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The Chihuahua Chronicles Helping Each Other: My shoulders might be small, but I'm always here to lend a paw! |
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Happy HelperI have brought so much joy and happiness into the Dourte home that they are extremely enthusiastic about the role therapy dogs can have in many lives. | |||||||||
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There are all kinds of "helping" dogs -- dogs that are "seeing eyes" and "hearing ears" and dogs who are attendants for folks who simply need a helping hand around the house. Sometimes all somebody needs is love... and that is what I can provide. Just like the High School my family kids attended, dogs like me are "Small but Mighty and Proud"* and I am mighty proud to be the best helper of smiles and laughter in this household. "Therapy Dogs International, Inc. is a volunteer group organized to provide qualified handlers and their Therapy Dogs for visitations to institutions, facilities, and any other place where Therapy Dogs are needed." Annie and Deb sent for applications and information about this organization and began to train me for certification. Since I had already done some of the things a "certified" therapy dog does, including: increase emotional well being, promote healing, and improve the quality of life for this family, they wanted to share me with others. | ||||||||
| I already had some basic training in being friendly, and know how to sit, and wait and such as that, but I haven't had any real strict obedience training yet. To see whether or not I was even suitable for being a certified therapy dog, Annie and Deb trained tested me in several areas. One such test was a very long car trip to Anchorage. I travel very well, and am content with riding in the car for long periods. When we stopped for potty breaks I didn't have to "go" every time, but when I did, I went, and that is a significantly positive trait. A second part of the test was staying in a Hotel. We stayed in Anchorage for two nights and I was a perfect guest. I was friendly and interested in people we met, without cringing or being aggressive. The hotel staff was very nice, and interested in the Therapy Dog program. The final, and possibly most challenging part of that particular weekend of testing was accompanying my handler to a public restaurant. With the permission of the restaurant management, understanding that I was in a capacity of training to be a helping dog, just as a seeing-eye dog or hearing dog is, I was allowed to attend a couple of restaurants in Anchorage. I passed with flying colors, sitting very quietly (and almost invisibly) throughout the meal, paying little to no attention to the fact that Deb was right there, eating steak and shrimp. My family knows table food isn't good for me anyway, so that was no problem. The only problem we had was one establishment who said they do allow seeing eye dogs but they didn't see any reason anyone would need a dog with them to enjoy eating in a public restaurant. They were friendly, but unaware that Social Phobia affects some people so deeply that they simply cannot eat in public, and some cannot even leave home at all. With a (suitably trained) little dog like me along for comfort, people who were imprisioned within their own home by their fears can enjoy public facilities and contribute to the economy! But ... well, some people... think dogs are dirty or something. As if I am any more dirty than Billy, Annie or Emily were when they were snot-nosed little brats? (Deb says they were NEVER snot-nosed little brats, but that they were typical kids and most kids are lots dirtier than ME!) Oh well, we didn't want to eat there anyway, right? Another brick wall we ran into was at one shopping center, where the security people didn't understand my "function" either. Understandably a little dog running around underfoot is NOT a good idea, but I am carried in a sling, concealed almost the same way a nursing baby is. My family didn't make an effort to HIDE me though, since they believe that would be sneaky and wrong, so when I was asked to leave, so did they. My family has been extremely busy and unable to pursue further training for me yet, but the hope is that my experience will help raise awareness of public business and citizens. Companion pets have the potential to vastly enchance the quality of life for people in need of a small companion to help them cope with society. For more information: | |||||||||
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| Agility Chihuahuas | DogPatch.org: Obedience and Training Page |
Clean Run Web Site |
www.doggygym.com |
PawsAbilities |
Agility For Fun |
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Embroidered Chihuahua by sherri.mcmahon@worldnet.att.net |
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