We haven’t heard from Coco in a couple of weeks. She has been at home recuperating from surgery. Her mom, Michelle, is dedicated to Therapy Dog work, therefore, she has been training her younger dog, Sophie, to be a therapy dog, as well. While in training Sophie wears a yellow rest. This helps her get used to wearing a vest while working. I have met Sophie. She is a delightful, super friendly, lovable yellow Lab. She loves people and always has a smile on her face. Lots of promise as a Therapy Dog! So, let’s hear what Sophie has to say:
This is Sophie, Coco’s younger sister. Since she recently had surgery, I have been subbing for Coco at school. She turned the keyboard over to me, as well. I am a four year-old yellow lab mix that is in training to become a certified therapy dog. Mom has taken me to several obedience classes, and has been working with me at controlling my energy. I have been to our local nursing home several times and to another nursing home in Auburn. My first days at school with Mom were last week (Wednesday and Friday) because Coco was at home recovering. This week, I went to school with Mom Monday and Wednesday. Coco hopes to be back to work after the holidays.
Mom was a little hesitant about taking me to school with her. After all, there is a lot of stimulation there, certainly more than I am used to. There is no doubt that I absolutely LOVE all people and attention in any form, but Mom was concerned that I might not be ready for school, that I might get too excited with all the activity and energy, and that it might just be too much for me.
She says I really surprised her. Certainly there were new smells, new sounds, and lots of new people to pique my interest, but it did not take long for me to figure out exactly what I was supposed to do. Mom was careful about introducing me to too much at once, but she soon realized that I was fine. At one point, there were lots of sixth grade boys coming at me at once, petting me, hugging me, yelling, and just super-excited. I did fine. Another time, I was in the Transitional Learning Center and students were grabbing me – Mom says they do not know any better – and I handled that well, too. Mom also took me outside with her at dismissal a couple of times where there are hundreds of students getting onto seventeen buses. Many students came to me to pet me or hug me before leaving for the day. Mom thought I might be overwhelmed with all the people all at once, but I did great – and I LOVE all the attention! I am beginning to really understand that there are all types of people with all different needs and energy levels, and I am able to provide them with comfort or love or whatever they need at the time.
Like Coco, in my four days at school, I spent time in the behavior specialist’s room. Students in there absolutely love me. They commented to Mom that they enjoy Coco and Molly, but it is nice to have a younger dog, too, that will play ball with them and show more energy. They were quick to say that they still love Molly and Coco, but that having me there, also, is a nice treat for them. Mom says that when Coco has recovered, she would like to bring me to school Mondays. Coco goes Wednesdays and Fridays, and Molly goes Tuesdays and Thursdays – that would make it so there is a dog at school all five days of the week. In my time at school, I can see just how much having a dog at school means to everyone.
One boy came down to the office to see Mom because he was upset. He asked to sit with me to try to calm himself down. He was crying and talking about how out-of-control he feels lately. I lay next to him on my back as he scratched my belly. I could tell how upset he was, so I rolled over and hugged him. He hugged me back and cried into my fur for a little while. Mom says I really helped him. When his mother came to school to pick him up, she asked if I could go home with them – I know she was kidding, but she told Mom that having the dogs at school is making a big difference for her son.
Later that day, another mother came to pick up her son from school. She asked to meet me (she only knew Coco before), and she sat on the floor in the middle of the office and petted me and hugged me, telling Mom that she really needed some therapy dog time. Mom later told me she is going through a lot in her personal life and that I helped her.
On our way home from school last Wednesday, we stopped in Auburn to see a resident that Coco has gotten to know well. He was heading home the next day, and Mom wanted me to meet him. It was love at first sight. He wanted me to get on his bed, which I gladly did, and he and I snuggled for the entire thirty minutes we were there. He petted me, hugged me, and let me give him lots of kisses. I occasionally glanced at Mom to make sure I was doing OK, and she seemed pleased with me, so I continued snuggling with my new friend. It was hard to leave him, but Mom says I will get to spend some time with him again soon. I can see why Coco likes him so much.
In my four days at school, I have spent time playing ball with students, going for walks with students, comforting students, and being a positive and calming presence for them. Mom says I also have helped many adults. One of the secretaries asked Mom where I was on Friday. Mom explained that, because she was helping with the seventh grade field trip, she did not bring me to school that day. The secretary said that she really gets used to having a dog in Mom’s office. She said that Coco, Molly, and I have made her really think differently about her own dog and that when she gets home now, she, “…gets on the floor with her and just acts silly…” The custodians like having me at school, too. They come to Mom’s office just to spend time with me. One of the custodians comes every morning, gets down on his knees, hugs me, and scratches my belly. He says, “Give me some of that…” and I kiss him. He says he is better able to start his day after seeing me.
Saturday, I went to Soldiers’ Home with Mom to continue practicing my skills. She and I were there for an end-of-life service. Before the service, members of the family were petting me and hugging me, telling Mom that I was just what they needed. During the brief service, I lay calmly at Mom’s feet, and listened to a little bit about this man’s life – he was a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, a friend, a wife, and so much more to those who knew him. After the service, other family members wanted to spend some time with me. I was not sure what, exactly, was happening, but I could tell there were people there in need of comfort. Mom and I visited lots more people our ninety minutes were up. Mom says this can be an especially difficult time for people, and that I helped many of the residents and their families. At a resident’s request, I got onto her bed with her. Another resident wanted me to sit on the couch with her. I gladly did whatever anyone wanted me to do, watching Mom carefully, also, to make sure I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.
Although I am not exactly like my sister, Coco, Mom says I am going to make a terrific therapy dog. I am still working on controlling my energy, but Mom says in the nine months I have lived with her and the rest of the family, I have come a long way. Now I know where Coco goes on the days that she leaves with Mom in the mornings. I definitely understand why she gets so excited to go, and I also get why she is so tired when she comes home. I am looking forward to continuing working with mom to learn and grow as a therapy dog team.