[nagdu] The matching process

Tue Sep 24 16:53:20 UTC 2013

In my experience with TSE, I've always been able to ask my trainer why
they chose the dog they did and they've been extremely transparent
with me... Actually, when I went for my first dog, I didn't know much
about dogs at all and I think they did an excellent job of matching
us. The way we meshed as a team was just so amazing and if not for her
arthritis, I think my Abbie would still be working today.
When I was matched with Valla last October, I'll admit, I had loads of
questions. In personality and traits, I feel like V is opposite from
Abbie in many ways but they are very similar in work ethic and to me,
that's what should matter. Yes, I get frustrated with some of the
puppy things Valla does where Abbie has always been an old soul but
when I asked my trainer why Valla was chosen, she was very explicit in
her reasoning and it made total sense.
I also really appreciate the whole mystery/surprise thing. Otherwise,
at least in my case, I know I'd probably fall in love with the idea of
1 dog which would probably be wrong for me where it really counts.
I will always go into class with the traits I'd like in mind but at
the end of the day, I will always leave the final decision to my
trainer because in my eyes, they are the experts--not me.

On 9/24/13, Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
> Recently, when I was picking Jetta from the litter, I had discussed what
> sort of dog I was looking for with the breeder.  she made two suggestions,
> neither were Jetta.  I was struggling with whether or not to go with a puppy
>
> she was suggesting or to go with my own hunch.  So I asked her why she
> picked those particular puppies.  She explained and it made sense, they did
>
> have the traits I was looking for.  However they had them in greater
> quantities than I was prepared for.  In the end it came down to an issue of
>
> communication.  I said I wanted a bold, confident dog and she suggested
> puppies based on what bold and confident meant to her.  Sure I want a
> confident dog, but I also don't want a constant battle of wills, but I
> didn't make that as clear as I could have.
>
> I think the same goes for every other trait, what exactly is a high energy
> dog?  Is my definition of high energy the same as everyone else's?  How much
>
> pull exactly constitutes a hard pull?What do you mean when you ask for an
> easy to handle dog?  There are so many variables and perceptions  of those
> variables.  You could express the same exact criteria to two different
> trainers and they could very well suggest two different dogs because their
> perception of what you want is going to be different based on their
> different experiences.
>
> There are certainly things that can be measured mathematically, pace and
> pull come to mind.  It would be easy enough to match person and dog on these
>
> factors, but how do you measure initiative or confidence?
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Star Gazer
> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 11:18 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The matching process
>
> I was thinking more along the lines of the schools not telling customers
> how
> they came to the decision of matching a person with a dog.
> If we're going to work successfully with a dog, then we should have some
> visibility as to how and why that dog was selected, along with the option
> to
> say no, or to discuss with the school why the match may not work.
> When I was using dogs, I always knew I could push back, but I also had the
> very strong sense that if I did, and I left without a dog, then I had
> failed.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 11:30 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The matching process
>
> What I meant by "mystery" is that it seems traditional for the identity of
> the dog to be a surprise, kinda like not knowing the sex of a baby until
> it's born.  It's amusing, trying to guess before the fact, but it doesn't
> really make much sense.  Why should it be a big secret?
>
> I forgot to say before that sometimes picking one's own dog from some
> possibilities doesn't always work, either.  At least, one of my classmates
> fell in love with a very playful golden, and was matched with him, but his
> extreme playfullness wore her out, along with other unanticipated
> characteristics.  She was smart enough to see it wasn't going to work, and
> get a re-match in class.
> Tracy
>
>> I don't know why the schools can't say "We use a b and c criteria
>> because that is what has worked in the past". They could also say "And
>> sometimes we guess along with these criteria".
>> I am not sure why the mystery aspect is even a factor.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy
>> Carcione
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 10:34 AM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nagdu] The matching process
>>
>> The last 2 times I was at GDB, my trainer called me before I came to
>> talk about the dogs they had in mind for me.  They told me some of the
>> characteristics of each, and asked if I had a preference.  I really
>> liked that.  I had some idea of what I was going to get, and could get
>> used to the idea.  Last time a friend went to TSE, they actually let
>> her try out the 2 prospective dogs, and discussed the traits of each
>> at length.  In the end, she chose the one she wanted, and was ready
>> for the challenges it presented.
>> I like that, too.
>> Somehow, it seems traditional to keep the match a mystery until it
>> happens, but it doesn't really have to be that way, and perhaps it
>> shouldn't be, especially if the student and school have a
>> long-standing relationship, so that the school has a pretty good idea
>> of what the student needs.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>
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