[nagdu] Replacement Dog

[Linda Gwizdak]

Hi Cheryl O,
I have had to return a couple of dogs for a variety of reasons.  it happens. 
You are dealing with a living being and sometimes the match or team just 
doesn't work out.

Also, you can't "make" a dog be a guide - they have to WANT to do the work. 
The schools all understand this and they can tell the difference if the 
problem with the team is a consistant problem with the handler or not or if 
the problem lies with the dog.  Sometimes it's just a plain old mismatch - 
the handler does well with another dog and the dog does better with another 
handler.

The schools tries its best to make the best match possible.  This is why it 
is important to give them as much info about you, your lifestyle, whereyou 
live, what you like or dislike in a dog, etc.  they use all this info to 
find the best match.  But, sometimes in spite of doing this, the team fails.

Don't feel bad about this and beat yourself up about it. Is it 
heartbreaking?  Absolutely!  You invest time and love of the dog and it is 
hard when it still doesn't work out.

Your school will hapily train you with another dog and it isn't wasting 
their resources.  They understand this can happen and they plan for it. They 
want you to suceed and have a good partnership with your dog.

Good luck with the new dog.

Regards,

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 8:41 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Replacement Dog


> Cheryl,
>
> I have not had that experience, so I can only imagine how difficult it is.
> Sometimes you just have to make the best decision for both you and the 
> dog.
>
> Hang in there, and try not to beat up on yourself over it.
>
> Best wishes for the return to TSE and your new partnership.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Cheryl Osborn
> Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 8:03 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Replacement Dog
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have been having a rough time with my new guide dog since I received
> her last December.  I have been considering returning her over the
> last few weeks and  have finally made the decision to return her.  I
> have been in contact with The Seeing Eye, keeping them informed of our
> lack of progress.  So I will be taking my dog back in a few weeks and
> attending training for my replacement dog.
>
> I have such mixed feelings about all this.  I feel so guilty when my
> dog comes up to lick my hand or to get some loves.  I also hate to
> think about all the money the school is spending on me throughout this
> process.  I can't help but wonder if I could have handled things in a
> better way.  I feel like a major failure.
>
> Has anyone else on this list had to return a dog?
>
>
> -- 
> Cheryl in Mexico
> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>
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