I’m coming up on my first anniversary with my guide dog, Price, so I thought I’d share my perspective on the process. The process begins like most matching services: with a profile. Each dog has a profile, containing information such as their activity level, preferred walking speed, size, temperament, and more. Similarly, each blind or low-vision person has a profile, including details like whether they work, how active they are, their gait and walking speed, height, temperament, and more. The first stage of the process is all based on this information, and Guide Dogs of Texas plays matchmaker. I call this the “match.com” portion of the process.

Once a good match is determined, it’s time for the “blind date” (pun intended). The blind or low-vision person and the matched guide dog go for a trial walk. This little “date” allows the human and the dog to see if what seemed to work on paper will also work in real life. The advanced trainer is there to evaluate the walk and give tips on how to make the relationship work. I think of the trainer as a relationship coach. They give suggestions like, “When she (the dog) stops like that, she’s trying to tell you to be aware of something, so pay attention to her cues.” Wouldn’t it be great if you had someone like that on a real blind date?

In my case, I was matched with Price. She and I hit it off on our “first date.” She walked fast enough for me to feel her pull, so I could tell when she was slowing or stopping. I remember the first time she stopped at an intersection. We came to a stop, I could hear the traffic go by, and I swept my foot to find the edge of the sidewalk. We were about two inches from the street! I was amazed at how accurate she was, and how quickly I figured out her cues. Of course, there were some mishaps. She wasn’t used to my gait and height, so we brushed up against some bushes, and I hit a few tree limbs. But the trainer had us go back, and I pointed out what she missed, and we tried again. Price was a fast learner—faster than me, actually! I didn’t always know what she was indicating, and I didn’t sweep well enough. One time, I instructed her to move forward and ended up running into a mailbox and missing a step. But eventually, we were in sync. After that initial walk (the “first date”), it was determined we were a good match. So we moved on to the next stage.

We were now “engaged” or “betrothed” to each other. Price went back to be trained on how to deal with my quirks and prepare for our long-term relationship, and I prepared to bring her into my home. Then a time was set for our “pre-marital counseling.”

The next phase was like counseling before we were official. Price and I went through about three weeks of intense daily training. We walked my routes and learned to anticipate each other and the obstacles and terrain. I had routes at local grocery stores, another in my rural neighborhood, and one downtown between a local coffee shop and the public library. These were all very different routes, but Price learned them like a champ. My neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks, and we have wild animals that roam and cause distractions, which she had to ignore while focusing on keeping me safe. The store routes showed that Price and I are very similar in that we both like people, so it was hard for her not to stop and greet everyone who wanted to pet her. I had to learn the art of saying, “Thank you, but she’s working right now,” in a nice but firm way (something I’m still trying to get better at, even today). The downtown route was even more interesting: we had to navigate tricky intersections, a catwalk, stairs, an elevator, sandwich board signs in the middle of the sidewalk, and drivers who aren’t used to seeing blind people crossing their streets. Lawrence, our trainer/marriage counselor, was amazing. We learned so much and improved every day. Lawrence took us into all kinds of situations that we had to work together as a team to figure out. He knew that I wanted the freedom to go places I’d never been, and he also knew that Price was VERY smart and loved “sorting out” complex situations.

So, after all these steps—Profile (match.com), Test Walk (Blind Date), Customized Advanced Training (The Engagement), and Team Training (Pre-Marital Counseling)—we finally graduated as a team! AKA “married for better or for worse!”

All I can say is that my guide dog is a “perfect match.” As I like to say, “Price is priceless!”

I hope this helps you understand the matching process for a client and their future guide dog. Thank you, Guide Dogs of Texas, for how you match your clients with just the right dog to ensure a good fit. But that’s NOT the end of the process. You then do custom training with both the dog and the client to ensure the relationship will last. Then, you continue to follow up with your clients to ensure the relationship stays strong. I guess that’s the final step—ongoing “marriage counseling.” I know I’ll be able to enjoy my newfound freedom and independence for years to come!