At Work

The Westhampton Public Library is a warm and welcoming place to all who enter, including well-behaved canines.  And, it is the place where my future Bright Spot therapy dog Lily truly shines as her placid, loving, companionable self.

Now that I have determined that Lily enjoys this environment over that of a healthcare facility (we’ve made several practice visits to an assisted living facility), I intend to increase the number and length of our library visits.  Today, we spent about 40 minutes there, Heeling between the stacks, and practicing Sits, Downs, Stays, and Comes.  We spent time Relaxing on the rug in the Children’s Corner – I sat down next to Lily and read her a book.  She lay by my side perfectly relaxed and enjoying the attention.  [For dogs that participate in the Reading-to-Dogs Program, it is imperative that they are willing to lie down in relaxed position for an extended period of time.]  A few folks came over and chatted with us…  Lily remained peacefully lying in her position on the rug.  When we left the Children’s Area and moved near the Circulation Desk, more folks came over to pet her and talk with her.  All the while, she’d look up at me, waiting for the next directive.  Oh, Lily, I’m so proud of you!  Great progress, girl!

Lily is still young…  she’s three years old –  but she’s a high-energy, spirited gal who loves to hunt anything that flies or crawls.  Manners training:  polite greeting, heeling, sit, stay, and down are all practiced daily.  We always do this in short, enjoyable, 5-10 minute time slots a couple of times a day, being certain to end on a high note.  But, I’ve been letting her enjoy herself outdoors as much as  she wants –  especially now that it’s sunny and warm.

I will confess that I haven’t spent too much time taking Lily out on practice therapy dog sessions – since the last time we went to practice at the assisted living facility and she had her nose to the floor the entire time pre-occupied with scents as though on the hunt.  With the exception of my first therapy dog Beatrice who started her visiting career at the age of two-and-a-half years of age, my other four therapy dogs started their careers at five years and older.  Best to let her mature some more, I had figured.

The other day, though, Lily and I took a solo trip (leaving the others in the pack at home) to our town library.  It’s a terrific place to train a dog.  Very dog friendly…  in fact, this summer, we’ll be running a children’s Bright Spot Reading-to-Dogs Program there – requested by both the library director and children’s librarian.  Anyway…  back to the training aspect of being there…  walking your dog up and down the stacks of books is terrific for practicing heeling.  By placing your dog between you and the stacks, it keeps her close to your side.  This is what we want therapy dogs to do when they’re working in a facility.

Lily and I proceeded to practice our heeling in the stacks for awhile.  She did a great job.  We then stopped to talk to a few friends who had come in to pick up books.  Lily sat patiently at my side, glancing up at me for her next cue. Several people bent down to talk to her and pet her…  telling her how pretty she was.  She seemed completely serene in this environment…  her manner relaxed and peaceful.  Unlike her charged-up hunting mode she’s in back at the farm.  I was so proud of her behavior.  Suddenly, it dawned on me that this was an environment devoid of the stimulation that sparks her animation.  (quite frankly, an assisted living facility is chock full of stimulants).  Here in the quietude of the library, I was witnessing the loving, affectionate, personable side of this wonderful dog.  This, indeed, is a perfect place for Lily to come for down time.  To be relaxed.  I have to say, when I enter the doors of our wonderful town library, I instantly feel a sense of peacefulness.  Lily needs this in her life…  to be away from the pack activity, the stimulation of the back field,  just as people do.

The library may well become Lily’s place to shine as a therapy dog.  When children enter the library, she adores the attention they give her – petting her and hugging her.  I have watched James shine with children in the schools we have visited.  I am very pleased to have zeroed in on Lily’s perfect place.  This is so important when working with therapy dogs…  I always tell people in my training classes to find the place their dog is most happiest visiting.  Above all, a good therapy dog must enjoy their work.  I have high hopes for Lily…  it just takes time and consistent work.  She and I will be making lots of trips to our library…  both of us seeking a feeling of peacefulness.

Our pilot Bright Spot Reading-to-Dogs Program at the Westhampton Elementary School  was a great success.  Eight students in grades one through three participated in the after school program that ran four consecutive weeks on Mondays from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. in the school’s library.  On the last day, all participating students turned out to read James a final story before the summer break.  Bright Spot Therapy Dog James enjoyed every minute of the attention he received from the young readers.

School librarian Karen Rousseau and I will meet next week to craft a reading-to-dogs  program that will take place during the school day and commence in September with the start of the new school year.  Not sure yet how we’ll work it – but as plans develop, I’ll write more about this exciting new program which is designed to help readers on all levels.  For children who experience difficulties with reading, the dog presents a non-threatening, non-judgemental reading buddy, which results in building self-esteem as the child feels at ease reading to his canine friend.  For the advanced reader, the canine reading buddy listens intently as the student develops fluency.   It’s a win-win situation for all…  the students, James (he loves the hugs and kisses), and me (as a former teacher specializing in remedial reading, I love being back working with the students).  Lots of possibilities here!  More to come on this…

About 30 staff members at Franklin County Homecare attended the in-service presentation I gave on the healing power of the human-canine bond and the meaningful work carried out by our Bright Spot Therapy Dog teams in a variety of healthcare and educational settings.  With me was volunteer and Board member Sheryl Malone – and her certified therapy dog Deacon.  James, of course, was right at my side throughout.

This was an extremely receptive group.  Clearly, these folks really understand the value of the comforting connection canines have with humans.  At the end of a talk I always leave time for Q&A.  Usually, there will be two or three questions.  Not with this well-invested group…  hands were raised all over the room.  A lively discussion ensued and extended our 40-minute talk to 80 minutes.

When officially ended…  people remained afterward to talk with Sheryl and myself individually.  Many had dogs of their own they were interested in getting certified.  This was a very satisfying talk all-the-way-around!  Interest in animal assisted therapy, surely, is growing by leaps and bounds.

We had a terrific group of dogs and handlers attending today’s training workshop held at True Blue Dog Training in Haydenville, MA.  A variety of breeds amongst them:  a red Standard Poodle, a black & white Newfoundland, a blue belton English Setter, a Golden Retriever, and two Australian Labradoodles.  Once again, the workshop was SOLD OUT way in advance!

It’s heartening to have session after session fill to capacity.  People are seeking the necessary skills and techniques they need to teach their dogs before applying for therapy dog certification.  To pass a therapy dog evaluation and become certified requires not only a dog with a friendly, outgoing personality (definitely the pre-requisite to all else), but, in addition, a certified therapy dog must be extremely well-trained and completely predictable.  The people would choose to attend the workshops – then practice, practice, practice all they’ve been taught – are well on their way to passing their evaluation and becoming a certified therapy dog team.

I was delighted to learn that the woman who traveled the farthest this time to attend the workshop – she lives on Cape Cod – learned about my work with therapy dogs from reading the articles I write for the English Setter Association of America magazine.  When she walked in the door with a handsome male English Setter named Dylan, my heart melted!  The second farthest traveler today was from New Haven, CT.  She brought her 8-months-old Poodle named Bella in order to start training her early.  Bella kept right up there with the older dogs in class.  Bella’s owner also brought along her daughter and granddaughter who posed as model patients enabling attendees to practice their techniques with folks using walkers and wheelchairs.  Wonderful, especially, to have a young practice patient for the dogs to interact with.

I am certain we will soon have several new Bright Spots from today’s group out visiting in either a healthcare or educational environment – bringing comfort and caring to those who need it most…  

The third graders at Erving Elementary School in Erving, Massachusetts, just finished a unit of study about therapy dogs and assistance dogs.  James and I were invited to visit the third graders today so they could see a therapy dog in person.

James showed them what therapy dogs do best….  he walked into the classroom and politely greeted each student seated at his or her desk.  After he had worked his way around the room of 20 students, he lay down at my feet while I talked to the students about Bright Spot Therapy Dogs – how these dogs are specially trained, then evaluated to become certified therapy dogs that visit in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and lots of other places. 

Every student had prepared one or two questions to ask.  Great questions!  This was a group of doglovers, almost every student had a dog of their own – and a story to tell.  Some had three, four, and five dogs.  One question asked was:  How old do you have to be to visit with a therapy dog?  The answer:  18 years old.  So – 9 years from now, I think we’ll see many former Erving Elementary School third graders out there visiting with their trained, certified therapy dogs thanks to their teacher who introduced them to this meaningful form of community service.

Thank you, Laura George, third grade teacher and photographer, for taking such great photos of this event.

On June 13, 2012, staff members at Franklin County Home Care will learn about Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. and the meaningful work our certified therapy dogs do in a variety of healthcare environments.

I will present an overview of Bright Spot – our mission, services to facilities, and certification for therapy dogs.  I will explain the training and evaluation procedure used by Bright Spot to certify dogs.  James, of course, will be at my side to demonstrate the model behavior of a therapy dog.

Attendees will hear firsthand from volunteers and Board members Sheryl Malone and Patti Tibbetts who will talk about their visiting experiences with their dogs Deacon and Velvet – who will also be in attendance wearing their Bright Spot uniform of blue vest and ID badge.

We are always happy to have the opportunity to spread the word about our wonderful therapy dogs.

HOORAY!!!  They did it…  

Berkshire Hills Australian Labradoodles Violet and Eleanor graduated from their Basic Manners course last night at True Blue Dog Training in Haydenville, MA.

Both dogs did a great job in the five-weeks course that focused on:  name recognition, sit, stay, come, leave it, heel, and polite greeting.   As the course progressed, distractions were added to test the dogs’ command of the skills they’d been taught.  Sunny and I are very proud of the girls’ accomplishment.  Now on to even more…  as they both prepare to be future therapy dogs with Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc.

There are just 2 places left in my upcoming training workshop to be held June 10th at True Blue Dog Training.  Sign-up asap so you won’t miss out.  There won’t be another workshop scheduled until September.

If you have been thinking about pursuing therapy dog work with your dog, this is a great way to learn the basic skills and techniques you need for visiting.  For an overview of the workshop and registration information, go to the Bright Spot Therapy Dogs website and click on THERAPY DOG TRAINING.

Please remember:  to hold your place in the workshop, you must register ahead of time.  Hope to see you there!

Violet started her formal education this evening with a Beginners Manners Class being held at True Blue Dog Training.  This is a 5-week course – and I have high-hopes for Violet, now 7 months old.  She’s very quick to pick up on things.  Here at Bridgvale Farm, she follows the cues she gets from our older dogs, English Setters – James, Annabelle, and Lily. She’s a clever girl… realizing that she gets the good stuff by following the household rules and routines.  She’s even earned herself a spot on the couch in the evening while everyone settles in to read or watch a movie!

Tonight in Manners Class, using the clicker-training technique, we practiced name recognition, sits, downs, touch, and heel.  As expected, Violet performed beautifully – even with the distraction of her Berkshire Hills buddy Eleanor in class…  Yes, she would have loved to play with Eleanor – but, we were in class…  it was training time, not play time – and Violet was spot on.  She’s off to a great start! Class ended with homework assigned to practice during the week.