At Work

James was hugged and adored by children today at Whole Children, a non-profit organization that provides recreation and enrichment programs for children with special needs.   Whole Children is located in Hadley, Massachusetts.

For the second year in a row, Bright Spot therapy dog teams were invited to participate in the school vacation week program at Whole Children.  In addition to James, Bright Spot certified therapy dogs Tristan, a silver Standard Poodle, and Velvet, a black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were on hand to interact with the group of about twenty children in the grade school and teen programs.  The owner of each dog introduced their dog, talked about the breed, and the type of therapy dog visiting they do.  Then the children visited in groups of three with each of the dogs.  James lay on the gymnasium floor while children pet him and lay down by his side.  And – they loved getting a kiss from their new friend James!

The next Beginners Therapy Dog Training Workshop is scheduled for Sunday, March 18, from 10:00-12:00.  If you’re interested in learning the skills and techniques necessary to do therapy dog work, this is the class for you!  I have 20 years of therapy dog visiting experience to share with you.  

I have designed the training workshops to prepare you and your dog for a therapy dog evaluation and for visiting in a healthcare or educational environment.  Starting with the basics and building to advanced skills, we work through mock scenarios found in actual visiting and learn to use equipment used in various facilities.

For a complete description of the workshops and details about registration, go to our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs website.  I hope to see you and your dog in class on the 18th!

I love teaching my Therapy Dog Training Workshops to people with great dogs who are interested in learning the skills and techniques used in therapy dog visiting.  These are folks  who want to be well-prepared before they apply to have their dog evaluated to become a certified therapy dog.

Today’s group was composed of people and dogs that had taken my Beginners Workshop.  In the beginning “review” portion of the Workshop, they demonstrated that they had learned their lessons well in the Beginners and were ready to move on to more advanced skills.

Our workshops are held at True Blue Dog Training in Haydenville, Massachusetts.  We deliberately keep classes small – usually 6 dogs and handlers, enabling everyone involved to have plenty of practice time and opportunity to ask questions.  I employ an interactive format with attendees standing in as model patients using equipment that would be encountered in a therapeutic setting.  The two-hour session moves rapidly and everyone – dogs and handlers – have lots of fun, as well as a good learning experience.  Attendees leave with a comprehensive handout detailing everything covered in class.

The demand for Therapy Dog Training has increased rapidly in the past few years.  I am delighted to see this and enjoy sharing my 20 years of experience in the field with people eager to learn.  Our schedule of workshops is always posted on the Bright Spot Therapy Dogs website and can be found, as well, by going directly to the True Blue Dog Training website.  If interested, please check it out for a complete description of the workshops and registration information.  I am always happy to answer questions about therapy dog training and therapy dog certification and can be contacted directly by email at bright-spot@comcast.net.

Today, I received the call I have learned to expect.  When assigned a new hospice patient, I know that the assignment could last two to three weeks, a month or two, and at most, six months.  I know the call will come letting me know our patient has passed on.

Today,  I was informed that our 109 year old Amelia had passed on.  What a long and fruitful life this lovely lady had lived.  It was my pleasure to visit with James and watch as she enjoyed his company….  petting his long, silky ears and talking about the dogs she had  had through the years.  She was always sitting up in her chair, waiting with her daughter for James’ arrival on Wednesday afternoons.  I’m so glad to have brought her the enjoyment of my gentle and loving therapy dog.  Our visits lasted a period of two and a half months.

Soon, we will receive a call with a new assignment and James will once again bring comfort and happiness into another’s life…  however long that may be.

James and I have been asked to appear on Ch. 22 Mass Appeal to talk about therapy dogs and the meaningful work done by Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc.  Fellow Bright Spot certified therapy dogs Niles and Caber and their owner Kevin Russell will join us for the February 7th show at 11:00 a.m., right after The Today Show with Kathy Lee & Hoda.

 The dogs  will show by their example what Therapy Dogs are like.  Kevin and I will talk about our firsthand experiences visiting with our dogs in hospice, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and retirement communities.  Information about getting your dog certified through Bright Spot will be explained.

Hope you can watch the show!  If not, you can watch the video of the show which we will put up on our website:  www.bright-spot.org and on our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. facebook page.

James has been visiting with Amelia for two months now.  It still amazes me that Amelia is 109 years old.  The last time we visited, she was in her bed and sound asleep.  Her daughter was there with her, as she always is when we visit – and she’s there, as well, every single afternoon.  She told me that her mother was having a bad day and had finally just fallen asleep.  She’s not going to be able to visit James today.  I’m sorry.  She enjoys his visits so much.

Today, though, Amelia was sitting up in her chair, talking with her daughter and her roommate when we arrived.  As we entered the room, her daughter said, Oh, look Mother, James is here to visit you.  Amelia was all smiles as we maneuvered James in place so she could see him completely and be able to reach him to pet him easily.  James, it’s so nice to see you! Oh, you’re so soft.  You are such a handsome boy, she laughed and smiled as she pet his head.

As Amelia was enjoying James’ company, her daughter and I both noticed at the same time that her roommate was looking on with great interest from her far side of the room.  We invited her over to visit with James, as well, and the two roommates chatted together about how friendly and sweet James is.  You’re so nice to bring him here to visit, the roommate exclaimed, clearly pleased to be invited in on the good time.

Our visits with Amelia are relatively short – 15 to 20 minutes.  But, for that time, both she and her daughter – and today, her roommate, have a break from their daily routine of sitting together.  I’ll have Mother all ready for your next visit, the daughter told me.  I’ll be sure she’s up sitting in her chair.  She loves to see James.  And to James she said, We’ll be waiting for you next week, James.  Thank you for coming!

For anyone living in the New England Area….  just a reminder that I have scheduled a Beginners and an Advanced Therapy Dog Training Workshop for the beginning of February.  People have traveled from as far away as Peru, Maine to attend these informative and helpful workshops (yes – these people traveled down in the middle of the winter!).  For anyone interested in pursuing therapy dog work with their dog(s), these workshops will start you off with the basic skills and techniques needed to visit as a therapy dog team (in the Beginners Workshop), then build on that skill set with more advanced techniques (in the Advanced Workshop).

For a complete description of what’s to be covered in each Workshop and for registration information, go to the Bright Spot Therapy Dogs website and Click on Therapy Dog Training.   Hope to see you there!

People have been emailing me for the past two months wondering when the next round of Therapy Dog Training Workshops would be scheduled.  The dates have been set, at long last!  I will hold a Beginners TD Training Workshop on Sunday, February 5th, from 10:00-12:00.  The following Sunday, February 12th, same time, I will conduct an Advanced TD Training Workshop.  The Workshops are held at True Blue Dog Training at the Brassworks on Rte. 9 in Haydenville.

If you’re able to take both, you will be well-prepared for your Bright Spot therapy dog evaluation.  

Here are the Workshop Descriptions:

The BEGINNERS WORKSHOP covers topics such as: what makes a good therapy dog, how to work with your dog as a “team” and what types of facilities and programs are visited.  The basic skills and techniques necessary to begin therapy dog work will be introduced and there will be training time to learn proper greeting methods, as well as an introduction to various hospital or nursing home equipment. In addition, there will be ample time for Q&A and all attendees will receive handouts and learn what steps to take next to become a certified therapy dog team.  If you have ever wanted to train your dog to be a therapy dog, or if you have ever wondered what the work entailed, please come join us for this fun and informative workshop.

The ADVANCED WORKSHOP builds on the skills covered in the BEGINNERS WORKSHOP and introduces techniques for handling specific types of patients and situations. Advanced skills and training commands are introduced and practiced in class.  Time will be given to address questions and concerns that may have come up in your visits or while practicing.  All attendees will receive handouts with tips and techniques for further practice.

Workshops are kept small to allow ample practice of the skills and techniques taught in the class.  To register, go to the True Blue Dog Training site for instructions.  I hope to see many of you there.  (P.S.  Attendees have traveled from Connecticut and as far away as Maine to attend these helpful – and enjoyable – Workshops.)  You and your dog will have a great time and be ready to become a certified therapy dog team!

New for 2012…  Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. is now on facebook.  Bright Spot is a non-profit organization dedicated to placing well-trained certified therapy dogs in meaningful programs that provide comfort and caring through the human-canine bond.  Our special volunteers serve in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, schools, libraries, and any other facilities where therapy dogs are needed.

Please like us on facebook – and check out our website.  Perhaps you have a wonderful dog you would like to share with others.  We’d love to hear from you!

Intermediate Manners was a good class for Lily to take as she prepares for her Therapy Dog Evaluation.  The class was held at True Blue Dog Training in Haydenville, MA, and focused on working with distractions while performing basic commands like Sit, Down, Come, Heel.  Lily is really food-motivated, making it easier to keep her focus on me and follow my commands.  She did extremely well and learned a lot.  Classes  at True Blue are kept small – so dogs get lots of practice time.  If you are local to the Northampton, MA area, I highly recommend True Blue Dog Training.

Therapy dogs are hit with many distractions – sights, sounds, and smells, as well as many strange people and a lot of commotion – as soon as they enter a facility.  They must be trained not to react to these and to stay focused on their handler who directs them throughout the visit.    More classes and more on-site practice visits for Lily will help her to hone the skills taught in this class.  A work in progress.