Angela, I love the GS for their intelligence. I remember working with a GS on
a trail, leash guiding and teaching him to stop at stairs or rises in the
terrain not to mention around boulders. Once I thought let’s put a guide dog
harness on him. Well, it was like a light bulb went on in his head and he knew
exactly what he should be doing. BTW, his owner had balance issues so he needed
to stop for stairs and go at her pace down them or up them, not at his. With
another GS who had anxiety issues, he ran his sighted owner into a metal gate
that was across the trail to prevent vehicle traffic. I took his leash when we
came back and somehow he knew he had to stop for the gate. But, it gets
better, he not only stopped, he looked to see which way was the safest way for
us to go and took me around the gate the safest way. I thought, most guide dog
schools don’t even teach this, yet he knew instinctively what he should do. I
have a Golden retriever now and had one before. The school I went too thought
since I had a retriever before I was familiar with the breed. I think that was
a polite way of saying I knew their mischievous nature, like looking like they
won’t stop for a curb or door, then slamming on the brakes. Or heading straight
for a stationary object then swerving at the last moment, making sure I was
following their lead. You really have to know the breed or you’ll either have
soiled underwear or flat out tell the trainer the dog is untrained. You’d be
wrong of course. One handler said Retrievers have to be the dumbest dog on the
earth. What was happening was, the dog knew it was going home and walked with
the speed of a snail. My first was the same, or he’d go in the opposite
direction, If I’d tell him to go to the right, he’d go to the left. As his
trainer said after she stopped laughing, “He was not finished his walk yet.”
From: blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Behalf Of Angela Palmer
Sent: February 28, 2021 6:39 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: Is aguide dog for everyone?
Hi all,
I've had 5 guide dogs and have not regretted any of them. I can travel much
quicker with a dog vesus a cane. I can't just put my dog in a corner and
forget about him or her. I've had 1 golden retiever and 4 german shepards.
I wouldn't change it for anything. I like the companionship of a guide dog.
Angela Palmer
Sent from Angela's Iphone
On Feb 28, 2021, at 8:49 AM, Les Fitzpatrick
<lfitz50@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:lfitz50@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I don’t in any way regret my attempt at a guide dog, matter of fact it was
great having a friend walk with you every day but the cane just works for me
better. I actually wish I had gotten him fifteen or twenty years ago, then I
think it would have been a great match.
Les fitzpatrickPiano Technician
Ham call K5FPT
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
On Behalf Of David Diamond
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2021 8:42 AM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: Is aguide dog for everyone?
Maria, it sounds like your decision is based on fear, anticipating what may or
may not happen. Mind yI don’t in any ou I’ve also chatted with people who got a
guide dog as an ice breaker to meet people. In one case, the man admitted he
just got one to meet the opposite sex. A older woman had trouble meeting or
interacting with people so too, got a guide dog. Both dog and cane have there
merits.
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
On Behalf Of Maria Reyes
Sent: February 27, 2021 11:24 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: Is aguide dog for everyone?
yeah my family wants me to get a guide dog but I don't see that happening for
me. I really don't want to have to get denied from Ubers and stuff like that.
Plus I'm pretty good with my cane.
want to talk about all aspects of blindness? Join the blind chatroom list by
sending an email to
blind-chatroom-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
with subscribe in the subject
On Feb 27, 2021, at 7:47 PM, David Diamond
<david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
On a tech group the topic morphed into cane travel VS guide dog travel. It got
quite heated thus, I always couch my words. Yes, a guide dog is not for
everyone and we should never impose our opinion on anyone. We can give advice
of the pluses and minuses to both situations. However, ultimately it is an
individual decision. You never need to take your cane out to go to the bathroom
and no one will ever say they are allergic to canes. Well, some nut may just
to get attention. I got somewhat frustrated with someone and told them, “I
used to be allergic to relationships but I got over it!” I know, not very
sympathetic however, it has been proven that if someone says they are afraid of
dogs, they don’t get as much of a listening audience, as they would if they say
they are allergic to dogs. Here’s something I was told and may get some
boiling. To take something for an allergic reaction causes side affects, so
some take nothing for their allergies. My rebuttal? Well, at least you can
take something for your allergies, we can take nothing for our blindness.
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
On Behalf Of Les Fitzpatrick
Sent: February 27, 2021 10:27 AM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: Is aguide dog for everyone?
I’m not in any way opposed to guide dogs matter of fact I think they are
wonderful, but I am a verry good cane traveler and the dog just didn’t work for
me at all, but I have a friend who is also a very good cane traveler and when
he was 71 he decided to go and get a dog and the dog is working for him just
fine and he is doing well with the dog.
Les fitzpatrickPiano Technician
Ham call K5FPT
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
On Behalf Of David Diamond
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2021 8:26 AM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: Is aguide dog for everyone?
The one thing I don’t want to do is start a debate on which is better cane
traveling or using a guide dog. It is a personal decision. I’ve done both and
can go faster with a guide dog. Faster meaning moving faster because I don’t
have to worry about running into poles, garbage cans or human obstacles. For
the longest time I did not even use a mobility cane, mainly because I was given
a I D cane instead of a mobility cane, thus found using a cane useless. I got
the correct cane and because literarily women were cutting in front of me and
giving me dirty looks according to a sighted person. I was encouraged to get a
cane. Did it stop them from cutting in front of me? No, but it made them look
stupid when they gave me dirty looks. Yes, some have almost tripped over my
guide dog and one even pushed him out of her way because she was in a hurry. I
got my first guide dog in 06, and would not change anything. Now, having said
all of this. Over the years there was one person who I would not give a guide
dog too. He admitted to crossing the street where ever he felt like and if a
car got in his way, he’d pound their hood or bonnet, depending on where you
live, with his cane. There was another yahoo who did the same with his guide
dog. He either hoped or felt people would stop. Eventually because of his
actions he got killed by a vehicle. Of all places to practice this activity,
New York I would suggest is the worst. As a side note, why he was ever given a
guide dog by the school, is a mystery. People don’t just suddenly develop bad
habits. In this case he was a senior citizen so should have known better. We
all make choices in life and have to live with them. Where I draw the line is
when they endanger another person or animal because of their actions.
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
On Behalf Of Lielle Ben Simon???? ?? ?????
Sent: February 27, 2021 1:17 AM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
Hi friends, my name is Lielle, and I am new here. I have a guide dog for 2
years and very happy with her. Her name is Fiona, and she's Labrador, she's a
big dog and i love to walk with her, she walk fast and I love that4
נשלח מה-iPhone שלי
ב-27 בפבר׳ 2021, בשעה 9:46, Joshua Hendrickson
<louvins@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:louvins@xxxxxxxxx>> כתב/ה:
I really like dogs, we have two dogs in our family. I'd never get a
guide dog, because I don't have very good mobility skills. My dog
would have nothing to do if I did get one. However, I did visit the
Seeing Eye in New Jersey and that was very cool. It was very
different when I was with an instructor and he took my cane after
first walking a route. Then walking that same route with the dog. My
dog did walk rather fast. I'm glad I had the experience even to just
have walked a little with a guide dog.
On 2/27/21, Les Fitzpatrick <lfitz50@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:lfitz50@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
My dog took me off the drop off it was about 3 feet. Fortunately I didn’t
hurt myself. He is no longer a guide dog but the puppy raiser’s pet because
they tried him with another person and that didn’t work either and he was so
stressed being a guide that it was effecting his health.
Les fitzpatrickPiano Technician
Ham call K5FPT
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
On Behalf Of David Diamond
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2021 6:29 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
I remember when I was working with a bearded collie in an off leash park.
He had to be muzzled and leashed at all times. He was leash guiding me. I
gave him the forward command and he wouldn’t move. To make a long story
short, if I went forward I would have encountered a 15 foot drop. It is
difficult at times to trust a dog if you are used to using a white cane. I
also feel at times schools cut corners in training and hope the student does
not know it or care. They are so grateful to get a dog from the school and
in some ways, the schools promote that idea. BTW, that same Collie when I
strayed off the trail full of snow, gently guided me back on the trail,
nudging me to the right or gently pushing me to the left. It was ever so
subtle.
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of Les Fitzpatrick
Sent: February 26, 2021 4:33 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
I used a white cane for 50 plus years and I just couldn’t get to the place
where I could trust him fully, and then he was bad about taking me where
there were steep drop offs and running me into stuff, so that didn’t help.
Les fitzpatrickPiano Technician
Ham call K5FPT
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of David Diamond
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2021 4:26 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
Just curious, why do you not have a guide dog anymore? The person who taught
me something about computers and helped me build my website had a guide dog
for about a year then gave him back. The dog became aggressive. The person
that had the guide dog admitted that the dog would creep up to the curbs
and the human like to race up to them and also the human was not a dog
person. Others had a mismatch, the dog walked fast and the human did not,
the dog walked slow and the human walked fast. Although with my current
guide dog, he walked slow then gladly sped up to keep up to my pace. I like
to say the shackles were removed from him and he could go the speed he
wanted, dancing around things rather then creeping around them. Of course,
he matched my speed he does not race, just does not have the speed where
snails were passing him. LOL.
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of Les Fitzpatrick
Sent: February 26, 2021 3:28 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
I have a piano tuning and repair business. I go all over Vancouver wa. And
Portland Oregon area and tune and repair pianos I love this business because
I can make a lot of people happy and make there instruments sound good. I
have a wife and no other pets, although I did have a guide dog for a couple
of months and I loved him and I am an amateur radio operator and I play a 5
string bass guitar, and I love working on things. I used to work on cars but
I’m getting to old to do that any more. I also have 4 children six grand
children and one great grand child.
Les fitzpatrickPiano Technician
Ham call K5FPT
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of David Diamond
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2021 7:04 AM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
Well, I have a guide dog and a dog day care/boarding business. We board
dogs and day care them as well as ahave off leash dog runs on mountain
trails. To post things like that could be perceived as advertising. So I
only post those stories about what happened on the trails with my guide and
other dogs on the unofficial group for the school where I got him. Also
when posting to other guide dog groups, they too are quiet. Thus I don’t
post often.
From:
blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-chatroom-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of Maria Reyes
Sent: February 25, 2021 10:12 PM
To: blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-chatroom] Re: wondered why I never heard from this group.
plus nobody posts in here except me when I get the latest from Top Tech
Tidbits on Thursdays.I need more people on here!
want to talk about all aspects of blindness? Join the blind chatroom list by
sending an email to
blind-chatroom-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:blind-chatroom-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-chatroom-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> with subscribe in the subject
On Feb 26, 2021, at 1:07 AM, David Diamond <david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
I just checked my junk folder on another matter and all messages to this
group since I joined went into my junk folder. I’ve since remedied that I
hope.
--
Joshua Hendrickson
Joshua Hendrickson