From: Pete Donahue 
Subject: blind puppy raiser and guide dog user
Fellow federationists and friends,
Earlier today I received this message from a blind puppy raiser and a
guide dog user who had some thoughts on our discussion on these lists over
the past few days.  Like me he has expressed concern over the
unwillingness of some schools to allow direct bommunication between puppy
raisers and graduatesl.
For a number of years I have believed that we should encourage more blind
children to participate in guide dog puppy raising programmes as they
would learn the proper care of a dog and the responsibility need to use a
guide dog successfully at an early age.  Such persons when paired with a
guide dog later on could be some of the best teams the schools turned out.
This is what the division should be doing instead of fighting over who has
the right to address guide dog usedrs on training matters.  Enjoy and
ponder well.
Yours truly,
Peter Donahue
On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, MARK SCHOWALTER wrote:
> To: PETE DONAHUE 
> 
> Greetings Pete (and Tim):
> 
>     thank you for your note concerning dog guides for the blind, their
> raising, and training through the many different programs and stages of
> development.  I find it very interesting as I am both a dog guide user and
> one who breeds and raises pups for the program.  All 4 of my dog guides
> have and are dobermans.  Our breeding bitch is also a Doberman which
> concludes that I only work with Pilot dogs, Inc. of Columbus, OH.
>     First let me share that in the 16+ years I have been working with a dog
> guide for the blind, I have always had user friendly access to the trainers
> at Pilot Dogs.  I have always been aware of the history of my dogs, and
> knew if there were any trouble situations to be sensitive to.  I am sorry
> to hear of the non-user friendly attitude you are experiencing from
> Seeing Eye.  I have taken some serious and bad criticism because I use
> strictly dobermans as a guide from both staunch supporters of Seeing eye
> and Leader Dogs.  My biggest question has always been the difference in
> cost per unit ranging from $6000 to $25,000.  There seems to be a
> tremendous descrepency between schools that deliver the same results.  Yet
> dog to dog, there is no difference.  People to people-- there is a lot of
> difference!
>     I agree that a dog guide user should be made aware of the history of
> their dog so that they can be sensitive to needs and situations that
> arrive.  I also realize that part of the process is the bonding that takes
> place as we learn to grow, work, and play together.  if I might add as a
> help-- in regards to the chewing; we have found that an empty pop (soda)
> can filled with a couple of pennies (or small stones) and taped shut as to
> make a loud rattling sound does a wonderful job at stopping dogs that love
> to chew.  My latest guide Star and our breeder took to chewing on an
> antique wooden rocker.  We caught them in the act and fired the can at
> their backsides.  They have not chewed since.  In fact, all we have to do
> is rattle the can and they immediately stop whatever they are doing and
> sit-- looking mighty guilty and wondering what they did wrong.  As for the
> defecating-- I am not sure, but I would imagine the same throw can would do
> the same if you can catch them in the act.  My other suggestion is to
> simply rub the dog's nose in the mess!  We have found this to be very
> effective with pups between the ages of 3 months and 1 year (which is the
> time that we are responsible for them before going to school).
>     If I can be of any support in helping change some of the attitudes we
> face because we have chosen to use a dog guide for the blind, please let me
> know.  I am more than eager to impress people how well our dogs behave and
> work!
> 
> Sincerely in God's ministry,
> 
> Rev. Mark P. Schowalter
>  Mark & Sue Schowalter
>                      St. Paul U.C.C. -- West Burlington, Iowa
>     "Those who wait in the Lord shall have their faith renewed..."
>     (Isaiah 40:31)
> 
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