[nagdu] Matching

AnnaLisa Anderson annalisa at sector14.net
Wed Aug 12 01:36:15 UTC 2009


Hi All,

Interesting discussion.  I think the trainers do try to make the best
matches they can for people based on the needs, lifestyle and personality of
the handler.  I also know though that they are not perfect at it.  In my
last class, a newbie that I became good friends with was given an extremely
high strung and stubborn dog, not at all a good one for a newbie to start
out with, especially if you have no experience even with pet dogs, as it was
with this woman. They just didn't mesh well together from the very
beginning.  There were times when I was really worried about them, and she
almost gave up a time or two.  This lady gave it her best shot, they were
together for two years, but it just wasn't meant to be.  She has another dog
now and they are a much better match.

I also think, like others have said, the more you can tell them about
yourself on the application, the better.  The last time around, my trainer
told me he had Sunny in mind for me before he even met me, based on my
application and the phone interview.  I told them some very specific things
I wanted, like I needed a dog who was not bothered by loud noise or music,
because I sing with a choir that often is accompanied by orchestra, and we
often times end up sitting behind the percussion section.  I also told them
I live across the street from a dog park, so there would constantly be that
distraction there.  So my trainer had a good place to start, and I did get a
nearly perfect match in Sunny.  I say nearly, because it doesn't take much
to distract her and she doesn't pattern as well as I'd like, but I'll tell
you what, loud noise does not phase her in the least.  And she is very
adaptable to whatever situation she finds herself in, so overall I have been
very pleased with her.  Her golden personality matches pretty well with
mine, and our hair matches too. <smile>  She is my second dog, and I am her
second handler as well.  The first guy she was with was not a good match for
her at all, from what I've been told, so fortunately he had sense enough to
bring her back after a few months when he realized it wasn't going to work.
And because of the timing of her return, of when it worked in my schedule to
come to the school and other things, it was as if she were meant just for
me.

Sunny is also quite different in personality from my first dog; she is
softer and such a clown, quite the attention seeker, and not quite so
determined to get her way. <smile>  But I loved my first dog too because she
was so smart, and she loved a challenge, even though we did have our battle
of wills at times. <smile>  I still miss Megan, even though I love Sunny to
bits and wouldn't trade her for anything.

There's my ten cents' worth.

AnnaLisa and Sundance


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