Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) (08/14/90)
Index Number: 9818
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Vicki,
Well, I am a little disappointed to have to tell you that it looks
like that no show for the August class might just show up afterall,
and so, they are afraid to let me in that class. So, I will be
going in September as originally planned, afterall.
I went down and visited the school and was taken on an individual
tour around the campus grounds and in the buildings by "Gina", one
of the dog trainers.
I met some nice people there and some of the puppies and dogs in
training and also finally met Ray Underwood face to face for the
first time. It was very interesting and I was pretty impressed with
it all.
"Silas", a Yellow lab in training walked with us and had lots of
kisses for me. Gosh, it seems like every dog guide I have met so
far, has just been a bundle of affection.
Ray Underwood, explained to me that since it looked like the
suspected August no show just might come afterall, that they were
afraid to make the commitment of placing me for the August class. I
can understand that and waiting until the September 15th class
isn't all that far away anyway and it is certainly worth the wait
anyway.
Welll one thing, I sure feel eductaed about the school now and
pretty much know what to expect when I get there. I am definitely
looking forward to it and I am still very much excited!
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen
Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgVixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) (08/25/90)
Index Number: 9979
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Vicki,
Well, I know that September isn't really too far away, but to me,
it seems like it is. Just a little anyway. But the days do seem to
be flying right by and I know that I will be packing to leave
before I know it.
I went down to the school again and attended a graduation ceremony,
just for the experience. It is a very emotional experience and some
really neat things happened. Including one presentation of a
monetary donation in the amount of twenty thousand dollars.
Of course, experiencing the ceremony and touching some more doggies
and buying a few School T shirts, has gotten me all that much more
jazzed about going. I know it is going to really be a great
experience!
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen
Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgGrant.Downey@p0.f9.n381.z1.fidonet.org (Grant Downey) (09/05/90)
Index Number: 10123
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Just wanted to stick my two cents worth in! I'm a twice Seeing Eye
Graduate and had two dogs one which was a successful match. I cannot
emphasize how important the match of the dog to master is. I believe
that the match is what makes or breaks a team. When I get another dog
I think I'll be going to San Rafiel though. Since some personel have
changed at the Seeing Eye and as so many improvements have been made at
San Rafiel that would be my choice!
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!381!9.0!Grant.Downey
Internet: Grant.Downey@p0.f9.n381.z1.fidonet.orgGreg.Mason@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Greg Mason) (09/13/90)
Index Number: 10274
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I am proud to say that I am a leader dog user. I have had very
good experiences with their dogs. I do not feel one school is
better than the other. I agree that it is really up to the dog
user as to weather the dog is going to work our or not. I have
seen good and bad from all schools.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Greg.Mason
Internet: Greg.Mason@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgTom.Gerhart@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Tom Gerhart) (09/14/90)
Index Number: 10384
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Gairy,
I think you made a good point about using a local mobility instructor in
certain cases. I have also used a local dog trainer, who trains dogs
for other handicapped people who are in wheel chairs. She was very
helpful. Just a question for you and anyone else who wants to answer,
what was the strangest thing your dog ever ate? tom G
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!273!715!Tom.Gerhart
Internet: Tom.Gerhart@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.orgWalter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren ) (09/17/90)
Index Number: 10396
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
DK> i aggree marda, but what was weird with me was that seeing eye asked
DK> to mail back the harness with this last dog, i thought i paid for
DK> that harness, oh well, i got free plane tickets and good pooches!!
They asked us to do that also, but it was like if we had some we
had no use for, that they could use them for training. It wasn't
manditory.
I guess we should change the subject line on here. I don't see
what this has to do with Vixon.
Walter
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!396!8.1!Walter.Siren.
Internet: Walter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.orgWalter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren ) (09/17/90)
Index Number: 10400
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
VV> Hi Vicki,
VV>
VV> Yep, I had better start wearing those hush puppy shoes already and
VV> get them even mor softened up. I hate feet blisters! Come to think of
VV> it, I hate all blisters!
VV>
VV> Yep, time to go is getting nearer and nearer!
Vixon, I am sure they told you to get use to getting in some
walking excercise. Well, believe me, they are not kidding. I wish
I had done a little more walking before I went to get my dog. I
was use to standing on my feet all day behind a vending stand, but
that was not like getting out and taking some good long walks. My
ankles and feet were sure tired the first week I was there at
seeing eye. I am sure it will be the same out there.
Walter
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!396!8.1!Walter.Siren.
Internet: Walter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.orgMarda.Anderson@f2.n393.z1.fidonet.org (Marda Anderson) (09/19/90)
Index Number: 10446
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Well, I see nothing wrong with Seeing Eye asking that harnesses be
returned. Chances are you wouldn't use the old harness on the new
dog since it probably wouldn't fit right. They use those old
harnesses for training too. Remember how you always got one soft,
old harness to use while training and then near the end of the
course you got the new one? Another reason they told me that they
like the harnesses back rather than, say, being thrown away, is that
they want to make sure the harnesses don't fall into the hands of
someone who would misuse them.
marda
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!393!2!Marda.Anderson
Internet: Marda.Anderson@f2.n393.z1.fidonet.orgVixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) (10/26/90)
Index Number: 11300
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Donna,
Well, Toby's first home leash relief took place in a pacthy area of
both dirt and grass while I stood by with my trusty baggie in my
hand. Toby had no trouble going though. In fact, he quite felxible
about changes in his relief schedule. If he has to go, he will go,
no matter how schedule me might be.
I would like him to go on the asphalt or concrete here, but since
this aprtment complex doesn't regularly water down such areas, I
take him too that patchy area which is located right behind one of
the complex trash bins, which makes it nice. I am hoping that the
new complex I will be moving too will allow me a better and safer,
meaning much closer to people, relief area.
Our first week at home is going very well and toby is just flat
amazing people with his excellent behaviour in public places and on
the street. We have been to a number of resturaunts, grocery
stores, pet stores, and all kinds of places and he does just
excellently. Gosh, these dogs do some amazing things.
As a new user, I am still amazed when he executes such commands as
Find the elevator, find the stairs, or Forward follow someone. He
has even done find the car in crowded parking lots. I am so
thrilled with him right now. Does it ever wear off?
Yes, I will admit, he does have a couple of negative tendencies now
and then, like he will occasionally bump me, but one good
correction and that is done with for the day and ocassionally he
will decide he wants to walk slower than I do and start sniffing
things until he gets a really strong Hop Up and that usually does
the trick. But mostly, he is just awesome. I just can't get over it
all yet. Plus he is so full of love and affection and so silly when
he is not working. Although, very well behaved. Vixen definitely
good a good one heheh!
No, my class didn't make me nuts really. It was hard, the hours
long and I thought the month would last the entire year at times,
but it was quite an experience. There was laughter and tears and
frustration and exhaustion and being ill now and then and a great
deal of stress. but the outcome was well worth it all.
The training was am superbly excellent. My instructors were
terrific and I think I left the school feeling pretty confident for
a beginner and armed me with a pretty good bag of tricks and
instilled the idea in that if something isn't going right, go back
to the basics.
I have to admit that I was pretty much the class comedienne and I
had a lot of fun. I also had a good class in that wwe were'nt all
hating each other by the third week. I think that is partly because
we had a classmate who insulted and angered anyone he could at any
opportunity that it brought the rest of us closer together. He
really shouldn't have even been in the program. He had only been
blind a short time and his mobility was horrible and hept stepping
on peoples dogs and bumping into everyone and everything and call
people names. It was unreal.
For those that know Mike Del Ross and how he wheels his chair up to
the Louding Lounge and then the day room for lectures, will be
pleased to know that our class was playing practical jokes by the
end of the week and we snuck into his office and took the wheels
off of his chair!
It was a great experience Donna, although I super glad to home and
on my own now and hope my Toby will be able to work with my for
many many years! I will give Toby your hug because he just loves
affection and attention!
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen
Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgVixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) (11/05/90)
Index Number: 11527
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Greg,
I think that Guides for the Blinds fetch command is strictly just
for part of the dogs daily obediance and may have gone back to the
days when the dogs were taught in some schools, to fetch an owners
belongings.
At any rate, we were taught that it was no big deal should the dog
not want to fetch anymore. It doesn't seem to have any effect
whatsoever on his work and I suspect he thinks fetch is playing
since he likes to retrieve things when we are playing heheh.
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen
Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgSysop.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Sysop *) (11/05/90)
Index Number: 11529
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Greg,
Yes Toby too, likes to play fetch and to jump and bounce and play
tug of war with me. I have been having some considerable
respiratory problems these last few days, so Toby has been on
somewhat of a vacation. I think I am going to need to force myself
to get him out to work a little though, so that he can use up some
of the energy he has so much of!
Things are going just fine though and Toby seems to have adjusted
to his new surroundings and my schedule, just fine. He seems to be
quite an adaptable puppy person! Thank goodness!
Yes, I would say that my traveling has changed since switching from
a cane to Toby the dog. As you know, I traveled quite well with a
cane and I could have probably done fine for the rest of my life as
a cane traveler. But having Toby, it is like moving up to a sports
car from a good old reliable family car. With Toby, I can travel
much faster and it is great to have his company and to talk to
when I traveling around.
Even when I have nowhere to go, with Toby around, it makes me want
to take him out just for a walk around the neighborhood or to
explore new crooks and crannies! I never particularly felt like it
would be fun to take my cane for a walk for no reason!
Yes, I have for a fact found that people do treat me differently
and less like a blind person when I am out and around with my dog.
Can you imagine, I have actually met people who did not realize
that Toby was a guide dog and that I was blind, even with the dog
in harness and me with my big dark glasses on! I really liked
that. In general, I would say that people seem to be treating a
bit more like any other person instead of a blind person.
Of course, I have met a few rather weird people too, but for the
most part, my experience with other people are in the positive.
Toby is really super!
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Sysop.*
Internet: Sysop.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgCarla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell) (11/29/90)
Index Number: 12042
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Vixen, some time back (I'm just now doing some catching up!), you said:
V> As a new user, I am still amazed when he executes such commands
V> as Find the elevator, find the stairs, or Forward follow
V> someone. He has even done find the car in crowded parking lots.
V> I am so thrilled with him right now. Does it ever wear off?
I would never pretend to speak for all dog guide users, but it has
_never_ worn off for me, in all seven and a half years I've had Chance.
There are days when I think he and I have both forgotten everything we
ever learned, but each and every time he does something perfectly (and
it's not at all rare, don't get me wrong!), I am amazed and gratified
and very, very proud that this silly ol' pooch continues to do so well
by me. It never really changes. I
I got used to things, and perhaps take having his assistance for granted
at times, but a perfectly executed elevator find, follow, crossing or
lengthy 'stay' will still make me grin and ruffle the ol' doggie ears.
I am so glad you finally got your dog, and that it is working out so
well for you. Unfortunately, I got in late on this thread, so while I
know his name, I did not get to see what breed of doglet Toby is. Please
fill me in!
Take care
--Carla
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Internet: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org