBC's 
>> new
>> comedy series "Growing Up Fisher" (www.NBC.com/Growing-Up-Fisher/), which 
>> is
>> inspired by creator/executive producer DJ Nash's own childhood 
>> experiences
>> when his father trained with and received a guide dog from the Guide Dog
>> Foundation in the early 1980s. Starring J.K. Simmons and Jenna Elfman,
>> "Growing Up Fisher" follows 11-year-old Henry (Eli Baker) as he adjusts 
>> to
>> his parents' divorce and his blind father's (Simmons) new guide dog. The
>> "Growing Up Fisher" pilot will premiere after the Olympic Closing 
>> Ceremony
>> on Sunday, February 23, at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and then will air a new
>> episode in its normal time slot on Tuesday, February 25, at 9:30 p.m. ET 
>> on
>> NBC.
>>
>> "In 1981, my dad acquired his first guide dog from the Guide Dog 
>> Foundation,
>> and she changed our lives. She changed my dad's life for sure, but she
>> really changed all of our lives. I went from being my dad's human guide 
>> to
>> having to race to keep up with him," said Nash. "My dad lost his sight 
>> when
>> he was 11, and until he was around 45, he navigated the world with the 
>> help
>> of humans. Several things led him to the decision to get a guide dog,
>> including a fellow law school student who was also blind, and him seeing
>> someone he respected with a guide dog really made an impact on him and 
>> his
>> decision to get a dog."
>>
>> Below you'll find a three part interview with show Creator and Executive
>> Producer DJ Nash exclusively shot for the Guide Dog Foundation.
>>
>>
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