Re: Regarding Lack of Formal Independent Outdoor Travel Training
Well, I've learned some new things about guide dogs just by reading these replies so thank you. My former roommate used a guide dog throughout the last few years of his life. His came from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, and she worked out very well for the most part. He had to fly out there for training, and he was there for about 2 weeks. To be honest, I was pretty cool with being alone in the apartment throughout the duration of his training. I know that sounds a bit cruel, but he was quite crabby most of the time. Not just to me but to pretty much everybody. He could also be very friendly, but those times were far and few between. In fact, we always called him the "loveable kermudgeon." It seemed as though he became a bit more friendly upon returning with the dog. But back to guide dogs. He honestly didn't say much about the training, but he really had a good time. I remember someone from The Hadley School for the Blind came to our apartment before the training, to shoot some photos of him walking around using his cane. Then a little while after the training, a representative from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind came out to assess the progress. My roommate had some pretty serious health issues though, which made it difficult if not impossible for him to take the dog out for her daily walks and to do her business in our backyard. But our neighbors were always glad to help out with that. One thing I do remember quite well though is that whenever he and the dog were walking together, I couldn't go along because he said it would distract her. He also was extremely careful not to give out her name in public. As a matter of fact he snapped at pretty much anyone who called her by her name. I obviously knew it as he told me right when he came back from training, and the other neighbors knew it. The staff of our organization also knew the dog's name, but I think that's all the people who knew it. Right after his p assing she was taken to live with a nurse who came and helped him out with all the meds, but I think she has since been sent back to the school.
URL: http://forum.audiogames.net/viewtopic.php?pid=153177#p153177
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