By Public Relations Coordinator, on March 2nd, 2012
I adopted Riley, an Australian Shepherd mix, from Dumb Friends League when he was approximately 1 year old. We had no history about him because he was transferred to Denver from another state. All I know is that he won my heart the moment I saw him! Riley has a gentle disposition and he loves people. Everyone who meets him likes him immediately.
It wasn’t long before I realized Riley needed an outlet for his energy, and most people say Australian Shepherds need a “job” to do. So I enrolled him in the GAP Service Dog program as a Therapy Dog in training in mid-2009. We worked on general obedience and commands until he was ready to begin his “therapy” visits at a nursing home. After visiting and becoming familiar with the nursing home and his role there, I found him eagerly zig-zagging from room to room down each corridor, expecting to meet the patients inside. He likes to quickly go in, greet the patient, and move on to the next room. (We’re working on spending some quality time before we move on.)
Yesterday at group we were working on “left” and “right” turns, and then we began to work on “heel” by walking down a long corridor with numerous doors on each side. I became confused when Riley began to cross back and forth in front of me, ignoring my attempts to make him “heel”. Then I suddenly realized what he was doing. He was going toward each door in turn as if he were at the nursing home visiting patients. That was such a tender, heartwarming moment for me to see that the work we’re putting in is worth the time and effort, and that Riley is truly taking on his role as a Therapy Dog.
I look forward to continuing with Riley in Therapy Dog training, and perhaps to branch out to other locations such as schools, libraries, or even the legal arena to give him an opportunity to visit people who can benefit from the kindness of a Therapy Dog.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on January 25th, 2011
I received Peekaboo as my own dog in August 2008 and he graduated as a therapy dog in December 2008. He is such a lovable dog and especially likes working with children. Peek had a lot of things wrong with him when he came to live with me. His front paws turn out due to being kept in a crate that was to small for him when he was a puppy. He also limped due to a torn ligament in his back left knee. I had the knee repaired and Peek and I began the bonding process.
After Peek graduated, I met with the principal of Foothills Elementary to see how he would do with the 1st grade students reading to him. He was so scared during his interview with the principal that he just sat there and shook. I don’t know if it was her role as principal or just all the activity around him. The year 2008 was the beginning of his reading program with the 1st grade. The next year, he met with two 1st grade classes. In 2010 he had two 1st grade classes and one 2nd grade. It is wonderful to see how well Peek works with students who are afraid of dogs. In 2008, there was a little girl with downs syndrome. She was so scared of Peek and would sit far away from him while she read. Peek seemed to understand what she was saying. and he would just stare at her with his big, amber eyes. By the end of the year, the little girl was sitting next to Peek and feeding him out of her hand. The following year, there was another girl who was afraid of Peek. She watched the other children as they read their stories to him and gave him treats. Soon, she was also reading to him and was always one of the first to ask if she could pet him.
When I start a class, I begin by going over a book entitled, “May I Pet Your Dog”. The book teaches how to approach a dog, always ask if you can pet the dog, and how to interact with the dog. Both 1st grade classes asked if Peekaboo could be in their class picture which he was.
Peek also goes to the nursing home once a month. He doesn’t act as if he enjoys it very much, but one day he meant a lot to one elderly lady. Peek and I were just leaving when we heard someone crying. An elderly lady was sitting in a wheel chair in the hall and she was weeping softly. Her doctor was there talking to her. Peek went up to the lady and pushed his nose under her arm and into her lap where he kissed her hands. The lady was startled at first but then began to laugh. The doctor looked at me, winked, and walked away. Peek did his job.
To realize how popular Peek is with everyone, he recently had knee surgery to repair a torn ligament in his knee. I had knee replacement surgery the year before. Peek received 91 get well cards from his students and friends. I received approximately 10.
Peekaboo is and will continue to be a wonderful therapy dog.
Hi, my husband and I are currently training our three little pups to become therapy dogs though the Guild Assistance Dog program. They attend school every Sunday with their teachers Robin and Mike.
Mali is a two and a half year old Chihuahua/ Dachshund. She is extremely lovable and willing to please. We rescued her from a shelter that has now been closed down due to neglect. We are very proud of our little Mali.
Mia is a one and a half year old Jack Russell Terrier/ Chihuahua. She was rescued from the Boulder Humane Society. She is a little spitfire and very naughty. We love how she is mischievous and talkative. It is sad to think that her previous owners were cruel to her. She is now a little pup who loves to play all day long.
Cadence is a Chihuahua/ Dachshund mix. She is 7 months of age. She looks like a baby lab to my husband and I. She was rescued from Lifeline Puppy Rescue. She is the largest of the three and truly is a baby at heart.
I adopted Riley, an Australian Shepherd mix, from Dumb Friends League when he was approximately 1 year old. We had no history about him because he was transferred to Denver from another state. All I know is that he won my heart the moment I saw him! Riley has a gentle disposition and he loves people. Everyone who meets him likes him immediately.
