This Page
is Dedicated to Stories About Working Therapy Dogs
Photo: Ann Acuff's "Jamie": CD, CGC, TDI (See story below)
I went to the Mental Health Center again today for my bi-weekly pet therapy visit (the
person I alternate with is away--China, no less, so I am filling in for her). The last
place we visit is with a boys' group--aged 9 - 11. When we get in, the boys get on the
floor to play with the dogs I take in. Today, Lexi and Chase got to go. After they got
started, Lexi was running around the table in the middle of the room back and forth. She
would then run up to the 3 boys on the floor, and they would back up. She then ran around
the table to the other side and backed them up more. After about 6 times, all three boys
were backed up, under the table in the corner of the room. She then just stopped and
stared at them. If one would try to come out, she moved over in front of him, and he
backed up again, back under the table. It was so funny seeing this little 14 1/2" 10
month old puppy keeping 3 boys stuck under the table. I had to finally go over and pick
her up so they could come out. *Almost* sounds like she has herding instinct!!!! While all
this was going on, Chase (my little 14 3/4" blue boy) was curled up on the 4th boy's
lap, almost falling asleep. No herding instinct there!!
Sandy
I have the most wonderful story about Jamie at a nursing home. I took him one day to
take pics, and a friend went along. She visited this particular place often. There was an
old gentleman in the hall in a wheelchair, blankly staring. My friend told me he was a
native of Scotland, and called Scotty. She said when she first started coming there,
Scotty would talk to her. He was now in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. I took Jamie
up near him and said something like, "Hi, Scotty. I brought my little dog to see you.
And I'll bet you are the only guy here who knows what kind of dog he is." This man
who had not spoken in 8 months looked at Jamie and said, "Aye, 'tis a Scotch
collie!"
Ann
I remember a demonstration I went to several years back. It was for a day camp of
mentally retarded kids. We went into the gym, and did our demo. The kids clapped for
everything - even goofs! We were laughing right along with them. After the demo, we let
the kids pet the dogs. Most of the dogs there that day were Shelties. Two of the kids
stick out in my memory. One was a girl that had been there every day, and had not spoken
at all. This was the 7th day of a 15 day day-camp. When Linda took Travis (a large Tri) up
to her, she started petting him. Before we knew it, she started singing to him. These were
the first words this girl had spoken the whole time! Travis took it all in stride, and put
his head on her lap. That got the biggest smile she had given. While this was going on on
one side of the bleacher, Dotty had taken Tiffany (a very small, 12" sable) over to
meet 2 girls. She was so small, that Dotty picked her up. The girl on the end started
crying - turns out, she was afraid of dogs. Dotty talked to her while holding Tiffany a
short distance away. After seeing all the other kids pet Tiff, she decided that this
little dog can't be too bad. She actually started petting her, and within minutes, Tiff
was giving kisses--the only ones she gave that day! That little girl was so proud that she
got the only kisses. The counselers tried talking us into coming every day, all day to
work with them. They were really impressed with the effect the dogs had on the kids.
Sandy
Arklow's Askleykinanas UDT "Ashley" DOB 4/25/84 lost her battle with
systemic lupus today, Memorial Day, May 27, 1996. She went peacefully in my arms after a
month long battle, only losing her sheltie sparkle the last 2 days. Ashley taught me a lot
about dogs, obedience, tracking and service dog training. She took Runner-up to HIT in
Novice(we lost the run-off I'm sure because my knees were knocking so hard!) and proceeded
to show me how many different ways a dog can interpret the exercises in both open and
utility. When UDX was started, Ashley had been retired for a year. I started training her
again at the age of ten and she had this incredible ability to stare at me when I gave her
direction for the jumps or taking the article or glove to the judge instead of me. We
managed to earn 4 legs toward UDX when I finally relented and told her she didn't have to
work anymore. She did always enjoy brace competition though with her son hance. In
tracking her attitude was more like "I have to get my feet wet?" but she did
manage to get her TD in one try. Ashley always enjoyed helping me around the house. When
she was young I was helping to train another sheltie, Sport, to do service work for a
handicapped person. Ashley learned right along with Sport and continued to be my third
hand up until she got ill last month. She was able to attend the ASSA National in 1994 and
was entered this year but became ill just a couple of days before. Thanks Ashley for all
the good times, what a difference you made in my life.
Submitted by Sheri
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