Ep 5. Meet Your Match

Pick of the Litter season 1 episode 5, titled "Meet Your Match," focuses on the process of matching guide dogs with their future owners. The episode starts with the six puppies: Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Tartan, Tulane, and Amara, in the midst of their training. The trainers are keeping a close eye on the dogs to see how well they're progressing and to evaluate which ones are best suited for certain types of owners.

The show then shifts its focus to a man named Stephen, who's been blind since childhood. Stephen has been on a waiting list for a guide dog for quite some time and is eager to meet his new companion. The trainers are tasked with finding the perfect dog for Stephen, one that will be able to serve as his eyes and guide him safely through his daily life.

Throughout the episode, viewers get to see the intense and thorough matching process. The trainers take into account factors such as the type of environment the dog will be living in, whether they'll be around children or other animals, and the personality of the potential owner. They also take the dog's individual temperament and training into account.

As the trainers continue to evaluate the dogs, they begin to narrow down the choices for Stephen. They eventually settle on two dogs: Tartan and Paco. Both dogs have shown promise in their training, and the trainers believe they have the right temperament to work with Stephen.

The trainers then bring Stephen in for a meet and greet with both dogs. Stephen is overjoyed at the prospect of finally meeting his new companion and can't contain his excitement. Both dogs are brought in one at a time, and Stephen spends some time getting to know them and assessing their compatibility with him.

It's a tough decision, but in the end, Stephen chooses Tartan as his new guide dog. The trainers and Stephen go over some basic training and commands before sending Tartan home with Stephen. As they leave the facility, Stephen and Tartan begin to bond immediately. It's a heartwarming moment as Stephen experiences the freedom and independence that comes with having a guide dog by his side.

Throughout the episode, viewers also get to see how the other puppies are doing in their training. The trainers take the dogs to different environments, such as the beach or the mall, to see how they handle distractions and noise. They also continue to work on basic obedience and commands.

Towards the end of the episode, the trainers gather to discuss the dogs' progress and to start thinking about which ones are ready to move on to the next stage of their training. It's a bittersweet moment as the trainers acknowledge that some of the puppies may not make it through the training process, but they're hopeful that each dog will find the perfect match like Tartan did with Stephen.

"Meet Your Match" is a heartwarming episode that showcases the intense and meticulous process of matching guide dogs with their owners. It's a reminder of the powerful bonds that can be formed between humans and dogs and the incredible impact that a guide dog can have on someone's life.