Coco and I were a team moving together as one

People are often surprised when they learn that the Delta Pet Partner Workshop is for handlers without their animals. How can you learn to be a therapy team without your animal in the class?

Benny loves to be held in just the right position for tickling

Well, we expect handlers to take positive training classes with a reputable trainer for the animal part. Their dog must have solid basic obedience and good manners and be able to listen to their owner at all times. They need to be calm and steady and reliable. They need to truly want to work and be people-centric. They need all these skills, but Pet Partners is not a dog training organization.

The human volunteer is as critical, if not more, than the dog

So we ask that interested teams either take a course on their own or find a trainer who understands the Pet Partner method of handling, such as someone who is a Pet Partner volunteer themselves. In Las Vegas, I am the only Pet Partner licensed Instructor and Evaluator as well as a dog trainer so my classes are all geared towards learning the Pet Partner way and being on the path to therapy work.

Sometimes you are the only outside visitor someone has

I believe every pet should be as well mannered and comfortable as a working dog.

But for Pet Partners teams to be truly successful, the human end of the leash needs to understand what it means to be a responsible therapy team with your animal.

Coco was the happiest dog and my true Pet Partner

The human needs to be knowledgeable about all the various types of populations and environments they may find themselves in. They need to understand their animal so much more than the average pet owner.

How does their dog signal he is stressed or needs to go to the bathroom even?

Kirby needs more help now but still has the biggest heart

How does his dog communicate he is tired, being pushed too far or just done?

How does he know when his dog is having the time of his life?

It is the human end of the leash that interacts with the clients and guides their dog.

It is the human who is the vehicle for the healing their dog can bring about.

It is the human who instills confidence in their ability to control their dog while being fluid with their motions.

It is the human who speaks with the clients and nurtures the relationship between animal and human.

It is the human who can turn tears into smiles through the loving touch of not only their dog, but their own hand.

It is the human we trust to be safe, safe, safe when working with an animal.

It is the human we count on to work in tandem with their dog and work as one.

Remember, we are not just shoving dogs at people!

Julian had his mad face on

I brought Kirby to this week’s session with Julian  instead of Benny. I thought Benny needed to rest as he had been working a lot lately and Kirby really likes seeing Julian.

So off we went.

We got to the Center and Kirby was quietly waiting in the lobby.

Julian arrived and right away we knew – today was a bad day.

It started off on the wrong foot.

Kirby patiently waited for his boy to look at him

He was late and in a very negative mood.He did not want to look at us or focus on what we were saying.

He did not want Kirby anywhere close to him.

Reading the new book, Julian held onto Kirby’s leash

We went into a small room and turned the lights out. The lights were bothering Julian a lot today.

I put Kirby down on his blanket on the floor and Julian hopped away and actually made a face that reminded me of our first visit all those months ago.

Julian was wearing his “mad” face.

I didn’t know what was wrong or what to do, but Kirby figured it all out.

Kirby was resting with his Santa when Julian reached out for him

His friend was having a “bad day.”

Kirby is very familiar with bad days. Sometimes his hips or knees hurt him or his eyes squint in the sun and tear. Sometimes he just doesn’t want to be touched or held.

Julian and his therapist started their session without involving Kirby. But Kirby was just there – present should he be asked to do anything. Julian started calming down and they read a new book we brought with us, “I’m Not Afraid of Dogs.”

Let’s massage little Kirby

Kirby just lay down nearby but not too close. We brought his favorite toy with him, his Santa, so he was quite content to wait it out.

I attached his second leash just in case!

I asked Julian if he wanted to hold Kirby’s leash and he silently reached out his hand.

Let’s massage his foot now

After about half an hour I asked Julian if he remembered how to do the massage Marilyn had taught him.

I asked if he could show me with Kirby.

Kirby inched closer and Julian reached out. He was shown again how to start at Kirby’s head and work his hand down his little body.

He was told he should do this three times.

Kirby settled in and was so happy. Finally, his boy was paying attention to him!

It was a tense session to begin with but by the end of the hour the beautiful Julian smile made an appearance!

He may have still been agitated or anxious or having a bad day but it somehow got better when he touched the little dog.

Julian helped me put Kirby in his car seat and we hugged goodbye.

Maybe because I had Kirby with me today it was comforting for Julian as it was just like our first meeting.

FInally both dog and boy smiled – it was a good day after all

Maybe today’s session wasn’t the most fun or easiest but I do think it was the most rewarding…for boy and dog.

Removing Benny’s vest so he could massage him all over

A simple massage. Nothing too special.

Just hands moving slowly.

Gently.

With love.

Learning to massage Benny was the task of the day with Julian.

Let’s practice on Coco

Our dear friend Marilyn taught us how to properly do canine massage. And Benny just settled in and loved it.

First Marilyn showed Julian how to massage a dog with the Coco doll. Start at the nape of the neck and slowly work your way down the back of the dog.Slowly.

Gently.

Try it on the doll. Now start at the neck again but this time work your hands down one back leg.

Two hands moving in gentle circles

Now move your hand in little circles on the dog’s back. Then up and down her back.

Coco the doll was very still and seemed to enjoy it!

Benny thought this was the best session ever

Now should we try this on a real dog?Benny was ready, willing and able. Julian was a bit more nervous about touching the real dog but his friend Benny looked up at him and said “It’s ok, I really like this.” So Marilyn and Julian did it together, hand over hand.

Then they reached for Benny’s head to stroke him and he was so happy. Julian has had difficulty touching Benny from the front right on his head, but today it was a soothing gesture for both dog and boy.

A sleeping dog, so relaxed after his massage

Stroke each ear moving your hand all the way through the fur. Of course, only do this with a dog that is totally relaxed and loves being touched all over, including his ears! Benny loved it.

After a few minutes of gentle massage, Benny turned over and took a deep breath, sighed and almost fell asleep. By now Julian was totally into the massage and was so sweet with sleeping Benny.

Benny loves nothing more than touching his ears!

A simple massage.Thank you Marilyn for sharing your talent with us and showing Julian the power of touch.

Lance and Boise – what a loving pair

The Love Dogs have many different dogs amongst their ranks.

We have dogs as small as Kirby and dogs as large as George.

Boise enjoyed the day thoroughly

People often ask if a specific breed is better at being therapy dogs and I always say no. Breed is not the determining factor … temperament and the desire to work is. Thus any dog that truly loves meeting new people in all sorts of environments and remains calm is the goal.

But sometimes you just need a large dog to do the trick!

So many hands to pet me!

Boise began his career as part of the Reading to the Love Dogs program and the beauty of an older, calm, reliable Golden is just that. He was so happy lying on the floor, being cuddled and hugged by so many new kids and adults.And there was a lot of dog to hug!

Not once did Boise rise up suddenly or bark or make any untoward movements.

Boise liked working side by side with Kirby

Not once did he appear to be bored or stressed or unhappy.Not once did he move away from a particular person.

Not once did he object when tiny Kirby came by to see what was happening on the other side of the room.

Boise just settled in and did what he was supposed to do – listen and love!

Welcome to the Love Dog team Lisa and Boise. We know you have a huge career ahead of you.

The young woman wants to be a vet and Kirby was her first “patient”

When Boise looks right at you, you feel love

What better way to ease the stress of final exams for college students than to bring in the Love Dogs?

Nevada State College did just that and six therapy dog teams spent two hours with the students giving them some much needed break time. Every college student experiences pressure and stress, particularly around exam time.

Colleges and universities across the nation are seeking unique ways to give the students a much-needed break from deadlines and stress. Some provide pizza and massages and some bring in the dogs!

The Love Dog Team were a big hit

All the dogs who visited Nevada State College are registered with Delta Pet Partners and members of the Las Vegas Love Dog Adventures Therapy Program.The school organized an event promoting “play with the dogs and de-stress,” and the turnout was amazing. Not only did students stopped by for as taste of pooch power, but faculty and staff. No one wanted to be left out.

Nothing but pure joy

When the dogs arrived, they were greeted by our hosts and settled in on their blankets in the Marydean Martin Library.A variety of breeds were represented including an Italian Greyhound, Yellow Lab, Golden Retriever, Border Collie and two poodles.

Every student who stopped by to greet the dogs soon had a favorite.

Dash showed everyone that therapy dogs don’t have to be fluffy!

Layla showed them that an eleven year old Border can still have a job.

Boise showed the students that Goldens can be calm and gentle and soft as pillows.

Tucker showed everyone that a Yellow Lab may just be the best at belly rubs.

And the two poodles … Kirby had one student who wants to become a veterinarian mesmerized by his story of surgeries and strength and Benny, had one student laughing with joy as he melted into his arms.

Therapy dogs don’t have to be fluffy says Dash

It has been documented that the presence and touch of an animal can lower blood pressure and heart rate, relief stress, and just makes everything better.

Layla, Dash and Boise relaxed everyone

Today at Nevada State College the many students who took time from their studies to relax and visit with volunteers and their remarkable dogs definitely left more prepared to handle exams and the stresses of college life.

No one could resist Tucker’s smile

Layla was so relaxed she took a nap!

Thank you Clay, Leslie, Lisa, Becca, and Gay for supporting today’s effort!

It all started with Kirby, the perfect dog to teach Julian

Sometimes you just never know what will happen when you bring together a boy and a dog.

Julian has now met over ten dogs and encountered many more.

Some dogs make him curious.

Some dogs make him laugh.

Some dogs make him giggle.

What is more special than a boy and a Lab?

Some dogs make him calm.

Some dogs make him want to play.

Some dogs make him want to cuddle.

Some dogs still make him uneasy, but he has learned to work through these feelings.

Some dogs make him focus.

Some dogs make him dream.

Some dogs make him brave.

Last week his family participated in the 4th Annual Autism 5k Race for Hope/Fun Walk in Las Vegas and at the end of the walk, Julian came across two dogs with their family.  In the past he would have started running away from the dogs, a dangerous situation for sure. But this time he stood his ground and asked the owner if he could pet the dog.

Small dogs were a different challenge

Amidst the stimuli and excitement of the event all around him, Julian did the right thing, he asked if he could pet the dog, he let the dog greet him by sniffing and he gently touched the dog when the owner gave him permission.

Julian can even have two dogs close by

This was the real test of all these months of working with the Love Dogs. Can Julian be out in the real world and communicate his thoughts and feelings and encounter new things and react appropriately.

But no dog captured his heart more than Benny

YES!

The birthday girl had the most wondeful day

The Love Dogs have been working with the same six kids at a group home for two years and this week we had a very special visit.

It was the birthdays for two of our kids and one of our volunteers, Mary, suggested we make it a very special celebration.

The kids are multiply challenged and only one eats food by mouth – our birthday girl! How wonderful that she could enjoy some soft ice cream.

Being so close to a dog and a “friend” was very special

So Mary brought huge balloons, great for sensory awareness.And ice cream cup cakes.

And we had party hats and dogs, dogs, dogs.

Even Izzy wore a party hat

Just when you think you have exhausted every method of tapping into the joy and personalities of the kids, something new and unexpected is introduced.

The balloons created wonderment and movement and laughter.

The cake was something new to taste and feel and experience.

The hat was something to keep on your head while laughing and moving around.

Our birthday boy wasn’t quite so interested in a party. But he stayed alert long enough to feel balloons moving around his chair.

Kirby loves a good party

And he didn’t turn away quite so quickly when the dogs were brought close by.

He knew somehow that this was a different visit.

He could sense the fun in the room and he chose to remain engaged for a long period of time.

So when you wonder how you are impacting as therapy dog volunteers, remember this birthday celebration.

Remember how the kids were happy and how they enjoyed being touched and stroked and how they laughed at moving balloons and how they enjoyed meeting the few new volunteers and how they felt the soft fur of the dogs and how they knew they were loved.

Kirby stayed right by Coco’s side her last week

You’ve completed the Pet Partner Handler Workshop, taken some positive training classes with your dog maybe even a therapy dog prep class. You are excited to take your scheduled Evaluation test.

Kirby went to the doctor with his beloved Coco

You have waited months to get to this point so what could possibly cause you to postpone it?

• We do not encourage people to take the Evaluation if:
• Handler is not feeling well or recovering from a recent illness
• Animal is not feeling well or recovering from a recent illness
• Animal has just been spayed or neutered within a few weeks
• Animal has been vaccinated within a week
• Animal has stitches or is healing a wound
• Animal is showing any signs of illness that has not been diagnosed yet (limping, diarrhea etc.)
• Handler and/or animal has experienced a recent loss of a family member, friend, pet
• Handler is experiencing depression or other ailment that will affect their demeanor with their animal
• Handler and animal have just moved to a new home, acquired a new pet or experienced any other life changes

Kirby was very sad for weeks after we lost Coco

It is always better to postpone your Evaluation than show up and have everything go wrong. The animal will feel all the tension down the lead or may be exhibiting clusters of displacement signals such as panting, drooling, licking, backing away, avoidance and a myriad of other signs that he/she just does not want to be there.Wait for the right time to take your Evaluation. The Evaluator will understand, just be sure to let them know so they can cancel their volunteers and the neutral dog and the space they have reserved.

But the happy Kirby came back and he was ready to be evaluated

But even if you have to cancel at the very last minute it is preferred than showing up and stressing yourself and your animal.You always want to arrive at the Evaluation confident and secure in your pet’s abilities and working as a solid team.  To do that, you have to realize your limitations and understand that your goal is a passing grade.

Kirby aced his renewal evaluation and was ready to continue his important work

When Coco the Love Dog was very ill, Kirby stayed by her side every minute. He went to the vet with her and slept with her and looked over her. When at the end of just one week we lost Coco, Kirby was very very sad. This would not have been a time to have him go through his renewal Evaluation, which Pet Partners have to do every two years. We chose to wait and see when Kirby would perk up and be ready to return to work and take his test.Why take the chance that something may happen that results in a Not Acceptable grade, such as your dog growling or showing aggression or the handler behaving inappropriately.  There is always another day.

Bailey set the bar for Goldens!

Another Love Dog will be retiring this June.

Bailey began his therapy dog career in December 2010.  He was seven years old then, but seven is the perfect age for a Golden to have settled down enough to be a steady therapy dog.

Bailey loved having children all around him

Bailey has always been one of our larger dogs topping off at one hundred and five pounds – a gentle giant.He began his career working in schools and library programs with children and at skilled nursing facilities.

Get that Cheerio up there!

However his shining moments came towards the end of his career when he spent dedicated time with a young boy on the autism spectrum, Julian. Perhaps the months working with Julian were what Bailey was really meant to do.Watching the little boy afraid of boys hold on to Bailey was something incredibly special to see.

Walking Bailey was quite an accomplishment for Julian

Watching Bailey balance a teeny tiny Cheerio on his nose made Julian laugh like no other trick.Watching Bailey slowly go up and down his ramp in and out of his car showed us all what tremendous spirit the dog had.

Watching Julian walk Bailey on his second leash showed us what boy and dog could achieve together.

We called Bailey our breathing pillow as he loved nothing more than having several kids all lying on top of him.

A gentle giant

Bailey will make a handful of “special appearances” before he officially retires this June.We all appreciate the all too few years Bailey was an active therapy dog but he will always be a Love Dog.

Thank you Kelly, Craig, Stevi and Jon for sharing your beautiful dog with us.

One happy boy looking right into the camera – a huge accomplishment

It has now been over six months that we have been meeting with Julian.  While we bring in different dogs during our sessions, it is one dog that has captured his heart, Benny.

Benny is the dog no one wanted. He was considered unadoptable by four families before he was a year old. He was considered trouble, impossible to train or control and unworthy of love.

Who would have thought months ago this would be how Julian and Benny can be together

Julian is the boy so misunderstood. He has difficulty making connections to humans and it is so hard for him to look you in the eye.But they found each other and made that critical connection.

One boy.

One dog.

One look.

Julian and Benny reading together

When we first met, Julian was deathly afraid of dogs. Over time that fear dissipated and he has come to respect and understand dogs. He knows he can control his own movements and behaviors with regard to the dogs and thus manage his own anxieties.He knows that dogs think differently and now understands canine ways of communicating.

Close enough for a kiss

He knows that dogs can love with a full heart, just as he can.Through his work with the Love Dogs, Julian has come to realize that when you look at someone, things change. Eye contact opens up the channel of communication and trust.

Just as with Benny. When he looked at me the very first day we met, I knew the true dog that was hiding inside.

Through his eyes, soulful, scared, hurting eyes.

And the first time Benny looked at Julian, something in Julian allowed him to look back.

Truly looks back into Benny’s eyes.

With love.

With trust.

With respect.

With compassion.

Benny will always look at Julian, his best friend

With communion.Something he found so hard to do with people.

Even people he loved.

One Boy.

One Dog,

One Look.

Once thought unadoptable Benny has become the ultimate therapy dog

Children on the autism spectrum often have a great difficulty connecting … making eye contact, listening, focusing, comprehending, responding, reacting, and communicating.But Julian has made huge inroads in all these skills by wanting to understand and interact with Benny.

When he calls Benny’s name and the dog turns to look into his eyes, even if he had just been resting and had his eyes closed, Julian feels the depth of the little dog’s love.

The power.

The friendship.

The closeness to another living being.

And perhaps this is the most remarkable accomplishment over these six months.