Category: Animal House
I am applying to schools hopefully I'll get into at least one Jursy, NY or Michigan. I'm starting a blog about my experience at guidedogexperiences.blogspot.com. I've heard bad reputations about the Pilot school good ones about gdb it's just I don't want a roommate. I suppose maybe Pilot is ok I don't know I mean any dog can get sick or have behaiving issues. Well anyway bye for now
Pilot is truly terrible, and leader is not a good choice either.Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation is a wonderful school as is The Seeing Eye. GDB is not my first choice but they are not a bad school either. There is a database survey of many many guide dog schools if you care to look at it, Amanda, pitch in here and give this girl the web address, please? I've forgotten it. Look at all of their websites, call them and ask lots of questions. The more research you do the better dog and match you will find.
Based on what the OP said, I'm guessing she's applying to TSE, GEB and Leader. To the original poster: if I were you, I'd take a look at www.gdui.org. Click on the link that says "school survey". There's a nice breakdown of training practices, breeds used, instructor qualifications, what they require of applicants, post-graduate policies, facilities, veterinary practices, Etc. Etc.
Knew you'd help me out here Manda. Thanks.
Hi:
It also depends on where you live. I got my Guide Dog at Guide Dogs of America. Their a small school, you have your own room, and they only have a max of 10 students per class. If your interested, you can go to their web site at www.guidedogsofamerica.org
there are good points nad bad to all schools. Ask ten different guide dog users get ten different answers. The gdui survey is great for comparing info. So, is what you did here just asking questions of handlers. Good luck I'll check your blog from time to time to see what's up. Shelly and southeastern guide dog Ellie
I went to Seeing Eye in New Jersey. I would not go any where else. You do not have a roomate.
I've been to both Seeing Eye, and GDB. They are both awesome schools.
Like others have said, check the gdui site, and compare. I'm looking forward to checking out your blog.
Earle
I went to gdb, and it was awesome. I was a little scheptical about the roommate thing too, but my roommate ended up being awesome so it was cool.
good luck and I, too, will check your blog!!
Jessi and Goldina
what is so bad leaderabout
Hi,
I know this post was started awhile ago and I don't know if you've decided on a guide dog school or not, but Guiding Eyes for the Blind or GEB in New York is a great school. Their website is www.guidingeyes.org I went there last March for my first guide dog and everyone is very nice and helpful there and they have great dogs. Also, students who go there no longer have roommates like they did before.
Hi:
I'm not sure if it is of any relevance to specifically the original poster or not, but may be useful later on.
When considering a guide dog, there are several factors to think about:
1. Can you handle the responsibility of working and caring for a guide dog?
(no, this is not to say that a person is irresponsible or not "adult" enough to work or care for one, but sometimes, for example, if you still live at home and your parents spoil the family pets, it may be better to consider waiting until you're on your own, because bad habbits are hard to unlearn.)
The utmost consideration should also be given to where you apply in the caring for and working department because after school, when you go back home there are going to be veterinary expenses. Can you provide the money for veterinary costs on your own or will you need some help?
2. Location: Some people prefer to go to school as close to home as possible, and some people have a specific place they've always wanted to go.
3. Breed: (should really be second on the list but I thought of location first... breed should be considered before location because if you have a preference for breed, then breed is more important. If not then location is next.)
Do you want/need a specific breed?
(poodles are easier for those who want a guide but have alergies to dogs. Some people feel that a shepherd is best and that's ok. Some people want a lab, and that to, is ok. But you need to decide if breed is important to you because some schools only put out certain breeds.)
4. Student/instructor Ratio: Some people feel that they will need more help getting the hang of things than others. And that is ok, but you need to be honest with yourself about what you need, because if you go to a school that has too many students assigned to one instructor, you may find yourself falling behind, getting frustrated, confused and that's not good for a first experience.
(take myself, for example. I went to guide dogs for the blind in Oregon. They have 2 campuses and Oregon is smaller. I think I would have been intimidated to have gone to the san rafael campus because there are 6 students to one instructor, versus 3 students to an instructor in Oregon. But that was my own preference.) Some people may need even more attention and that to, is ok but honesty to yourself and the schools in this is the key.
5. Time and availibility: How long can you spend training? Can you really leave home for it?
(if you don't think you can leave home, for example, then, maybe Fidelco is the school for you, since they do in-home training...) But even in this you have to make a choice because you may want in-home training, but are afraid of shepherds (in which case you should wait until you can go to a school that will issue something else to you.)
I'm sure there are other considerations but I'm tired and not really sure I should be posting this, anyway.
I think the best thing, though, is to sit down, (as others before me have said), and check out the school surveys on:
GDUI's website
And compare schools.
If you'd like to discuss this further, feel free to get in touch with me, I'd be happy to help.
I hope this finds you well.
De Candy Man
I also attended class at Guide Dogs for the blind in Boring, Oregon. I liked the smaller class size because, as the last poster said, I feel I can keep up much better, and do not get frustrated in a class of a dozen people, rather than eighteen students.
Hi, I live in the UK. I did have a guide dog but he got cancer. And I am not ready for another one yet. But I keep my dog as a pet now. I gues the UK will be different from the States. When I did my futher assessment I was never more tired. It is very hard work. I had my own room no room mate. There is no centres left in Scotland.
On the San Rafael campus, there are 24 students in a class, not 18. I might've been able to handle it if there'd been only 18.
Seriously, though, I hope my post will help someone.
Now that I look back at it it looks stupid or something...
Not stupid at all. I think everything you mentioned is logical to consider when applying for a guide dog. I chose the seeing eye and considered many of the things you listed.
hey people,
well pilot was an okay school but they sure need more trainers there were like ten or eleven students and yes we had to have roommates. i did try to apply to guide dogs for the blind san rafael but they didn't like the area i live in and they told me i needed to live in a better area plus they wanted me to video tape my use of the cane and i didn't have a camera.
i'm working on trying to find a better area suitable for walking with like a park or stores near it.
Pilot dogs in columbus ohio gives you the dog not just as your guide they give it to you as a companion to, and shiloh is deffinetely good for that.
She makes me want to improve and i've gotten better at my outdoor orientation to and at street crossing well except for five lane streets.
So i've heard lots of differing opinions on guide dog schools, so i guess all i can say is choose the one thats best for your needs, pilot dogs only cares that you can work safely with the dog and if you can travel with a cane.