HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
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Post by HazelNutMeg on Jun 14, 2004 17:58:36 GMT -5
Howdy! Wasn't sure where else to put this topic, thought it kina fit here best! I have contacted both the Canadian and strickly BC (and some Albrt.) for information on this. This guy from the BC Guide Dog Assosiation left me a number and I tried calling but I can only call after 6 'oclock PM, so I'm guessing there's about an hours difference or so, meaning the building was closed. I left a message though with my number and asked for him to get back to me with no reply, so I e-mailed him again as well exaplaining the time problem. I've asked a few guide dog assosiations and so far haven't gotten the answer I'm looking for I've been searching for this answer for some time now and am at a loss... SO, the question IS... HOW do I go abouts training guide dogs? I'd love to get into that when I graduate, and would like to know where I can go to learn how to train the dogs Does anyone here know how to go abouts doing this? Thanks a million in advance!! ;D
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Post by sibemom on Jun 14, 2004 20:33:45 GMT -5
Ok a subject that I am very passionate about Well since you are in Canada did you contact the Foundation Mira? The person that I would get in touch with there is named Karen Winter and she is the head trainer. I know alot about their program so if there is anything I can help you with please don't hesitate to ask. The other foundations have diffrent criteria for trainers, you apprentice first, and then after about 3+ years you get vested as a trainer unless you were already certified when you started. I want to ask though why you choose guide dogs? Do you also want to train service dogs for mobility, hearing, medical and psychiatric servce? The reason I ask is that usualy when someone decides on this particular feild they say they want to train service dogs in general. Guide dog training is very intense and takes much more time. I commend you for wanting to do this. As I said if I can help in anyway let me know. This is my passion to train dogs for service, and I am working with one right now for a young man who has seisures, hopefully others will come. I know Karen pretty well and even though I am not 100% sold on the way Mira does things she is really a good trainer
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HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
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Post by HazelNutMeg on Jun 15, 2004 18:01:05 GMT -5
First of all, I have to say that the Petfinder thing up there is driving me mad, so many cute pupers who need homes, I want them all!!! (okay, a little off topic I want to train guide dogs because... umm... I duno actually! I was just watching a show on them some time ago and just really struck my heart. I'd really like to train any kind of guide/service dog really. I had to teach Coal, and my previous dog Hazel to stand still and brace themselves to help me out because I have really bad knees. They sometimes just give out while I'm walking (just got off crutches again actualy) So it helps a lot, and Coal finally passed a real life test a few weeks ago! I was going down the hall, headed to my room when suddenly I lost all movement in my legs, they just froze and lost stability. So I called Coal over before i felt and he stood there while I leaned on him, waiting for it to come back. I don't know why they're like that, none of the doctors do really, but I'm glad to have Coaly there when something like that happens. ;D I think dogs are the best to help guide people with disabilities, they dont' judge, and are offer uncontrolable love and do anything to help! Thanks for the info! I'll try and contact her ASAP! ;D
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Post by sibemom on Jun 15, 2004 18:21:31 GMT -5
Now that is a good reason I got involved with service dogs a long time ago because of a friend of mine who had MS. I was curious so I started reading and learning. The guide dog's just came about recently, but I don't think I want to go that route, it takes so much more time and the dogs must be 100%, but if you are really commited I think that is great. I hope Karen can help you out if not let me know and I will get in touch with her. Also there is a vast amount of knowledge on the Seeing Eye, Leader Dogs for the Blind, and Guiding Eye websites.
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HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
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Post by HazelNutMeg on Jun 17, 2004 17:55:26 GMT -5
Thanks! ;D Yeah, I can't seem to find her conact info, could anyone PM me with it or what not? Thanks!
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Post by sibemom on Jun 17, 2004 18:37:34 GMT -5
I sent you a pm kiddo, let me know how you make out. She is really busy so it might take sometime for her to get back to you. Remember there are other schools, so keep searching
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Post by Iluvmypup on Aug 6, 2004 14:52:13 GMT -5
Why not become a puppy raiser? Thats how I started out. Almost anybody can do it, as long as you have basic knowledge on teaching basic skills, socializing, and a dog in your house that is OK with having a young puppy around. ;D Basically you keep the puppy for a year and a half (all volunteer work by the way), and train it and bring it with you everywhere you go. Most places are starting to use clicker training but if you'd rather use a training collar, some places still do use those. Just look for what you want. Thats a great way to get your foot in the door. If they like you, you can work your way up to a higher position. If you'd rather do your own school, you can learn all kinds of helpful hints. In the meantime, keep teaching your dog. Teach him new tricks, or better and longer stays. Keep reading up on any training book you can get (Culture Clash is my favorite training book by the way, just to let you know ;D ), and be open-minded to new techniques and try them out on your dog to see what works. Other ways to work your way up is by volunteering in animal shelters, or by offering to train people's dogs. Just get your name out there. Good luck!
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Post by Kona on Dec 6, 2004 15:02:57 GMT -5
HazelNutMeg - working for a guide dog school as a trainer is a very physical job. It's not unusual to walk eight to ten miles each day while working your dogs. If you have problems with your legs but you still want to be a guide dog instructor, then I would suggest a different route (no pun intended). Have you considered training dogs on your own? I recommend that you get two books: Teamwork, and Teamwork II, both by Stewart Nordensson and Lydia Kelley. Together, these books teach the average disabled or non-disabled person how to train a dog in various types of assistance. The first book sets the groundwork with information and instruction in positive reinforcement training, canine behavior and basic obedience training, and the second book teaches you how to teach dogs specific service exercises, such as retrieving dropped objects, turning on lights, etc. Here are links to the books on Amazon (I hope no one minds - I don't get anything from it, I just want to share good information). Even better, if you get both of these inexpensive books together, you probably qualify for free shipping. <a href=" www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/096562160X/ref=pd_pym_ka/103-3522993-5487838">Teamwork</a><a href=" www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0965621618/ref=pd_pym_ka/103-3522993-5487838">Teamwork II</a> or if my linking skills aren't up to it, cut and paste this for Teamwork: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/096562160X/ref=pd_pym_ka/103-3522993-5487838and this for Teamwork II: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0965621618/ref=pd_pym_ka/103-3522993-5487838I'm new to this forum, so I apologize if this is old information. If you have any questions about training guide, assistance, or therapy dogs, I'd be happy to help. Good luck!
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Post by kastelling on Jan 19, 2005 14:05:54 GMT -5
I am potentially interested in this as well- there is a guide/service dog group across town from me- I emailed them about volunteering opportunities and never got a response- BUT this group is strictly, totally positive, which isn't what I am comfortable with. It was mentioned above to try this outside of a group?? Aren't there alot of liabilities involved?
Just thinking aloud here- IF I chose to think about doing this on my own- I already have 6 dogs, a tiny house, and a long-suffering fiance- I don't think that taking in foster dogs is a choice at this point, but if I did- wouldn't raising them in a large pack of dogs have long term effects on them? It would seem that for a future working dog- it would be better for them to be a bit aloof with other dogs, instead of learning to be pack dogs, right? I would love details on how you guys do it- I know there are several of you guys here! Do you allow the dogs to interact with your dogs? How long do you tend to keep and train the dogs? Do you have insurance? How do you find people to adopt the dogs? etc,etc,etc Do you charge, and if so who? Or do you provide the dogs free? Is it possible to make some sort of a living doing this on your own?
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Post by ashtonluise on Feb 1, 2013 2:40:48 GMT -5
I am also looking such a training guide for my Dog. This might be helpful to me for preparing best fact to my dog and spent best effort for him, so he can learn best things from me.
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