[nagdu] Matching

Wed Aug 12 17:01:48 UTC 2009

Tracy,

Well said!  Maybe they have a sorting hat, like in Harry Potter? /grin/
Then again, I like the funny name idea.  Far more entertaining than all the
statistical analysis and what not they probably do to try to manage the
odds, which has got to be an inexact science at best given the number of
factors they need to consider.

Maybe we should see if one of the schools would like to conduct an
experiement?  Kidding! /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 10:18 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Matching

I wondered the same as Rebecca when I read Marion's message.  More, one of
my classmates, call her A, had a friend, B, who was not doing particularly
well with her dog.  But A loved the dog, and got B to give the dog to her,
and they worked happily together for years.  Go figure.

This is what I think.  Some people think that their dog was specially
selected for them, a match made in heaven, if you will.  Maybe the schools
encourage this kind of thinking.  Maybe it helps some people bond with the
new dog, specially selected just for them.
And I do think it's true that some dogs couldn't work for some people.  My
Echo, for instance, is a soft dog.  If I got annoyed, or forgot, and spoke
too sharply to her, or corrected her too hard, she would turn to JellO and
melt.  We'd have to stop right there for a couple minutes so she could
regain her composure.  She could never have worked for someone with a
loud, drill-sergeant-type handling style.  My Ben, on the other hand,
might do great with that kind of person.  He might not be the brat he is,
though it might also put a damper on his cheerful, cocky nature.

But one dog could surely work for a variety of people.  Just some would be
more suitable than others.

There's a workshop during the TSE reunion called "The Miracle of the
Match".  I find that title very amusing.  I'm tempted to go and heckle,
because sometimes I strongly suspect they just throw names in a hat and
pull them out.  Or pick the name that's cutest with the person, like
Anchor for the ex-Navy man.  Though I must say Ben does match what I asked
for amazingly well.  Which just shows I should be careful what I ask for! 
Not that I'd trade him for anyone else.

Maybe the miracle is that the match usually works. <Grin>

Just my nickel's worth.
Tracy

> Marian and list,
> Does this mean that there is no merit to the statement that a dog and
> person are matched?
> If this is so, why must we as the end-users go get a dog and spend
> several weeks at a school with it? Why can't I just go to a school, say
> "I like that one" and then leave with that dog?
> I am truly curious and would be interested to know people's thoughts,
> both those who work for a school and those who do not.
> If the dogs will work for anybody once they are taught how to guide, why
> do theschools say "we matched x dog with y person"?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Marion & Martin
> Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 7:01 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>
> Dar,
>     I cannot answer your questions, as I am not a representative of any
> school. I am of the opinion that, if one owns their dog and for any
> reason feels the need to transfer ownership to someone else, the school
> should have no issue with it. If that person is blind and wishes to use
> the dog as their guide, this, too, should be none of the school's
> concern. These are the rights and privileges of ownership.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "d m gina" <dmgina at samobile.net>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 4:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Dave, Tammy, & Maddox Anspach
>
>
>> See I am not concerned about this team,
>> I am not concerened about any of this, except asking one question.
>> Has different matches like this happened with other schools as well?
>> Lets say I give you the rite to have my dog if anything happens to me.
>> You agree, and this would be coming from the school where I trained my
> dog
>> with.
>> They would take my word that you are a swell handler, and they want
> the
>> dog to still be a team with someone.
>> I feel this is a plus I am at not  time unhappy with anyone.
>> My next question would be, lets say my dog had to retire, could I call
> my
>> school and say something like,
>> "is there a team who has to brake up for what evere reason, and may I
> have
>> their dog/
>> I am a swell dog handler as you know, what paper work do I need to
> fill
>> out to have this happen?
>> I hope I explained better now.
>> I think this is a swell idea.
>>
>> --
>> --Dar
>> skype
>> dmgina23
>> every saint has a past
>> every sinner has a future
>>
>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
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>>
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