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From: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: DOGGIE SCHOOL
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Date: 16 Aug 90 19:14:35 GMT
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Index Number: 9864

Hi Anne,

Well, let's see, I will try to answer you questions about doggie
school as best I can at this point! Anything I am wrong about I
will learn when I get there! But I think I can answer most of
questions already.

When I go to school, I will be there for 28 days. It is
"in-residence" training and yes, I will live in a dorm which houses
two students per really huge room. It is actually big enough to be
two rooms but there is no wall. (Although, I may be put in a room
by myself since I may need to run my Pulmo Aide during the night
which does vibrate and make some noise.)

For the first couple of days at school, an instructor will play the
part of the dog until I learn all of the commands and have a basic
idea of what is going to happen. After that, I will be paired with
my dog.

No I personally do not get to choose the dog. Although, the school
will know that I have a preference (They asked me.) for German
Sheperds. I will not get to name it either as the dog will have
been long named before I ever get to meet him or her.

Dogs are purposely placed with certain students based on the
students lifestyle, personality, homelife, whether there are kids
or pets in the students home and things like that. So, they don't
just give you "any" dog. They try hard to match the right doggie to
the right student.

I will be working with my doggie eight hours per day five days a
week. Students have the evenings and weekends to themselves. It is
fours hours working in the morning and four hours working in the
afternoon. Work starts around the campus grounds, than into the San
Rafael business area and finally into busy SAn Franscisco.

While at the dog school, the school supplies everything the dog
needs, food, the guide harness and so on. After doggie and I come
home, SSI has a programs that allows an extra 30 dollar per month
increase in payment specifically for the pruchase of food for the
working guide dog.

Yes, once I am paired with my dog guide at the school, it will stay
with me constantly. At night, it will be in my room with me next to
my bed on a tie down. Each dorm room also has two sperate little
kennel areas for each dog as well.

The school has its own "on campus" Vet and hospital surgery center
amd after leaving school will help me find a vet in my own area.
The school makes sure that students do bring their dogs to see a
Vet regularly. They do follow visits as well.

On graduation day, my dog guide will be presented to me by the 4-H
kid /person who trained the dog as a puppy before the dog went back
to the school to begin its real training as a dog guide. Other dog
user graduates tell me that this can be a very very emotional
moment.

Dog guides are already trained as dog guides when the student
enters guide dog school, We are the ones who are being trained, not
the dogs, they already are, we are be trained on how to use and
work with them properly.

Well, Anne, I hope I did a fair job of answering your questions. I
am very much looking forward to this experience!

Keepin' the faith!   (I don't mind the questions at all!)

.                        Vixen

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