At Work

Our March Therapy Dog Team Training Class participants pose for a group photo after completing their required training. Missing from the photo is Betty, a black Labradoodle, who also completed the class.

Spring is a great time to start Therapy Dog Team Training. We have space available for you and your dog in our upcoming class and we’d love to have you join us!

Our classes are kept small to allow plenty of interaction, practice, and one-on-one attention from the instructor. Handlers and dogs are taught the skills and techniques needed to make meaningful visits in a variety of healthcare and educational settings.

Participants role-play as patients using equipment found in healthcare environments. Here the patient uses a 4-pronged cane.

The next Bright Spot Therapy Dog Team Training Class will run April 2nd and April 9th from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Animal Alliances, which is conveniently located on Damon Road in Northampton.

Our classes are fun, as well as instructive. Handlers take turns role-playing as patients using walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and lying in bed. Activities like these prepare the handler and dog (the team) for the evaluation which takes place in an actual nursing home. The evaluator will observe the team approaching the real patient sitting in a wheelchair and so on. The role-playing really helps!

Here a Team practices the proper way to interact with a patient using a walker.

Bright Spot Therapy Dog Team Training Classes are not obedience classes. We are not teaching dogs good manners in our classes.

To be ready for Therapy Dog Team Training, your dog most respond well to the basic commands of Sit, Stay, Down, Come, Heel, and Leave It that are taught in obedience classes, such as Beginners Obedience, Intermediate Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, Rally, and others that you and your dog have taken in preparation for beginning Therapy Dog Team Training.

In addition to having taken as many training classes as you can with your dog, you have been working on socializing your dog in lots of different areas.

Take your dog everywhere and anywhere dogs are allowed. Go to places with lots of people, noises, smells, and other distractions. Therapy Dogs must be at ease meeting new people and entering places unknown to them. The better you prepare your dog ahead of starting Therapy Dog Team Training, the better experience you and your dog will have while taking the class, then passing the on-site evaluation to become a certified Bright Spot therapy dog team.

Dog and handler practice greeting an elderly patient.

If you’ve been thinking of sharing your outgoing, friendly, well-mannered dog with those in need, this is a great opportunity to jump into a class.

To learn more and how to register, go to our website and click on CERTIFY YOUR DOG. We have more than 175 Healthcare and Educational facilities and programs throughout New England requesting our visiting therapy dog teams. Experience the Joy of sharing your special dogs with others! Sign up for class today!

King, with me by his side, makes himself at home lying on the floor right next to our friend sitting in her chair.

King held up his end of the bargain. He was a sweet, friendly, gentle boy on his first visit to our lovely English Setter friend on hospice and her equally lovely daughter.

King has had experience visiting folks in a nursing home when he first became a Bright Spot certified therapy dog, most of his time, though, has been spent in elementary schools working with young children. But, King proves himself over and over again. Wherever I take him to visit, he rises to the occasion, instinctively knowing just what he should do.

King gently greeted our new friend who was sitting up in a cozy chair in the living room area of her comfortable apartment. When her eyes set upon King, such a handsome orange Belton boy, her face lit up as bright as the sunlight streaming in through her window.

She was thrilled to see him. And, in his friendly, mannerly way, in went right over to her so she could pet his head and admire him close-up. Oh such a regal head and expression…. King seemed to know he was being admired and settled right in making himself at home stretching out on the floor. A few of our friend’s apartment neighbors stopped by to meet King. Not many have seen an English Setter like King before. Through all the admiration, King handled himself as a therapy dog should… well-mannered and engaging. I was very proud of my boy.

Next week, Lily will be back for her visit. She seemed a little sad as King and I took off without her.

When she saw King getting ready, she sat at the door, as much as to say, Take me, too. I’m so glad both Lily and King are doing well as hospice visitors. I’ve missed doing hospice work since James past away three years ago. These two can now carry on his special work.

Reading Buddy King stands suited up with reading bag packed… out the door to the Kelly School.

Poor King. He loves his job as a Reading Buddy at the Kelly School in Holyoke, but not only does he have to share the job by alternating weeks with his sister Lily, but this winter, any time there’s been a school cancellation, it’s been on his week!

Last Tuesday, the big record-breaking snowstorm hit, causing school cancellations state-wide. So, today…. school was on and King excitedly donned his Bright Spot blue therapy dog vest, and with his Reading Buddy book bag packed, he was ready to hit the road for a morning of listening to his kids read stories to him, give him lots of attention, and petting, and brushing (his kids love getting the chance to brush King’s feathers when they finish their reading).

A good therapy dog loves his job. That’s King!

Sorry boy. It’s Lily’s turn next week to work with the kids at the Kelly School. But, King has a new job. Starting tomorrow, he will visit our special hospice patient that Lily met last week. We’ll report on how that went when we get home.

Sweet Lily has a new friend, a longtime English Setter person who is now on hospice care. When Lily entered her room, the connection between the two was immediate.

Lily very gently laid her head on the edge of the woman’s bed right next to her hand. As the woman began stroking Lily’s head and ears, she remarked, Oh, just looking at those markings, those beautiful English Setter markings. So striking! There’s nothing like an English Setter…. and so the conversation flowed. All the while, her daughter stood at the foot of her mother’s bed, and the two spoke to Lily and me about the wonderful English Setters in their lives.

Lily glanced up at me, waiting for my signal… should she jump up on the bed and lie alongside her new friend or lie on the floor.

Sensing Lily’s desire for direction, I whispered, “No,” then gave her a signal to lie by my feet. With this, the daughter asked her mother if she wanted to see the dog better… No, replied her mother, just feeling Lily’s presence here in the room with me makes me feel so good.

After about 15 minutes, I could tell our new friend was tiring, her eyelids starting to shut as she spoke. As a longtime hospice volunteer, I know the importance of knowing when to cut the visit short or to stay longer.

I touched our new friend’s hand and quietly said that Lily and I would be on our way now. She opened her eyes wide and said, Thank you for bringing your beautiful English Setter to visit me. You have made me so happy. 

English Setters Lily and King begin Hospice visits, new therapy dog work for them.

Daughter, mother, and I made the plan that I would return next week, this time bringing King, my orange Belton boy. With this plan made our new friend smiled, then closed her eyes.

These visits came about through an email I received a week ago from the daughter who had read an article in the Hampshire Daily Gazette several years ago about my English Setter James and me visiting folks at a local nursing home. The subject line of her email read, Do you still make therapy dog visits with your English Setters? This came in at the end of the day when I was just about to shut down my laptop. Of course, seeing English Setters in the subject line prompted me to open the email and read more… Would I be willing to visit her mother who is on hospice? I read. She loves English Setters and has had them for years. This did it. I was in, and plans were made.

Six years ago, my wonderful English Setter James and I made weekly hospice visits at an area facility. Over a three-year period, we had several long-term hospice patients who loved James’ visits…. being comforted by this gentle dog to their dying days.

I can’t explain the feeling that swept over me as I watched my special dog at work, providing a quiet, gentle presence only a dog can give. Our time together with hospice patients was the most moving and rewarding therapy dog work I have done over the past 25 years. These people know they are in their final months or days… the dog’s presence offering something no one else can give. The rush of joy I feel watching my dog make someone so happy is utterly surreal. Visiting our new friend brought back these memories.

Hospice visiting is hard work for therapy dogs. When James became too old to continue, and our current group of patients had passed on, we both retired from hospice work.

Until now, I haven’t felt my current dogs were ready for this very intense type of therapy dog work. Lily proved she’s ready. We’ll see how King does next week. I’m ready, too.

Reading Buddy Lily listens attentively to the story being read by one of her readers.

Poor Lily has been posed to go to the Kelly School for the past three weeks, but inclement weather causing school closings has delayed her start.

King managed to visit once after the reading buddy program started up again at the Kelly School in January. He and I met the three third graders we would be working with for the remainder of the school year. But, Lily had not yet met them.

Bright Spot Reading Buddy Lily loves meeting her new readers.

No worries about the weather today – a gorgeous sunny, blue-skied winter’s day with heaps of white fluffy snow piled high along the cleared and sanded road – we were off by 8:10 for our 40 minutes drive to the school.

Lily was excited when she saw me preparing her reading bag and taking her Bright Spot therapy dog vest off the hook in the coatroom. Today was her day to finally meet the three readers she and King share, alternating weeks. She looked especially lovely today because she had a bath and trim on the weekend in preparation.

The folks at the Kelly School know Lily well. She was a Reading Buddy dog there last year. Luck had it that a few of her readers from last year were passing by in the hallway and had a chance to say hi. Lily is in her element working with kids. She loves her job as a Reading Buddy dog. She adores the attention she gets – not just from the kids, but from staff throughout the school who come to the school’s foyer at check-in to hug her and pet her.

Reading Buddy Lily has had lots of practice over the past three years working with children and helping them build confidence in their reading ability.

Lily is a veteran Reading Buddy dog. She has been honing the skills it takes to do this type of work for three years now.

She has volunteered in three elementary schools, as well as The Eric Carle Museum Reading Buddy Program held during February and April school vacations and during the summer on Monday afternoons in July and August.

Reading Buddy Lily enjoys looking at the pictures as she listens to the story being read aloud.

Lily didn’t miss a beat as each new reader came into the school library with a pile of books to read to her.

Most of the time she lies down on her Reading Buddy bed, faces the reader, and listens. Sometimes she closes her eyes as she listens. Other times, she looks right at the pictures as the story is being read aloud. When a reader is finished, he gets to spend a few minutes brushing Lily – she carries her brush in her pack because she knows that the kids love to brush her. If there’s time, they get to read Lily’s special book titled MEET LILY AND HER PALS. Each of Lily’s readers got one of her special bookmarks with her picture to take home. Next time will be King’s turn, but he’ll have to wait two more weeks. It’s school vacation next week!

Settled on his dog bed in a cozy corner of the library, King waits for his first reader to arrive.

Reading Buddy King was so excited this morning to enter the doors of Kelly School in Holyoke, Massachusetts. This is a familiar place for King. He and his sister Lily participated in the Tails to Read Program at the school last year and loved it.

Due to shifts in staffing, the person previously in charge of the program at the school was no longer in that position. A new person needed to be identified. Three weeks ago, I received an email stating that the program was ready to start up and would King, Lily and I like to participate again. I quickly made shifts in my schedule to enable us to volunteer in this valuable program. As they did last year, King and Lily will be alternating weeks. The kids love working with both dogs.

King listens attentively as a story is read aloud by one of his readers.

Our day is Tuesday. Today, King got to meet the three third graders he and Lily have been assigned for the remainder of the school year. I love the way the program is run at Kelly School. By working with the same three students every week, we get to see the progress they make by reading one-on-one to their Bright Spot Reading Buddy Dog. As each child becomes relaxed and comfortable reading aloud to his Reading Buddy, his confidence builds and improvement in reading skills follows. As a former teacher, I love experiencing the transformation each child goes through as they look forward to reading aloud each week to the dog.

In my mind, the Kelly School is a jewel. It’s such a happy place. The staff and parent volunteers are friendly and welcoming. I can’t help but feel uplifted when we’re there.

The dogs and I feel right at home each time we enter the door. And, of course, everybody at the school loves the dogs. What a special place for children to go to school! We are happy to be a part of this exceptional learning experience.

Pictured here are some of the ten Bright Spot Therapy Dogs that visited school bus drivers last Wednesday.

A utube video showing therapy dogs visiting employees in an office setting sparked the interest of Lyn  Fioravanti, Regional Wellness Coordinator for Scantic Valley Regional Health Trust. The video showed a before and after of the employees’ moods. The tenor of the room certainly turned light-hearted and more positive during and after the therapy dogs were there. This resonated with Lyn.

Lyn, who arranges special events promoting employee wellness, thought a visit from some therapy dogs to the Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative school bus drivers would be just the ticket needed. Moods among the bus drivers had been low since a shake-up in their department. Stress was high and the drivers weren’t happy. Lyn contacted me at Bright Spot Therapy Dogs and together we arranged a date and time to visit.

Max and Milo, two retired racing Greyhounds, handled by teammate Wayne Desroches, are always a big hit at Bright Spot Therapy Dog Events.

Our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs visit wherever therapy dogs can be of help and this was something new for us. On January 25th, ten therapy dogs entered the bus drivers break room. As the door to the room opened, the noise level was noticeably subdued. Three long tables stretched out across the room with the drivers sitting around – some snacking, some cruising the internet on laptops, some playing cards. All quietly waiting for their next shift to start. As soon as they spotted the dogs coming through the door, the somber mood cracked with the sound of laughter. Two Greyhounds, a Bernese Mountain Dog, two Golden Retrievers, a Cocker Spaniel, Golden Doodle and Standard Poodle, a little mixed-breed, and with me, my Blue Belton English Setter surrounded the tables and all eyes were on the dogs.

After making the rounds, Lily and I sat down at one of the tables and had a chat with one of the female drivers. I asked if the job of a school bus driver is stressful. She answered, Yes. Then added, You’ve got as many as seventy kids in a bus at a time with one monitor. They’re bound to get pretty rowdy at times.  But, for the most part they listen to me. If they don’t, I write them up and the principal takes care of them. No problem!

She went on to tell me that she has been at the job for fourteen years and really enjoys in…. You either love it, or you hate it and leave. I’ve got ten people above me in seniority, in fact, one woman just retired after driving for fifty years. A male driver sat down next to us at the table and joined in the conversation. He drives a special ed van with six kids and a monitor. I love my kids. They’re great kids. All the while he spoke, he petted Lily on the head and gave her some hugs. She’s an English Setter, right! My aunt used to breed them. They’re great dogs. 

Suddenly, break was over – and off they went. Completion of their afternoon routes takes approximately two hours. Morning routes another two hours. The drivers can bid for additional hours driving teams to sports events and other activities, the female driver told me. We all love those extra hours and vie to get them. Between the morning run and afternoon run, I go home and get things done around the house. Works for me!

Moods did seem elevated as the drivers left for their afternoon routes. They particularly enjoyed seeing the variety of dogs that attained the event. Mission accomplished!

Cynthia Hinckley, executive director of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, along with volunteers Mary Ellen Smith and Megan Marshall pose with their dogs Lily, a blue belton English Setter, Finn, a white Golden Retriever, and Cadence, an Australian Labradoodle.

Twenty-two Bright Spot Therapy Dogs and their handlers gathered at Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Hadley last Saturday for our 2nd annual FUN DAY WITH DOGS.

It was a  terrific event designed to educate people about the meaningful work therapy dogs do, showcasing a variety of dog breeds and mixed-breeds – some seldom seen, and introduce people to fun activities they can do with their own dogs, like agility and tricks, specialized therapy dog work like Hope Crisis Response, and Reading Buddies.

Bright Spot therapy dog trainer Michell Karb talks with a shopper about getting her dog certified.

Shoppers walking through the entrance of Barnes & Noble first stopped at our Bright Spot information booth where they were handed a list of the FUN DAY WITH DOGS activities happening throughout the store.

Many shoppers hung out for several hours spending time meeting each of the therapy dogs working at the event. Some shoppers left for awhile and came back for more…

Who could resist spending time with little Peanut?

Peanut greets shoppers as they walk around the store.

Or our tiniest pup Jeanne with her over-sized ears?

Our tiniest Bright Spot Jeanne is an attention-getter with her over-sized ears.

And, gentle Kaezli, the biggest girl at the event.

Bernese Mountain Dog Kaezli, our largest dog at the event, is such a gentle loving dog who is a Bright Spot Reading Buddy for young children learning to read, as well as a participant in our therapy dog stress-relief events on college campuses

There was something for every age group. For those interested in getting their dog certified as a therapy dog, they had the opportunity to talk with volunteers at our information booth who explained the steps one goes through to become a certified Bright Spot Team.

This young shopper loved petting Bright Spot Jake who was handled by his owner JoAnn Bernhard.

Many interested folks said they were going home to sign up for our last Therapy Dog Training Class of 2016 running December 4 and 11. For more information about certification and signing up for this class, or an upcoming class in 2017, visit our website.

Check out more photos from our FUN DAY WITH DOGS on our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs Facebook page.

Lily and me ready for FUN DAY WITH DOGS at Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

Lily is all set to head to Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Hadley tomorrow for our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs FUN DAY WITH DOGS. Before Lily gets to put on her blue therapy dog vest, lots of preparation occurs.

Lily gets a bath in her special dog tub

She gets brushed to loosen her fur and remove any matts. Then, her ears get cleaned and her teeth get brushed. She loves the poultry flavored toothpaste! A few days earlier, she had her pedicure. This can be unpleasant for many dogs, but Lily is so used to having her nails done – with a treat after each foot is complete! – that she really doesn’t mind it at all. Toes are trimmed 2-3 days ahead so that any rough spots will be worn down before the event. Next, Lily jumps in her dog tub where special dog shampoo and conditioner is applied. Once dry, Lily is trimmed on the grooming table – something she also finds enjoyable because I start with a massage, plus lots of hugs. She loves the one-on-one attention from me and stands like a statue as I run the clipper down her back, ears, and down each side of her body. Within 35 minutes the trim is complete and out the door she goes to play with Annie and King.

Last step is a trim for Lily as she sits patiently on the grooming table.

Many of the twenty-two therapy dogs joining Lily at FUN DAY WITH DOGS will be prepped in a similar manner by their handlers.

Therapy Dogs go out on-the-job brushed and clean wearing their visiting uniform (vest and ID badge).

Lily is pictured at last year’s FUN DAY WITH DOGS waiting for her first reader to arrive. Lily is a Reading Buddy Dog who listens to stories read by young readers .

Come to Barnes & Noble tomorrow and meet Lily and the other therapy dogs doing some amazing FUN things!

Remember, if you make a purchase in the store and hand the cashier a voucher (picked up at our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs info booth), it will be counted toward the donation that Barnes & Noble will make in support of the meaningful work our therapy dogs do in healthcare and educational facilities.

At last year’s FUN DAY WITH DOGS, Bright Spot Volunteer and Board Member Kevin Russell chats with shoppers while they pet his therapy dogs Niles & Caber who visit hospice patients.

Dog Lovers, come to Barnes & Noble Bookstore (Hadley location) on Saturday, November 5th, to meet over twenty Bright Spot Therapy Dogs and watch them in action doing some amazing things.

You’ll have a chance to meet many different breeds of dogs and mix-breeds, like Buddha, an American Eskimo Dog and Kaezli, a Bernese Mountain Dog. Watch James do Agility and Raven do Tricks, and Obedience, too.

If you’ve been thinking of getting your dog certified as a Therapy Dog, stop at our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs information booth at the front of the store and talk to our knowledgable volunteers who can tell you how to get started.

There you’ll meet Cadence and talk with her handler Megan Marshall about the wonderful visits they make to a local nursing home.

Bright Spot Reading Buddy Dog Lily waits for her first reader at last year’s FUN DAY WITH DOGS

My Lily will be there, too. I’d love to talk with you about our highly successful Reading Buddy Program in elementary and middle schools. We’re always looking for new teams. In fact, there’s still time to sign-up for our last Therapy Dog Training course of the year. Ask someone at our info booth about the class.

Lots more will be happening at our Bright Spot FUN DAY WITH DOGS. Below is a complete schedule of events that will be happening at Barnes & Noble from 11:00-3:00. Oh – Yes… and everyone one loves a contest. Be sure to enter ours. Details in the schedule below…

In addition, if you make a purchase at the store and hand them one of our Bright Spot Vouchers available at our Bright Spot Information Booth, it will count toward the donation Barnes & Noble will make to Bright Spot Therapy Dogs.

Here’s the complete schedule:

Learn about Therapy Dogs: Our Bright Spot information booth will be set up with photos of our Therapy Dog Teams visiting in healthcare and educational settings. Copies of our print publications will be available as handouts, and our knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to describe the meaningful work our therapy dogs do and explain how dogs get trained and certified as therapy dogs through Bright Spot.

Agility, Obedience, and Tricks: Bright Spot therapy dogs James and Raven will delight shoppers with a variety of fun training activities they can do with their dog. Training is a great way to build the bond between you and your dog. Come watch and talk to their handlers Sally King and Karyn Cordner about the various types of fun training activities you can do with your dog.

Meet the Breeds: Find out what it’s like to live with a Bernese Mountain Dog, an American Eskimo Dog, an English Setter, a Standard Poodle, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Golden Retriever, a Jack Russell Terrier, an Italian Greyhound, a Cocker Spaniel, and lots more. A variety of breeds & all-Americans will be scheduled throughout the day. Event attendees will have the chance to meet the breeds in person and talk to the dogs’ owners.

Enter the Selfie Contest: Take your Selfie with one of the many cute Bright Spot dogs you meet at the event and enter it to WIN a $25 VISA CARD.

Read to a Bright Spot Reading Buddy Dog: Dogs are wonderful listeners and enjoy all kinds of books! Young children will have the opportunity to read to one of the Reading Buddy dogs for a 15-minute time slot. Different Reading Buddy dogs will be scheduled throughout the day. Bring a favorite book or choose one from the store to read.

Meet Brinkley, a certified Hope Animal-Assisted Crisis Response Dog: Brinkley and his teammate Ned Polan would love to talk to you about the meaningful work they do helping on the national level in times of crisis, along with the training and certification involved. Brinkley has served at a military kids’ grief camp, the Revere tornado, a weekend encampment for homeless and at-risk veterans, and four weeks with survivors and the families of victims at the Washington Navy Yard shooting. For his work, Brinkley received an Award of Merit from the Secretary of the Navy.

Hope to see YOU there! If you are unable to make it to the store in person that day but have a book or two you’d like to purchase, you can support Bright Spot Therapy Dogs by purchasing your book online at Barnes and Noble. Here’s how to do that…

Visit bn.com/bookfairs to support us online and enter Bookfair ID 11983723 at checkout. Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to do that! We greatly appreciate it.