Category: Let's talk
i am not for sure where to put this topic. if it is wrong, in advance, i appologize.
my daughter is getting a guide dog which i find totally amazing and fascinating. yesterday I had a near miss while walking to work. this is maybe the second or third time this has happened to me in 52 years. i stopped and thought "hey a guide dog could have prevented this from happening." You know the intelligent obedience thing. what i did certainly fell in to the dumb category. then I started thinking what exactly it was that I didn't like about a guide. picking up poop was the only thing i came up with. guess what, after watching my pet canine get put down saturday, that little job doesn't seem nearly so gross.
now i feel bad because i don't want my kid to think i'm a copy cat. then what if i go to the same school and they compare us? hey, i'm slower. i'm older. i'm fatter. oh gosh this is wigging me out. what would you feel like if your mom was copying you? be honest. any thoughts are appreciated.
if you feel you need a dog, go for one.
Perhaps a different school then your daughter, but if your daughter truely loves you, she'll be supportive, no matter the school you choose to attend.
I think the best way to proceed is for you to talk to your daughter about it and see what she thinks. If I were in her place, I'd be proud to know that I had helped my Mom make such an important and life changing decision. I wouldn't view it as copy catting at all. I'm always thrilled anytime I can help talk someone into trying out a guide dog because I know what an amazing experience it was for me and want to share it with anyone who is willing and able to try it out. I suspect that your daughter would be proud and supportive of you. As for comparisons, my advice is to not put that pressure on yourself. You and your daughter are different people. Everyone learns differently and has different strengths. If you learn slower, that doesn't mean you are any less of a guide dog handler. All you can do is focus on your own training experience and do your best. The trainers at guide dog schools understand this as well and they won't make comparisons. I don't know which school you're considering, but I do know that at GDB, the class instructors change for each class and each group of instructors might only do 2 classes a year. The rest of the time, they are training dogs and doing home visits. So, if you go to a larger school, odds are you won't even have the same instructors as your daughter. I really think your daughter will understand and you will have your experiences to share and compare. You might even learn from each other. I see no need for you to choose a different school, but again, talk it out with your daughter and see how she feels. Good luck and keep us posted.
I totally agree with post four and if you're considering a different guide dog school, then try Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
thanks so much for your kind words. it is good to know such thoughtful people.
My daughter is at gdb and that would be my first choice. I have been very impressed with the people I've met and talked with from there.
Please feel free to send me a private message with any questions you might have. I graduated from GDB with both of my dogs. my first one had cancer, so he had to retire early. This little black lab I have now, is doing just fine. sleeping at the moment. *smile*
Holly, I totally agree with post 4. It might actually stengthen the bond of the relationship between you and your daughter. By seeking her advice, you are also demonstrating respect for her and her choice.
Good luck.
Lou