Therapy Dogs at Christmas

I'm sorry it's been a month since I've posted to this blog; my only excuse is that I've been very busy. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year and I do it up right! smile....

My dogs and I also make quite a few therapy dog visits this time of year - more so than we do during the rest of the year.

Riker, my eight year old Australian Shepherd, is very much as extrovert - to put it nicely! His goal in life is to love people. That means everyone needs lots of enthusiastic love with - if he's allowed - lots of wet, sloppy kisses. Although most adults would prefer to pass ont he kisses, luckliy most kids enjoy the spirit in which the kisses are given. Riker and I have been visiting a day care center for foster children for more than five years. Most of the kids are pre-school age although a few are older. Here, Riker is in his element. Kids can get as much love and kisses as they feel they need.

Although Riker also visits a senior center a couple of times a month, I have to be careful there as he assumes the seniors can be loved as enthusiastically as the kids are; and obviously that's not true. But the Grandmas and Grandpas do appreciate his sweet face and obvious affection.

My youngest Aussie, Bashir, didn't start therapy dog work until recently, at the age of 3. As a younger dog, he didn't want strangers to pet him. Since the Aussie breed standard says that these dogs should be reserved and cautious with strangers, that was fine with me. I let him grow up and mature, and he worked with me in our training classes. However, recently he has shown more of a willingness to go up to people so I began his therapy dog training. I'm glad I did because he is absolutely wonderful with senior citizens.

Bashir is a thinker; he thinks first then does something. Somehow he figured out, even without my help, that he must be very gentle with the people we're visiting and he is. He gives very soft, gentle kisses, and he positions his head under their hands. He's not affected by their state of health, odd movements, or different speech patterns.

Today, Bashir and I visited a very nice facility that was hosting a Christmas tea. The other therapy dogs went into the recreation room where the party was being held so Bashir and I went up and down the hallways, peeking into the other rooms to see who couldn't go to the party. We stopped in and visited quite a few bedridden people or people who just didn't feel like a party and I'm very glad we did.

One gentleman, a retired US Marine Corps SgtMajor, was feeling homesick because of the holidays. When I shared with him that my husband and I were both former Marines, he brightened up. We talked about the Marine Corps, he petted Bashir, and then we talked about dogs. When I left later, he was in much better spirits.

Another gentleman was bedridden and really didn't feel good. But after he petted Bashir, who gave him some genlte kisses on the hand, he smiled and thanked me for coming in to see him.

To me, this is what the spirit of Christmas is all about: sharing with other people. Especially those who may not be as well off as we are. This is the time for giving of ourselves.

If you think that perhaps you would like to train your dog for therapy dog work, listen to our podcasts. One of our up[coming shows will be about therapy dogs and what is required to get your dog certified.

Meanwhile, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Liz Palika, with my therapy dogs, Riker and Bashir.

It's not hidden if you guard it!

Bashir is our youngest dog. He's a three year old Australian Shepherd and he's very aware that he's the youngest and at the bottom of the totem pole in our household.

So when he gets a bone or chunk of rawhide he really likes, he likes to hide it. He's hidden bones behind the sofa cushions on the couch and in the corner of the sofa sectional. Much to my husband's chagrin, Bashir has hidden bones under my husband's pillow in the bed. The poor dog goes to great pains to find the right spot; walking around with the bone in his mouth, sniffing and poking with his nose to find just the perfect place. He'll look over his shoulder to see if anyone is watching him and if I am, he'll walk away very casually, "Who me? I wasn't doing anything!"

When he finds the right spot, he pokes around with his nose to make sure the hole is big enough for the bone, then places the bone there and using his nose, he covers the bone. He'll shove blankets over it, sofa cushions, even dog toys! If he's outside, he'll use his nose to shove dirt over the bone.

But after all this work - after finding the right place and burying the bone so carefully - he gives away the spot because he guards it! Not with growls and not aggressively, but with concern. If anyone walks by, he stares at the spot where his bone is and points at it with his nose, "Don't look there! That's my bone! Oh no, don't look!" So of course, everyone in the household - human or canine - knows where Bashir's bone is! Silly boy.

Give your dog a hug from me!

Liz

Fall is Here; Riker's on the Bed

Some people can tell the changing of the seasons by looking at the leaves on the trees outside or the changes in the weather. My husband and I can tell when weather's getting colder because Riker comes back up on the bed.

Riker, our eight year old Australian Shepherd, has severe hip dysplasia. He's very stoic most of the time and he still runs and plays, just less than he used to. But when the weather gets cooler, he abandons his comfy dog bed on the floor and moves up to our old fashioned, heated water bed. I'm sure the warm bed feels good on his bad hip joints.

Although my husband and I normally don't encourage the dogs to sleep with us - the cats already do and four cats and three dogs in one bed wouldn't leave any room for us! - we do cut him some slack.

Anyway, at some point during the night last night, Riker moved up onto the bed and snuggled in between my husband and myself. That means fall is here!

Liz