Therapy dogs in training

There are days when we feel like really great dog owners.  Sometimes it is because we are hunting and our pups find every bird in the field.  Other times it’s a complement from a stranger about how great our dogs were in the agility or rally ring.  But today was about the best testament to our responsible dog owner lifestyle — today was Indy’s first shift as a potential therapy dog at The Children’s Hospital here in Denver.

Just getting into this program was a challenge.  One of our friends, Gail, had been part of the Prescription Pet Program at Children’s for years, and thought either one of our dogs would be a great candidate.  That in and of itself was a huge compliment.  The idea intrigued us, so we put our name on the list.  And after ONE YEAR on the waiting list, our number was finally called.

Getting through all the steps takes about 6 months.  First up was an interview.  Jenny had to go in for one-on-one human interview, fill out all kinds of paperwork for a background check, and then sit back and wait.  After about a month, we got an email that we were accepted into the program and would need to come with the dogs to the vet interview.

The vet interview was pretty intense.  Marc was able to come along to help, so that was a huge relief.  From the moment you walk in, you are being evaluated.  Volunteers are watching how your dog interacts with the other dogs, how your dog interacts with you, and how attentive you are to your dog.  Indy was up first, so Marc entertained Karma while Jenny and Indy met with the vet.

Indy couldn’t have been more perfect.  He let the vet pet him (very aggressive petting – simulating a toddler), let her flip him upside down, play with his ears, grab his tail, etc.  The only part he didn’t really love was having his feet fondled — we swear he is ticklish!  Then after the physical exam, we had to do a healing pattern, including sits, downs, and waits — our Rally Excellent dog was a champ!!  The final task was to walk through a hallway.  As you passed by an opening, they throw a can filled with beans on the ground to create a loud rattle sound.  Indy didn’t even look up!  The vet was SO impressed at how well he handled the bang — thank you shotgun breaking!!  After that we were told that he passed and they took a throat swab to check for any health issues.

Karma did equally well in her exam. Naturally, she tried kissing the veterinarian at every opportunity — she is so funny.  So with two dogs through the interview, the odds were definitely in our favor.  We headed home with orders for more health testing — fecal kits for the dogs and a whole list of vaccines for Jenny.  Fun.  After health testing was orientation at Children’s with all the other different volunteers for the hospital.  Then Jenny had to shadow another Rx Pet team.

SO FINALLY, we are at today — Indy’s first (of two) orientation visits.  It was scheduled to be a lobby visit.  The lobby is SUPER colorful and besides the stimuli from all the decoration, it is open air to the 9th story, meaning everything echos — kids, the ball machines, and crying babies.  It can be quite intimidating.  But our Indo was amazing.  This is the moment we referred to at the beginning, seeing Indy work the lobby was magical.  He let kids of all sizes pet him and humored them with kisses.  He led me to a couple who absolutely beamed when they saw him coming.  Their child was in surgery, and you could tell they needed the release.  They scratched every square inch of his body, kissed his racing stripe, and self-soothed by rubbing his velvety ears between their fingers.  Imagine how frightening a child fully laying down in a wagon may be — with arms (covered in bandages and tubes) flailing straight up in the air.  Indy was a little hesitant as he approached, but as soon as he figured out it was a little human, he gained confidence, marched on over and rested his head across her tummy.  Hearts melted — the child’s mother even had tears in her eyes!  The little girl stopped flinging her arms and just stroked his ears.

And that was it — that was the moment where all the hard work socializing Indy paid off.  We do think he comes by some of it naturally — his father, Barry, has produced close to 15 therapy dogs.  But we will take some credit 🙂  His rally training was not only fun, but really prepared us for this opportunity too — nothing like good manners!

Indy actually did so well in the lobby, that we were taken upstairs to start room visits.  If I thought the lobby was impressive, the room visits were icing on the cake.  Indy lit up so many faces, it’s hard to pick one event that was our favorite.  There was one boy who was ENTRANCED by his video game…but Indy walked in and just jumped up onto the foot of his bed.  The little boy giggled in delight, put down his game controller, and nestled into Indy’s chest.  AMAZING DAY.