Category: Animal House
Hi, I would like everyone who has a guide dog, who has had a guide dog, is going to get a guide dog, or knows someone that has a guide dog to please post here with the dogs name, breed, name of school, and any experiences you would like to share. I am soon going to Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto Florida and will update this once I have the dog.
Back in 1998, I had a male Yellow Lab named Dusty. I got him from Leader Dogs for the Blind, in Rochester Michigan. He was a very good dog, worked well, and everything. I was just going through too many transitions in my life, and quite honestly, was too immature to handle the responsibility of having one at the time. As anyone who reads on Animal House knows, I am considering getting another one. Even though it did not work out with Dusty, I gained a lot of experience with him that could help me now.
my dog is Ellie black lab from southeastern. If you have any questions let me know. I can't wait to read about your experiences. Talk to your trainers about any concerns you have or any special needs you have. If you see the trainer named Heidi tell her hi.
I have had two German Shepards from Fidelco, one named Lazer, and other one Peyton. Lazer had a small mental breakdown the second week I had him, so he was retired, and Peyton had a problem with correction in the apartment and getting excited and she peed all over. So she went back too. Peyton's worek was great, just couldn't take the peeing issue.
Then I went to Guiding Eyes in New York. I had a black lab named Wally, and one day at the dorms, I had a heart attack. So I was dismissed from training till a future time. Wally was great, just he hated sleeping at night.
Right now I am happy with my cane, don't have to feed, take out, or groom it, LOL. But having a dog opens up so much with the feeling of being free, and being able to move faster while walking.
BB
well, I thought I would let you all know where I am in the process and a little more information on me as well.
I am 17 years old and live in virginia.
I have wanted a guide dog since I was little when I thought they were called "C N I dogs" it wasn't until I was probably 11 or 12 that I realized it was either guide dogs or seeing eye dogs.
at that point I started looking into the different schools and was disappointed that none would except me at that now granted I look back now and am very glad about this.
at 14 I applied to Southeastern guide dogs and was accepted but was asked to wait until I was 16 years old so I did when 16 I also applied to guiding eyes and they asked me to wait a year. then I decided last summer wasn't the time even though I could have went to Southeastern then. Then back in September or October I talked to Rita Princivalli at Southeastern and we had at first talked about home training but then I decided that I wanted to go in for the 26 day program. Therefore we had me scheduled to go in June 11th 2007. Then I found out that I was not going to be going to school for a while because of stuff with VSDB so I called Rita back on Dec. 11th and left a message that I would like to try and get into class earlier, well she called me back that after noon and I was thinking may maybe april and she said "feb 19th". I was overjoyed and asked her if we could try and find help to pay for my transportation. On wednesday Dec 13th a lady from florida named Leigh Ann called to say that she would help me on thursday my air fair was taken care of. We got all the rest of the paper work they needed for me sent in thursday and now it is just a matter of waiting for the class. I leave here on the plane from greensboro North Carolina at 6-15 in the morning feb 19th. I fly to dulles and change plans and then fly to Tampa. I arrive at the airport at about 10-45. I will then travel to the school with my instructors and get settled in have dinner and a orientation lecture. The next morning I will arise at 6-00 and have breakfast then we will do juno walks and practice dogs. then we will have lunch and after lunch we get our dogs. We have the rest of the afternoon to bond with the dogs. The next morning we get our harnesses and begin working on campus. we will travel to many places. on march 10th is my graduation and puppy raiser day it begins at 8-30 in the morning and ends at around 1-00. march 16th I travel home with the dog. more later as I know it.
34 more days now
I have Hester, a black lab from The Seeing Eye. I got her in may of 2006. She's my first guide dog, and I hope to work with her for many years to come.
thanks everyone for posting I love hearing about the guide dogs. I should be hearing more from Rita later this week but as far as I know I am set to go.
Bill I'm sorry about your heart attack! My grandfather had one too! He's fine though! He has to take an asprin once a day! Jessica sorry about the pqn thing! I just got behind! I couldn't write down your email caus someone moved my braille writer! My braille n speak isn't working either! I went to South Estern in 1997 after my grama died! My Mom and dad drove me to the school in Florida! I was scared when they left! I got a British roommate named Claire! She lives in Ohio! With her husband and her kids! They gave me a dog named Georgia! But it didn't work out! Now I have a guinea pig named Emma and a regular dog named Daisy!
Hello Jessica no I don't have at dog but please tell all details about the school and learning involved. thanks. Jihave to wait on my dog but I want to go to seeing eye in NJ.
the school is in palmetto florida, and pretty much all I know right now is we work on campus on the nature walk called the freedom walk and in palmetto, bradenton, sara sota, tampa and st. petersburg. we go to the beach, malls, and all sorts of places if possible I will update everyday while there especially on dog day.
Hmmm, st. Pete? is that new? We didn't work there. Although we do go to the St. Pete beach one day. Its posible they changed though. I know for a while they weren't doing serra sota due to high gas prices and were only doing one day in Tampa. Personally I enjoyed the serra sota days and found the Tamps tampa days stressful.
as far as I know they are doing sara sota bradenton st. pete and 2 days in tampa, and palmetto, I will be able to give more updates once I am in the action. 32 more days now I can't believe it.
I absolutely can not wait to have the responsibility a guide dogs requires from its, owner, daft though it sounds. I live in a fairly boring, rural town, Farnham in Surrey, where the nearest row of decent shops, a field to let the dog off for a run and the highstreet are quite some distance from our house on the outskirts of Farnham. Whenever I've had the opportunity to speak to a couple of people from the GDBA both at home and when I was at College in Loughborough, so I know more or less what's involved in getting a guide dog and taking responsibility for it's wellfare and everyday basic care and everything else to go with that, but the dog itself will probably have to wait till I leave home. Why you might ask? A. Mum will monopolise the animal as soon as I get it in to this house after our training at the UK's only remaining training school and secondly, Farnham's such a dump that I'd have to get the bus to the nearest decent shops, cinema, Pizza place or whatever. I think of nothing else, stuck here all day. I'm hoping, because of my musical and cheerful personality, my dog'll be named after one of the fairly well-known singers or musical artists, even a character from either of my two favourite books. Until then folks, that's it. If and when I get a dog when I'm well and truly shot of home and mother, I'll keep you updated also.
Jessica that sounds cool! I wasn't there long enough to do those things! Plus I didn't know about the beach! That's the only thing my roommate Claire left out for me!
Hey I have a golden retriever from The Seeing Eye. His name is Laddy. I love him so much and traveling opens up so many more doors for me now that I have him. I have had him for about a year and a few months. Hopefully I will talk to some of you sometime.
Hey, yall,
It's Shanda.
I have Adam--mistly called Addy--from teh Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, NY. He's a black Lab/poodle ross and had just turned fourteen months when I got him. He'll be three this coming June...
I enjoyed GDF because the classes were very smalla nd I found training really individualized.
GDF uses leash guiding which i find greatly helfpul. And they do extensive training--at least my instructors did--with find/follow though I hear that varies from instructor to instructor.
Jessica, learn lots, try not to stress out--easier said than done for me anyhow, and have fun. Bond as much as you can...
Take care,
Shanda
Hey Jessica,
Shanda your school sounds quite easy for me! Leash training sounds cool! That's how I walk with Daisy on a leash!
Hey,
There's more to it than leash guiding but it's one of those things they do make sure you know how to do and quite frankly, <big grin> it's one of thsoe thigns that many graduates of GDF think all schools should have--but not everyone would find it helpful in turth I'm sure. I enjoy it on the college campus in the dorm, ETC.
Oh, and Danielle,the "freedom feeling" that first time you walk with a guide is quite the amazing thing indeed.
Shanda
Jessica
I to am looking in to geting a guide dog from south eastern, I have had two dogs before and they were wonderful dogs, my first one was returned for biting, and the second was returned for running me in to a street. I love having a guide dog, and it really does increase your freedom. I will be doing eeverything in my power to se that I get another guide.
Hugs to all and there furbabies.
Maria
I must say, I'm surprised at the return rate out there...... I think nearly everyone I've come across has had at least one return. In England, I don't know of hardly any dogs, certainly none personally, who have been returned for their behaviour.
guide dogs for the blind is where I am going this summer. It is my first dog and I am so nervous. I am excited but yes nervous too. Hope it works well and if this board iss till running then I will post my experiences.
Hello there. I had a pp fromgdf came to my school. and he and a traner was ver helpfil about answer question. and I learn alot for them.
I recieved a yellow labrador female named Brittany from Guiding Eyes in August of 2003 and I would never go back to that school ever again. I recieved a wonderful dog named Drew from Fidelco guide dog foundation that needed to be retired early and I am currently planning on re-training with a replacement dog in February. Drew was a classic black and tan German Shepard female and I will always love her, as my sister, my friend, my protector and my guide, my soulmate and my champion. I would highly, highly reccomend Fidelco.
Well, it's kinda like this. Just got back from SeeingEye with Barclay a loveable calm powerful fast black lab. He's an excellent worker, pulls hard, walks fast, and hasn't hit anything yet.
Ha, "hasn't hit anything yet". That's the right attitude.:) Both The Seeing Eye and black labs are awesome. Not like I'm biased or anything...;)
I want to stay at a school because I think I will get destranted with knowing pp in my town.
Actually, believe it or not I live one town away from the seeingeye. Some of the training is done in Madison NJ where I live. My worst fear which didn't get realized until I went in to my favorite breakfast haunt was meeting someone I new. When I arrived at the bagle shop they were quite pleased to meet the new fellow. I can definately understand not wanting to run in to people you know until you have finished training.
As a future dog owner, I just wanted to say hi. I've been back and forth about whether to get a dog for the past 10 years, and finally, I know what I'm doing.
I'll be going to GDB in San Rafael in late May. I hope my dog doesn't have a name that I'm embarrassed to say in public, (nothing prissy, fluffy or food related for me please!) and I want/need a well-rounded, pet friendly dog good with everything from large classes (grad school soon) and strangers. (social work internship with client intakes next year). All of the return stories terrify me. I bond with animals, maybe to a fault, and my worst fear is taking a dog home only to have to retire him/her for something much sooner than old age.
Please send me good luck energy, and if you have GDB stories, good or bad, please post!
Good luck Maria! Good luck to you also Erica! When I went to the school in Florida I only stayed for 8 days!
hi there,
well i have my first guide dog a golden retriever named shiloh and she is really sweet but a huge people lover.
She has some other problems to, that i'm not sure how to fix other than keep correcting her with the leash.
I got her from pilot dogs in ohio, and man is that school tough.
i've only had shiloh home in minnesota for four weeks now.she's been barking alot at people like if she dont recognize them, or when people come to my door and knock or if my phone rings and she's been growling at the other dogs in my building.
when she does that i usually leash correct her and tell her know then i tell her quiet and then i make her sit till she calms down, so far only one person has let my dog sniff there dog all the other people in the building keep pulling there dogs away when i ask them to let her sniff them.
so hopefully once her new collar comes she'll improve because she doesn't growl all the time just in certain places like at the movie theater i took her to, and at pet smart cause she saw a dog, and today just recently at super america when people kept coming in the gas station.
i don't want to give up on her because she is only a year old, because i have had people tell me that i can't do certain things that i wanted to do, so i'm not giving up on her.
its fun having her like walking outside i feel much safer especially crossing streets most of the time except right now minnnesota has a lot of snow, so it makes working with her walking difficult.
thanks for reading and please respond.
shelly
Hi All!
I applied to GDB back in August of 2006, and I just got the exciting news of my acceptance this past week. I will be in the July class (July 01-28 2007) and I absolutely can't wait!
Kolby
Congradulationes Colby! Shelly good luck! A leash corecction that sounds like it would hurt! What is that by the way! When Daisy went by my Dad's bird last week I told her no! She came back to me and sat down! When she went by the baby my sister told me to tell her no! My best friend Maria said Daisy came right over to me and she looked at me! Then she sat down! I hope I'm doing the right with Daisy! Knowing that she was abused by her former owner I don't want to scare her!
Wow, if daisy is listening that well you've got it made. Leash corrections if given properly only hurt the dog's pride and imbaris him or her a little. Often times they already know what they did just before the correction.
Thank you Willie! Daisy does listen well! Except today when I gave her a bath! She jumped out of the bath tub twice! I have no idea why she behaved that way!
hahahaha! you bet, well, it's a bath. My dog never liked the but. I always kept the bathroom door closed so he couldn't run away. Just watch those claws that they don't get you on the way out.
Thank you I forgot about the claws and yet I know they are there with Emma my guinea pig! Willie I'm worried about Daisy! I discovered a bump on her hip! I told my Mom! She had to go get my thyroid medicine! When she returned the vet was closed! She said to keep watching it! I know with Emma my guinea pig I'm supposed to take her to the vet! She had a bump it turned out to be a tumor! It wasn't cancer thank God! It was a tumor of the tissues! It has a fancy Latin name!
I have had two dogs from Guiding Eyes, and I would highly recommend that school to anyone who asked. My first dog, Katerina, I got back in June of 2002. She had to be retired after a year, because she didn't want to work. Some dogs don't realize the extent of their responsibility until they're actually in the field; the training environment at the school is so structured and not nearly what they actually take on when working with a handler. My second and current guide is Olivia, obtained in January 2004. Her work is amazingly awesome, and I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's five now, but she still has some puppy in her that's for sure. It makes life and travel interesting and so much more rewarding with a guide dog, although there are advantages and disadvantages to both a cane and a dog. The independence is incredible!
I'm sorry about Katerina! Good luck with Olivia! I've always liked the name Olivia! Willie the bump on Daisy has vanished!
I have my first guide, a two-and-a-half year old female black lab golden retriever cross named Bibby. We have been a team for just over half a year, and I got her from BC Guide Dog Services, a smaller school in Canada that is more in line with the British style of training. I loved my experience with the school, received a fabulous dog and would definitely recommend it and return for subsequent dogs.
I'm not sure when I'll be going in for class, but I applied to Guide Dots for the Blind almost a year ago. The field manager for my region is coming next week to do my second Juneau walk with me.
Wow a guide dog in Canada! I've been to Canada once! We visited my aunt and uncle when they moved there! How is the British style of training different than our American one?
She came, I walked, and still I'm waiting for a class date. I know I'm one step closer.
I'm going for training on May 6th, just two weeks and four days away.
I was thinking about getting a guide dog when I was sixteen, which was about two years ago, but whoever it was I saw said that because I love animals so much, I would probably treat the dog as a pet more than a working dog. I think I'm going to see about getting a guide dog after I've finished all my education and got my own place. The teacher at college who teaches braille has a black labradore called Ranger who is 4 years old and comes to see and follows me around every time I go in his room. The last guide dog he had was called Major who was already retired when I met ranger and was about 12 years old. He passed away last October I think.
I applied at the seeing eye and I've had the home interview a week ago. now I find out they want to postpon for a year so I am going to give them a call today and try to see if they can change their minds.
Did they say why they wanted to postpone your class date for a year? Is there just not a dog that would match with you well, or was it related to your O&M skills, or something else entirely? Just curious, you don't have to answer if you're not comfortable.
they accepted me. five minutes after my last poast she called and I'm in. I'm going down there on the 26th of may!!
Yay, how exciting! That was the class I was in last year.:)
I know what the classes are like but what was it like when they gave you the dog. What was your reaction, what did you do with it when they gave it to you. if you don't mind me asking
self esteam and socializing and them thinking that the dog wouldn't be worked! I guess an e-mail can make all the difference in the world!
Dog Day was the greatest thing. That morning seems endless. This is how the day goes:
In the morning, you do a Juno walk in Morristown, just so the instructors can see your pace, pull, Etc. one more time before they have the final matching meeting. Then you return to the school and have a meeting with the class supervisor. At this time, the instructors are somewhere having that matching meeting, making their final decisions about what dog goes to what person. So, you're sitting in the lecture. It's about how far your dogs have come, how they've gone from the breeding center to puppy raisers to the trainers, and now to you. (That's the gist of it, anyway.)
Then it's lunchtime! Now, the food at The Seeing Eye is amazing, but you will not taste this lunch. You will be too excited. Everyone will eat super fast because they want their dogs. The instructors won't hurry, though, and there's always one slow-poke eater.:)
So then you go back to your room, and you pace, and try to read, and pace some more. Finally, someone comes to your door and tells you to go to a designated spot (depends where you are in the building. My room was on the second floor, so I went to the common lounge). I walked down the hall to the lounge, empty leash in hand. I heard the dog panting, but my instructor made me sit down before she'd tell me anything.
"This is Hester," she said. "She's a black lab. She's all black, except for a couple small white spots on her paws. She's got really big ears, and she's pretty small. She'll be great for dorm life and city living." Hester put her head in my lap and I petted her and talked to her. Then I snapped her leash on and heeled her back to my room.
We were left to our own devices for 45 minutes or so. I showed Hester her place in the corner, showed her her bone, and walked around the room with her, letting her sniff and explore. Then I got down on the floor and petted and played with her. She wasn't very responsive. She kept whining at the door, looking for the place my instructor -- and her trainer -- had disappeared to. Each dog is different. Some are really attached to their trainers and take a while to turn over to you. Others could care less. As long as you put food in their bowl every morning and night, they'll be happy with you. Hester was the former type.
After about 45 minutes, my instructor came with the harness. She showed me how to put it on Hester, and we went outside to the leisure path to take our first walk. The dogs know this path like the back of their paws, so it's not a hard walk at all. It just gives *you* confidence, seeing how easily your dog weaves you around turns and obstacles, and how smoothly it stops at steps and doorways.
And that's pretty much dog day. I kept a blog about my experience at The Seeing Eye. You can read it at amandasdog.livejournal.com if you like. It's pretty detailed, so might give you a good idea of what things are like once you get your dog.
Thanks!! I'm excited but also really nervious as well. I only have four weeks untill I go down there.
Good luck with that. I fly out to Oregon on May 6th. only eleven more days!
I have a two=year=old yelllow lab named Steven.
At the weekend, I met two people with guide dogs. One of the dogs is three-and-a-half years old and the other one is 4. The oldest working guide dog I've met was ten-and-a-half and would have been retired when she was about 11.
Whoa, sorry for the hideous spelling on the last post i made to this board.
I'm thinking of getting a guide dog either by next summer or if that doesn't work, the following summer. Do I need to apply now to make sure I'm on the list? I'm going to college in the fall and I want to get use to it first before I'm actually ready. I also have to get a dog that doesn't shed because some of my family members have alergies.
That may be a good idea. Try requesting a yellow lab. They have short hair, or mine does, anyway.
In 2002 I got my first dog from Guide Dogs of America in Southern Cal. Like post one, it didn't work out. Doron who was a male black lab was vary stubbern, and was to big for me. Not to menchon that I was to inmature. I now have another male black lab named Voyager, that I got from the same school, and we've been together two years.
Hi
I'll be obtaining my first guide dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind next summer. I'm really excited about this great opportunity. I hope that everyone has an experience to share with me. I mean what the training was like etc. Looking forward to hearing from you then. I'll post more up when I get back from training.
Jxt8126
Which campus will you be going to?
I'm going to gdb on monday! the san rafael campus!! I'll be there from august 6, 2007 til sept 2! I can't wait to see what kind of dog I'll get and to start this new journey with her!!! or, I'm assuming her...I said I wanted a girl, lol.
My guide dog-in-training is Kreuzer, he's a White German Shepherd, and quite a pig-headed goof, but I like the hard-temperamented dogs, haha.... And he can still be a dream to work with at times.
Jeannie819 -- You should mention that some of your family has allergies to the school you are applying to, I'm guessing they'll try and get you paired with a Standard Poodle or a Poodle cross, as they're the least likely (but not guaranteed) to provoke allergies. It really depends on if those with the allergies are allergic to the fur, or the saliva and dander.
Awesome complicated_melody. Is this your first dog? I hope you get a good match. It's an amazing experience. I've only had mine for a couple of months, but I can't wait to really start working with her when I head back to college.
I abandoned southeastern when they started giving me tons of trouble I am now going to go to GDB very soon the oregon campus probably the oct. 21 or the nov 18th class hopefully the first all we are waiting for is the note from my doctor and the home interview. Jessica
I've never posted to this board, and just saw it so I'm going to do so now.
I have a male black labrador, from Guide Dogs For The Blind.
We graduated from the Oregon Campus, in 2005.
He is 3 now, going to turn 4 December 31st of this year.
Wouldn't trade him for the world.
Hi! Thanks to everyone for posting here. I'm in the process of applying for my first guide dog from Leader Dog For The Blind In Rochester Michigan which is 20 minutes from my house. I will keep you posted as the events of testing and training unfold. Also, If anyone on here has got a guide dog from the school that I'm going too. Please share your experience.
I got my black lab/golden retriever cross, Browning, from BC/Alberta Guidedogs, in Canada, just before my fourteenth birthday. After doing all my research and going through the training, I'd have to say it's the best school that Canada has to offer.
I find out from GEB today and the last paper was sent into GDB today
I have been excepted into the Nov 12th class at GEB, and can't wait they said I will more then likely get a lab but no other info. I so can't wait, and will post everything. this one is for sure and I will keep this board up-to-date on what happens. Jessica