Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Guide dog schools (self.Blind)
submitted by Snookerdee3
Wen applying to a guide dog school is it Best to apply to a few schools or just the one you want to attend the most?
EyesR4Nerds 3 points 1y ago
This isn’t like applying to college, where you might worry about not getting in. Assuming you’re someone who meets the requirements of sight loss and O&M skills, schools will accept you.
Getting a guide dog is such a major commitment, I would only recommend applying where you truly want to receive a dog from.
I’m a grad of multiple dogs from The Seeing Eye, happy to talk more if you’d like :)
Getting a guide dog is such a major commitment, I would only recommend applying where you truly want to receive a dog from.
I’m a grad of multiple dogs from The Seeing Eye, happy to talk more if you’d like :)
NoClops 2 points 1y ago
I sort of disagree. I got turned down by guide dogs for the blind because they thought my living situation was unsafe for the dog. At the time I was applying. My neighbor in a multi unit building had two dogs that had once darted out the door and attacked my pet golden retriever. He only got a tiny scratch, but they said that was unsafe enough. I also chose to show them a route I had learned to a local religious institution that I wanted to start attending, and they said that since I hadn’t been going there prior/already that they didn’t think I would use the route enough and work the dog well.
LifeisSoupIamaFork 1 points 1y ago
Hey, same! I got my first dog from TSE last year
Snookerdee3 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
What is the Seeing I class experience like including the graduation ceremony and post graduation benefits and support?
Complex_Platform_981 3 points 1y ago
Do your research about the different schools.
Something to looks at would be
-breeds
-after graduation support
-cost
-alumni programs
-options to meet puppy raisers
- team graduation celebrations
- how the school works the guides
I am a Guide Dogs for the Blind alumni. I am more than happy to answer any questions you have about GDB in specific! I have some knowledge of other schools based off of my friends who have gone through other organizations, so I can help point you in a direction that would fit you!
Something to looks at would be
-breeds
-after graduation support
-cost
-alumni programs
-options to meet puppy raisers
- team graduation celebrations
- how the school works the guides
I am a Guide Dogs for the Blind alumni. I am more than happy to answer any questions you have about GDB in specific! I have some knowledge of other schools based off of my friends who have gone through other organizations, so I can help point you in a direction that would fit you!
Snookerdee3 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I have researched Guide Dogs For The Blind but still have a few questions. What breeds do they offer? What is the graduation ceremony experience like? And do you own your dog upon graduation? Also do they offer the opportunity to meet your guide dogs puppy raisers or get in touch with them?
Complex_Platform_981 2 points 1y ago
GDB offers: Lab, Golden retrievers, and a cross between the two breeds.
I graduated during covid so I did not get a full graduation. During that time, it’s a celebration about you and your class. You all meet your puppy raisers. Traditionally they let you walk across a stage. The community that raised/trained your guide will be there as well as a set amount of people you may invite.
With GDB you do not have legal ownership of your guide. After about 1 depending on how your teamwork looks, you may apply for ownership. When you get your guide you sign a contract saying you won’t abuse them, you will work them, you’ll keep them at a set weight for life ( they can’t gain or lose more than 10% of their graduation weight). Because the guide comes free to you, and there is a veterinary financial aid program for the dogs while life, they want to make sure the dog is in good care.
A side not on puppy raisers, I am in contact with his puppy raisers and they kept some one his teeth and puppy toys for me. When we graduated they sent them to me.
I graduated during covid so I did not get a full graduation. During that time, it’s a celebration about you and your class. You all meet your puppy raisers. Traditionally they let you walk across a stage. The community that raised/trained your guide will be there as well as a set amount of people you may invite.
With GDB you do not have legal ownership of your guide. After about 1 depending on how your teamwork looks, you may apply for ownership. When you get your guide you sign a contract saying you won’t abuse them, you will work them, you’ll keep them at a set weight for life ( they can’t gain or lose more than 10% of their graduation weight). Because the guide comes free to you, and there is a veterinary financial aid program for the dogs while life, they want to make sure the dog is in good care.
A side not on puppy raisers, I am in contact with his puppy raisers and they kept some one his teeth and puppy toys for me. When we graduated they sent them to me.
Sewn27 2 points 1y ago
Are you in the United States or are you somewhere else?
Snookerdee3 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I live in the United States
Sewn27 1 points 1y ago
There is an excellent place called Leader dogs For The Blind. Here’s there phone 1 (248) 651-9011. when I was going blind, I spoke to a lady there and she was incredibly kind! She stayed on the phone with me for so long must’ve been 45 minutes answering my questions. There is a chance I may recover some of my sight, so I did not go ahead with them. Please try and talk to them they are in I believe Michigan. They also do O& M training. And it’s all free. I wish you the very best of luck and I hope you get a wonderful pal to see you through your days. Cheers
bondolo 2 points 1y ago
It is a time consuming and potentially expensive process (potentially multiple doctor's appointments which may not be covered by insurance, O&M evaluation report) to apply so perhaps concentrate on only a couple and hopefully reuse some of the application effort. Any reason not to apply just your preference and see what happens? You will at least hear some feedback and questions about your application so you will know what to improve before making additional applications if you need to or choose to do so.
LifeisSoupIamaFork 1 points 1y ago
I agree, definitely do your research. I currently have a dog from The Seeing Eye, they are located in Morristown, NJ. That was the only school I applied to, but it is a process and took about a year from when I first applied to the time that I actually came and got my dog. They are an excellent school, and I personally chose it for a few reasons. One, they don't train with treats, and as the dog's handler you don't need to carry around a treat pouch everywhere. The dogs want to work and are rewarded with verbal praise. Two, when you go home with your dog at the end of training, you assume full ownership. The school cannot and will not ever take your dog away from you without your consent. Three, not all schools train their dogs to go on escalators, because that's a harder thing to learn, but the Seeing Eye does.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask, and best of luck!
If you have any questions please feel free to ask, and best of luck!
Snookerdee3 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
My other main questions are what post graduation benefits do you receive from seeing eye and do they offer you the opportunity to meet your guides puppy raisers?
LifeisSoupIamaFork 1 points 1y ago
No. They actually don't even tell us the Puppy raisers' names and vice versa. I'm not aware of financial benefits that they offer post-graduation, but you can always call with questions/concerns you may have about your dog. If you're really struggling, they will even send a trainer out to wherever you live to assist you as the situation calls for.
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