Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What guide dog schools do you personally recommend? (self.Blind)
submitted by KillerLag
I was wondering, what guide dog schools do you guys personally recommend? As an O&M Instructor, we are suppose to remain impartial and not recommend any specific school.
That being said, I usually strongly recommend my clients do research into the schools they want to apply for, and I also mention experience counts for a lot (being around for 80 years counts for a lot more than a school being around for 2 years).
That being said, I usually strongly recommend my clients do research into the schools they want to apply for, and I also mention experience counts for a lot (being around for 80 years counts for a lot more than a school being around for 2 years).
BenandGracie 4 points 2y ago
I went to Guide Dogs For The Blind in California. The experience was great, and I got a wonderful dog. I got my dog in 2005, and at that time, GDB was rated 1 or 2 in the nation. I haven't had time to go back and get another dog, but I hope to someday. I highly recommend that school.
coarsing_batch 2 points 2y ago
Another GDB alumni here. I got my dog in 2007, and they could not have been better to me. I won’t go to get a dog again, because I really appreciate the freedom that my cane offers me. It’s nice not to pick up after a cane at three in the morning, or in the middle of winter. But GDB is great. I also have been told seeing eye is wonderful.
BenandGracie 2 points 2y ago
I have heard good things about Seeing Eye as well. It will be a few more years until I go for another dog. I had some health issues several years ago, and these days, I have a pet dog that I raised from a puppy, and it wouldn't be fair to her to bring a guide dog in.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah, a lot of my clients have gotten dogs from there. Definitely a nice place.
CloudyBeep 3 points 2y ago
Make sure to tell your clients that the school should be IGDF-certified.
KillerLag [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I mention that. So far, most people have been pretty diligent about it.
rp-turtle 2 points 2y ago
I usually do the same and don’t recommend a specific school. Rather, I just emphasize the importance of the school being reputable and weighing the costs and benefits of each school for the persons needs.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah, definitely. Reputation matters, and people need to do some research into what people say.
ginsenshi 1 points 2y ago
I've got to Southeastern Guide Dogs for both my dogs. I'm on the waiting list for Pilot DOgs also.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Interesting, I've actually never heard of those two schools before! I'll need check up on them.
ginsenshi 1 points 2y ago
Southeastern is in Florida and pilot is in Ohio
Sereniitty 1 points 2y ago
Thee is one in Canada called MIRA and their dog are truly incredible ☺️
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I've been to their facility! It's very nice! Even through I work in Canada, I haven't actually met anyone who has a dog from there.
Revenant624 1 points 2y ago
I think the Seeing Eye in Morristown New Jersey is an excellent school and in my opinion the best. I have only received my first dog from there, but when he retires I plan to go back there for my next one
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I've heard of that place, but haven't had anyone get a dog from there yet.
Revenant624 1 points 2y ago
It is the very first guy dog school and it has been there for 90 years. And I believe it’s only one of two schools that still use German Shepherd’s as guide dogs. I have an 80 pound German Shepherd and he is just absolutely awesome.
psychgamer2014 0 points 2y ago
I went through Fidelco and Freedom Guide Dogs. My Fidelco dog lasted for a week before she tried to attack my cat and my Freedom dog dragged me down the street face-first while trying to say hi to an obese chihuahua. My Freedom dog is now with me as a pet since I was his third owner.
KillerLag [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I've never heard of those two schools either. I'll have to check them out.
That is a bit disturbing about that dog. I wonder why he would do something like that. Or if a trainer had flagged that as an issue previously.
That is a bit disturbing about that dog. I wonder why he would do something like that. Or if a trainer had flagged that as an issue previously.
psychgamer2014 1 points 2y ago
He’s basically an overly affectionate “lemon” of a guide dog. They were well aware that he was a “problem child” from the onset, but never told me the extent. Whenever I mentioned issues to the trainer, he’d say that if it wasn’t happening in front of him, the issue wasn’t actually happening. I love the dog to death, but the whole experience was horrible.
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