Category: Let's talk
Hey Guys!! Was wondering who here has a guide dog, and what kind is it/ mail/female/breed? I am looking at getting one, and I was also wondering what the pros and cons of each school in the USA are? I am ellergic to labs/goldens/lab/golden crosses, so I was thinking of getting a German Shepherd as a guide dog or possibly a boxer? Any thoughts on Shepherds/boxers as guide dogs? I've heard Shepherds are hard to handel- so I don't know. I know that a few schools stopped using them because of this. I was wondering what your experience with a shepherd is like? (if anyone has one as a guide dog that is lol) and what has your overall experience with getting a guide dog like? I know that you have to have good O&M skills- but I'm not the most perfect street-crosser but I am good at traffic directions and stuff- and some of my O&M teachers said that I have really good cane skills and a dog would be perfect for me- and I hadn't wanted one until a few months ago. I'll be going to a University that is extremely huge- and I think it would be awesome to have a guide dog! And+ it'll be a best friend of mine for a long time!
Any thoughts on all of this?
Thanks everyone!
Amber.
i have a guidedog for a bit more than 2 years now. she's a labrador cross retriever, some sort of goldish/whitish color.
i'm not in the states can't tell what schools are good and what are not. but from the contacts i have around the glob, most people will agree that try to go for guidedogs for the blind or guiding eyes, and try to avoide seeing eyes. anyhow, by saying so, is also depends on what sort of things you like to do, and what sort of lifestyle you have. some dogs require lots of work, some are quite happy to sit around, and be flaxible.
we dont have Shepherds in australia. from what i been told by few different instructor, the reason behind it is because Shepherds tempt to develope few health problems, and usually have a shortter working lifespend than a labrador, or retriever or those sort.
there's also a trand where they start to train labradodle (lab cross poodle ) as a guidedog. they say it have great ppersonality and, didn't shed like lab/retriever for example.
is best to look around, talk to different school, and have a feel of what they offer. always no harm to get more information and decide, if guidedog is really something you want for a long term.
it is great to have a guidedog, but however, at times, there are price for pay for it, and this isn't mean in terms of matirial price, in terms of, you might tied to places that you can go, or, the welcare of a dog might be at time overwelming for ya.
good luck
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sorry for the typos, on the bus/...
I just got back from the seeing eye. The top three schools by far here in the us are the seeing eye, guiding eyes, and guidedogs for the blind. Seeing eye has the highest success rate.
I have a german sheperd. her name is Ethel. we just got home from the seeing eye last wednesday.
If you want to ask me anything about the school or about guidedogs feel fre to send me a qn or private message
Oh okay awesome! Thanks for your replies everyone I appreciate it! Yeah that's what I figured the top schools were: I am really leaning towards the SeeingEye or Guiding Eyes. I also looked at Guide Dogs Of The Desert- but I haven't heard much about them. I did speak to a lady from Guide Dogs For The Blind on the phone, and she sceemed really rude- when I told her I was elergic to labs she was all like What? Like that's sooooo unusual to be elergic to labs which it's not I know loads of people who are. But she just sceemed kind of rude to me and+ they stopped using German Shepherds, and she told me they were still using them- and if I'm elergic to labs don't get a labradoodle because they still have lab in them- and my best bet would be to try another school that maybe has a standard poodle. I haven't tried calling the Seeing Eye or Guiding Eyes yet, but I definitely will. HellsAngel, I will definitely PM you if I have any questions! Thanks!! Good to know that someone has a shepherd though!
Amber.
the seeing eye has the highest quality sheperds. a guy from south africa that came to the seeing eye for 2 weeks to make sure they were good enough to inter this international guidedog association told them that a lot of schools would give anything to sheperds as good as theirs.
and guiding eyes doesn't do sheperds normally. they say if you want one tell them then they will have it ready in a year. that's a while. and if that one doesn't work out its not like there's another sheperd cause they don't do them normally. seeing eye all the way. haha
Oh wow! That's interesting. Hmmm... so if I wanted to get a seeing eye dog and it be a shepherd, then I should probably let them know like now so that this time next year I could have my German Shepherd? But I don't want to apply until next year- or should I apply in like December? When would it be best to apply?
Thanks,
Amber.
There are more dogs than just shepherds though. You might look into a veeshala, not sure on the spelling. It has peach fuzz, and doesn't shed, which is why most people are alergic to dogs.
Also, the three big schools have smaller schools that work under them. I would suggest going to one of these schools, because you are in a much smaller class. My class for my guide dog had nine people. We had five trainers with us. That allowed me to get as much one on one time as I needed.
I would suggest looking into southeastern guide dogs, in florida. They are small and very high quality. I've never had a single complaint about it, in three years of having a guide dog.
Hi! Hmmm, that's interesting, I've never heard of that kind of dog before- most of the schools have labs/goldens/german shepherds/standard poodles and I think one of them (I think it was GDF had labradoodles) but I'll definitely have to check into other schools with dogs like the one you mentioned!
Amber.
This should be in the animal house section of the boards.
No. seeing eye always has sheperds. you don't have to wait a year. guiding eyes is the one you have to wait a year.
I say go to a big school. They have more money, there for they can get all they need. I've heard its very hard to get in to south eastern if you don't live near cause they don't have money for transpertation. So that means also that if you need help in your area they might not be able to send someone out as soon as you need them cause of shortage of staff and shortage of funds. Just my opinion but it seems to me a big school is a better way to go. I had 21 people in my class. six instructors. I had one on one time any time I needed it. They don't neglect anyone by any means
Labradoodles were first bred in the 1980s as guide dogs for people who were either allergic to dogs or for people who wanted a guide dog but who weren't all that in to dogs on the whole. Good luck! I'm in the process of applying for my first guide dog too. Now in the UK apparently, from what I've heard, you don't choose your School, you're matched with your dog and the dog you're matched with isn't necessarily easily found for you in your area or thereabouts, so you're sometimes, shipped out as far as Edinburgh, Scotland if you live up North as my friend Rachel from Middlesbrough was with her second dog Hayley since there wasn't a match for her locally. As for me, I'm hoping I'll only have to go as far as Wokingham or Wood Green, London when the time comes. Nottingham or Loughborough are further away, but I wouldn't mind if I had to go there for training either, since I went to Loughborough Tech for 3 years and the hall of residence, the Stan Bell Centre where a lot of the VI students who attended both the Tech and the RNIB Vocational College, stayed, was going to start accomodating people who were training with guide dogs.
Jen.
Hello! Oh I see- that's good- because I was leaning towards the SeeingEye or GuideDogs Of the Desert- but I am not sure about that school since I haven't heard anything about it. Yeah- but I don't know of any school who breeds labradoodles, I think at one time the Guide Dog Foundation in New York use to breed Labradoodles, but I don't know if they still do. But it depends on the dog for me- so I'm planning to go up to a breeder in my area who breeds german shepherds and a breeder who breeds boxers and see which one I'm elergic to. (because I don't know since I don't know anyone who has a german shepherd or boxer who is living around my area that I can go see) Hmmm, that's interesting about the bigger VS Smaller schools- but I was going to go to a big school anyway because of transportation and whatnot, and like HellsAngel said they have a lot more money to do things like provide for transportation and stuff. I appoligize in posting this in the wrong board- I wasn't sure where it went, so I figured I'd post it in this forum. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, I appreciate it! If anyone else wants to add further input, please go ahead and do so! Good luck on applying, Jen! I'm not there yet, but I'm getting more and more excited for when I do apply! (I'll be keeping my options open and waying out the different schools as I do more research)! But getting your guys feedback especially helps when choosing a few schools!
Amber.
I was told by the person who works at my local guide dogs that German Shepherds are only really used as second or third guide dogs because they are a strong dog and need a lot of work and exercise.
Hi! Hmmm- that's interesting. But all dogs need lots of exersize, Labs are in cluded as well as boxers. So I think it depends if your willing to put up with a dog- you know? Because I think the majority of dogs will require a fair amount of exersize? I'm pretty sure. If anyone else has any reviews about Guide Dog schools/ which ones are good VS ones that aren't, please let me know!
Thanks,
Amber.
I've personally never heard of a boxer as a guide dog. I could be wrong, I've just never heard of one being used.
The only school so far, that I've heard occationally use them are the Seeing Eye, but otherwise I don't know of any other school who does use them as Guide Dogs. They use them for people who have allergees apposed to the other dogs I guess. The only problem with me getting a boxer, in my case, is I'll be going to school where it'll be freezing, and they apparently can't/don't adjust to cold and/or hot tempitures very well at all because their coat is so short. (that's just what I've found when researching them) so if your living in a cold invirment year round, then they might not be a good breed especially for guiding, because you'd most likely be walking them every day for miles because they, too, need a lot of exersize. Thanks everyone! More suggestions/tips/school recommendations are welcome!
Amber.
seeing eye had one boxer in training when I went I think she's for a special cause though. Piolit dogs uses them to but I don't recommend there at all. This is my first dog, and she's a sheperd. But your right they rarely do give them out to first timers. you gotta proove to them you can handle it.
My experience at the seeing eye was fantastic and I'm returning after I retire my first dog, which hopefully will be years from now. One important thing about the seeing eye... They do all their breeding in house. Through selective breeding, they are ending up with dogs that lack certain unwanted/negative traits in terms of both health and behaviour. I have a male three quarter black lab, one quarter retreiver who will be five this September. Come October, we will have been together for 3 years. He is the most well behaved well tempered and hardest working guide dog I've ever seen. he really loves his job and I have no horror stories to report regarding the first year, or the adjustment year, which, they will warn you about. The seeing eye does use boxers for peple with allergies etc. I would not recommend a Shepherd for a first dog. Shepherds can be a handful, but they are a fantastic breed. They usually won't give out a gs as a first dog under normal circumstances. as far as the seeing eye goes, the best thing you can do really is check out their web site, then, give them a call and talk to them. I'm sure they'd be glad to answer your questions. And if you're ever in the jersey area, pop in for a visit.
Hi! Hmmm, that's interesting. I'll have to give them a call sometime then! Well only problem is- I'm elergic to labs and goldins so I don't really have a choice but to get a shepherd- because I just can't do labs at all. So maybe due to my cercomstances- if I talk to them about it they might consider? HellsAngel you said that you wouldn't recommend getting a boxer as a guide dog; why? Could you provide more info to this? Also: what if your neighborhood doesn't really have any sidewalks? (like we live in a pretty big house) and so around us is just the street- there really aren't any sidewalks- because a few times in high school I was able to get the male- but I'd have to be careful not towonder into the street. I mean there's things you can traille- but not actual sidewalks. Would I still be ellegible for a dog due to there only being sidewalks? Or would I have to walk him somewhere else where there's only sidewalks in a different neighborhood then my own?
Thanks for answering my questions everyone!
Amber
having a guidedog is not having a pet. you not suppose to choose what sort of dog you going to have. is how you and the dog match.
don't only allow yourself to open for one type of dog. from my understanding, shepherd, toes needs lot of work, more so than a normal labrador or most dog.
if you are someone that require lots of work with the dog, i mean as to everyday, thats fine.
i have friends that with guiding eyes dog, who's shepherds.
it come to personal choice, however, just, the advice, and keep in mind is, match come first. if a school giving what you want, just because you want it, not because having a perfact match, that is not a good school.
also, what you need to be aware of is the follow up session.
if a school only provide training, but after that will be as to your own, that is not a good idea.
just bear in mind, having a working dog is not having a pet. not for fun time, but for seriousness, and fun
Hi! Well I will need that sort of dog- I will be going to a huge University so I will have plenty of time/room to walk the dog. And believe me, he will go with me where ever I go around campus, it's not like I'll be at home in my neighborhood and not be able to walk/play with him. I do understand about the matching process- but I am elergic to labs and goldens, so it wouldn't really make sence to match me with a dog that I am elergic to. So that's why I was perfuring a shepherd because I know that I am elergic to labs and goldens. Believe me, if I weren't elergic I wouldn't have a perference on which dog I get matched with- it's just that because I am elergic, my dog options are some-what limited to either a shepherd or a boxer- or any type of dog like that. I mean I suppose I could risk getting a lab, and try to take care of it- dispite me being elergic, but I don't really think it's a good idea, since there are other members in my family who are also elergic to labs and goldens not just me. So it wouldn't really be a good fit. Believe me- if I weren't elergic I'd definitely not be picky about the dog that I get. I know for a fact that I am elergic to labs and goldens because I have had friends who have had labs and goldens and whenever I went over their houses- I was always elergic. (it's their dander that I am elergic to not their hair) so I do understand about how well the matching process has to go, and you have to make sure a dog is matched with you, and fits with your life style and things- but it wouldn't make much sence to match me with something I'd be elergic to. I do understand that a guide dog is just that- a guide dog and guides you around, with you giving verbal directions and visual Q's on where he has to go- I understand that he's not a pet- I have two dogs of my own who are pets, but they definitely wouldn't make good guide dogs- that's not part of their breed at all! (they are more hunting dogs then anything) so I understand that. I also will be looking into follow up services for the dog- before I make a dession on what school I do attend.
Amber.
I totally agree on the choosing of the dog thing. Even though your picky about your type of dog you might have to play around a bit and as for the time for getting a dog I would get it as soon as possible or when you could afford it because I heard they could be a lot of work. And the last thing is check when they retire too because you do realize you can't keep the same dog. Well, anyways, these are just my thoughts and good luck with the finding of one.
no. I have no problem with boxers. I don't no anything about them but I'm sure they're fine. I said I don't recommend going to pilet dogs is all. In my class they gave away five sheperds and three of us were first timers so. it defenetly is posible. and they won't give you a dog that your allergic to I'm sure. but you are going to be in class with people that have labs so you might be having a rough time being around so many dogs your allergic to for a month
Hey! Thanks for your comments guys!! Yes MissDevious- I will definitely do that. That's why I'm waiting until next summer because if I were to get one now- it wouldn't be a good idea- just because I need to learn my way around campus and stuff before I consider getting a dog- and next year I will be in my major, and there is only building for all the classes for my major (because I'll actually be into my major apposed to just taking general ED classes) and there is a dorm across the street from the building where my classes are so I'll most likely/hopefully be living there- so by next year I'll definitely know where to go and stuff like that- where as now I'll just be starting and I have no idea where anything is on campus- so I'll definitely be getting O&M on campus to show me the best possible way to and from classes- I just think right now putting a dog on top of it is going to be to much. At least next year I will know where to go- so I will feel a lot more comfortable directing the dog and things. I will also look at the retirment of the dog- I've been looking into that actually! Thanks for your suggestions!
HellsAngel: Oh I see- okay thanks for letting me know. If I am around labs I'm fine as long as I'm not, for example, petting a lab, or sleeping in the same room with one I should be fine. I looked at Piolit dogs- why wouldn't you recommend going there? Oh I see- I thought when you said you wouldn't recommend a boxer it was/is because there was something up with the type of breed or something- thanks for clearing that up. The only thing with boxers is that I'll be going to school where there are very cold winters and extremely hot summers- I'm not so sure that a boxer will adjust to that tempiture that well- but I don't know though. Oh wow- that many of you got shepherds in your class? Wow that's a fair number of you- how cool! Should I tell them that I prefur one breed apposed to another? Or will they ask me which breed I'd like to have? How does that process work? And do they do home interviews? What happends if near my house there aren't a lot of sidewalks? Would I have to do a home interview in a seprit location near my home: like there is a park near my house could I possibly do the interview there?
Thanks so much everyone for replying!
Amber.
The people who match you with the dog when you go to the school, will ask you if your alergic to any specific kind of dog. Then they will give you a different kind.
I wouldn't just concentrate on shepherds though, there are many other types of dogs that are used. Collies are used by some schools, along with australian shepherds, and several I can't remember. I found a list once, I'll see if I can find it again. Hell, you could even look into getting a horse if you wanted to.
As for the sidewalks around your house, or the lack there of, you can still do mobility without a sidewalk. Granted, its more difficult, and more frustrating, but you can do it if you try. After you have the dog, it will be a lot easier. They will show you how to work the dog in areas without sidewalks.
Yeah, your idea of waiting til next year is a very good idea. It could be stressfull on top of the schoolwork, and everything else college brings. Anyhow when you do it; it would be a great idea and these ideas are helping me too as in I'm considering a dog in about 4 years or so.
Hi! Thanks for your comment! Oh okay good- I was afraid that because we don't have any sidewalks that I couldn't get a dog because I didn't think they'd do well without them, but when there's a will there's a way! I will definitely try and when I get the dog it'll probably be a lot easier to navagate through my sidewalkless neighborhood! Oh I see- I was hoping to go to the Seeing Eye- because I've heard it's a good school, and+ I have family out there too, so it'd make things a bit easier. (or another option I am considering is Guiding Eyes) I was also considering Guide Dogs Of The Desert. The problem is that most of those schools only have labs or goldens or shepherds, and I'm elergic to labs/goldens, so that's why I was looking at a shepherd and/or a boxer if they have one. I was also looking at a labradoodle, but I'm not sure if any of the schools breed them. (or I'm not sure what schools breed them) GDB told me possibly the Guide Dog Foundation does- but it says on their website that they only breed goldens, labs, and standard poodles, but I'll have to give them a call, because their websites aren't always accurite in the types of dogs they breed. (or at least GDB's wasn't) the website was- but the people I talked to weren't. So... but I will be calling them and still calling around to find what the best school is for me! I did however go over to a friends house and she has both a border collie and an australian Shepherd, so that could be another possible dog that I look into getting. Although I haven't found really any schools with them either. Thanks everyone for your comments!
Amber.
That's great your getting more options with the dogs! I'm actually learning from this board and now I know what's out there for the near future.
Hey! Yes- I most definitely will wait a year to get mine because of all the school work I'll have, and going out-of-state is another factor, and the campus being huge is another thing. (and as well as not knowing where I'm going) and I'd hate to confuse the dog when I, myself, don't know where I'll be going at first, that's why I think it's good that I wait a year- although my Mom thinks I'm jumping into it- but I knew people who got their Guide-Dogs when they were 16 and no longer have them do to College getting in the way and other things. So I think 16 is a little early or young to get a dog- just because when your older you have to make sure it's what you want, etc, etc, etc... and I think getting one when your older, and know that you absolutely want a guide-dog, really makes a world of difference! Good that your looking as well, and I am definitely keeping my options and school choices open, because I don't want to just apply to one school apposed to the others. Yes I too am learning a lot from this board, and people's experiences with Guide-Dogs!
Thanks everyone! If you guys have anymore imput/suggestions and stuff comment here with them!
Amber.
I don't think being 16 has to do with anything. Some people could handle it starting college with a dog others can't that's all.
Well that's true- I am just saying. In my oppinion, 16 is to young to get a guide dog- it's a lot of responcibility (I know at 16 I wouldn't have wanted to take on that much of a responcibility) I mean 18 I can see getting a guide dog- I just think that when your 16 your young. And like someone said getting a guide dog isn't like oh let me throw it away when you get home you actually have to care for it as if it were your own kid, practicly. So to me, 16 is a little young. But that's just me.
Amber.
And Amber if you can keep me updated on your progress and stuff I'll surely apreciate it!
Hey! I definitely will keep you updated on my progress!! :) :D I'm having an O&M instructor come to my house, this weekend so that we can map out the perfect rute- or one that's dueable for me anyways lol. Thanks everyone!! I will be calling the different schools (minus GDB) and (GDD) (Guide Dogs Of The Desert) because I already spoke to those schools. I will be in tuch with the Seeing Eye and Guiding Eyes for the blind and we'll see what they say! If anyone has any more suggestions/experiences or anything, please do not hesitate to share them! I always love reading Guide Dog experiences, and I think what also interests me is the type of the dog and name of the dog and wheather it is a male or female. Good luck to all those people who are applying, and I will be applying in March of next year! (I know it's a long time from now) but it gives me enough time to practice the rute that I will need to be successfull in learning for when I do my home interview of whatever school decides to select me- and then I will be going on a journey and hopefully come home with a Guide Dog of my own! Thanks again y'all!
Amber.
Um, and if you could pqn or pm me that'll work too.
Hi! I definitely will PM you and let you know! Thanks for the comments and replies all!! What about Fidelco Guide Dogs? Has anyone heard anything about this school?
Amber.
Some sixteen-year-olds are ready for a guide dog, and others aren't. it just depends on their maturity level.
I'm on a guidedog users mailing list. and I've heard that Fidelco actualy is pretty good. but I don't no anyone who has personally went there
Hi! Just an update for you all as I continue my school research lol! (it feels a lot like selecting the right college lol!) anyways- I spoke to both Guiding Eyes for the Blind and the Seeing Eye. I liked the people at the seeing eye- although the woman at Guiding Eyes was nice- when I told her I was elergic to labs and wanted to get a shepherd, she did tell me that shepherds shed a lot (what dog doesn't?) and that a shepherd probably wouldn't be a good fit- but it's your dog- and your going to be grooming/taking care of it every day anyways is what she did tell me which makes sence. Because a few years ago, I had two cats- was I elergic- yes, but I played with them! Hell- I played with them every day even though I was elergic and after a while I'd get use to them so I'd be less elergic- but when I went over my aunts house who, at the time, had a lab and 5 cats then I became way elergic, and had to go home. So I do believe that if it's your animal you can adapt to their dander/ hair or whatever it is and be use to it. My friend has a golden retreiver and is elergic, but she still has one as a guide dog- so it really depends. So then I spoke to the seeing eye about getting either a boxer or shepherd but my only issue with a boxer is that I'll be living in a freezing climent for 9 months out of the year- and I've read that they don't adjust to cold/hot tempitures that well. So that probably wouldn't be the smartest idea. So for that reason I'm going to go with a shepherd- and+ if I groom it everyday and brush it everyday that the shedding will go down, and stuff. So I think I'm going to go with the Seeing Eye- just because they are a great school- and they sceem really friendly. Although she was a little hesitent when I told her that I was elergic to a lab and a golden- but she told me that if I was to apply for a boxer it'd be a wait until I could get it- and probably even longer because it's a special request. She said that it takes about 4 months, and I should apply at the end of the year. (which I'm going to do) it kind of sceemed like Guiding Eyes was just like well maybe were not the school for you- maybe you can find one that meets your needs- but were happy to have you apply. I really wish that I could go visit these schools when I'm back east- I'm hoping so but unfortunately, it doesn't look like it! So that's my update for now. Just thought I'd update everyone!!! If anyone else went to the Seeing Eye please share your experiences.
Thanks,
Amber.
I went to The Seeing Eye, they are a great school. They have long and short haired shepards That is cool that you are going to apply to TSE. I have seen boxers as seeing eye dogs but you have to request one and then the wait time is long. Good luck on your application process.
I have seen a lot of people get german shepards as their first guides at The Seeing Eye so it just depends on each individual person.
Hey! Thanks for the information! With a short haired shepherd I should be fine. That's awesome that TSE breeds both long/short haired shepherds. Thanks for the info. I was just discussing this with one of my friends online who also attended TSE about wheather they breed long haired or short haired shepherds, or if they only breed one apposed to the other! Thanks for the info!
Amber.
i have known two people who have used fidelco. one did very well and one not so much. I don't think it was the school's fault. He just wasn't ready. Myi best friend Leila's boss has a dog from fidelco and he is great she says. the advantage for him as for you was the allergy thing. since they work in the community with you then you don't have to encounter dogs you can't handle.