4/26/2021 0 Comments THIRD EDUATION – THERAPY DOGSWe (Catherine, Elizabeth and I) continued to train our dogs, Shamrock and Daisy, both at home and in dog school classes. After more than a year, they “earned” their good citizen certificate. The Canine Good Citizen (CGS) test is a nationally recognized program that instills a sense of responsibility and good manners in dogs and owners alike. The heart of the program is the 10-step CGS test. The test consists of the following practical exercises: 1. Accepting a friendly stranger 2. Sitting politely for petting 3. Appearance and grooming 4. Walking on a loose leash 5. Walking through a crowd 6. Sit and down on command and staying in place 7. Coming when called 8. Reaction to another dog 9. Reacting (or not reacting) to a distraction 10. Supervised separation. Each one of these requirements was specifically taught and “tested” in our trainer’s (Jen Kesner’s) classes. After we worked on each of these separately and had some success, we were invited to advanced classes to solidify all these abilities. Jen’s creativity made the experience remarkably fun and useful. For example, we played “musical chairs with dogs.” This meant that the dogs would have to stay on the side watching the pandemonium and wait to be called. Only when we were actually seated in our chair could we call them. The dogs would then have to come to us quickly and sit quietly by our side. First person with a dog sitting quietly wins. Good boy, Shamrock. Good girl, Daisy, Cookie time!! When Catherine, Elizabeth and I felt that our dogs had become consistent and trustworthy enough, we wondered if they could become official therapy dogs and bring them to a nursing home. We discovered that the MSPCA would “officially” test the dogs and award them a certificate that nursing homes would accept. So, off to Boston, with great hope that our dear dogs would pass. And they did, Yay! We applied to a local nursing home 15 minutes from our house and went there every other Sunday for the next four years. Our nursing home visits were a joyful and deeply touching experience. Some of the residents had not had visitors for a long time and really perked up when they saw the dogs. As they petted our dogs, they often told us about their own dogs in great detail. Some residents, even those mostly catatonic or with Alzheimer’s came alive in amazing ways because of the dogs. Elizabeth, Catherine, the two dogs and I made a great family team. We usually celebrated our visits with ice cream and, of course, included the dogs. Catherine and her “helpers” When we started bringing the dogs to the nursing home, Catherine was the director of Senior Services for Manchester, a small seacoast town. One of her duties was to visit shut-ins and find out important information to help the social worker and / or nurse working with the person. Often the person would not allow anyone in. Catherine would bring Shamrock or Daisy on these visits. When the senior peered out the window, they would see the dog and let them in. Catherine shared many of these stories with me. Here’s one. Mary let Daisy and me in after peering out her window and seeing Daisy. She loves Daisy and we go every month. As usual, Daisy sat in front of Mary and gently put her paw on Mary’s knee. Daisy looked up at Mary with her soft brown dog eyes. Catherine – “Mary, Daisy would like to know when was the last time you ate something?” Daisy would turn her heads towards Catherine as she spoke and then look back to Mary. Mary - “Oh Daisy, I had a few eggs yesterday.” Catherine – “Mary, Daisy would like to know what medications you are taking.” Mary – “Oh Daisy, I don’t remember.” And on it would go like this until all of “Daisy’s” questions were answered. Sometimes Mary saved something delicious for Daisy to eat but if not, Catherine always brought a few dog cookies for Mary to give to Daisy. Mary - “Bye Daisy”. Catherine – “Say goodbye Daisy” Mary – “Please come again” And thus, over eight years, both Shamrock and Daisy became well known and well-loved throughout Manchester. It was fitting that when the dogs passed away, first Shamrock and then Daisy, a lovely “goodbye sendoff” obituary appeared in the Manchester paper. Ripples I love the thought that there are ripples from everything we do. That the energy of any little “goodness” finds its own way into the universe and occasionally circles back. Elizabeth was a particularly good student in high school both scholastically and as an athlete. We hoped she would get some sort of scholarship to help with college expenses. Almost all the schools Elizabeth applied to offered her a presidential, scholastic scholarship. However, one school, Providence College, offered her a full ride – both tuition and lodging. We discovered that they had one scholarship – The Roddy Scholarship – for only one student with an interest in science / medicine. You cannot apply for this scholarship and, in fact, there is almost no way to know that it even exists. It was the prerogative of the Chair of the biology department to make the final choice. We were happily shocked when Elizabeth received the letter offering her this full scholarship. Although this was Elizabeth’s safe school, she accepted the scholarship and attended Providence for four years graduating with honors. As I got know the person in charge of the scholarship, I asked her what it was that got her to choose Elizabeth. She told me that all the students who made the final cut were terrific and Providence wanted all of them to come to their school. They all had excellent grades, had challenged themselves in advanced placement courses, and participated fully in school activities, sports and community service. “So, why choose Elizabeth?”, I asked again. She answered, “It was the dogs and the nursing home and especially doing it as a family. I just loved that.” What a ripple!
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David FeldmanDog walker, Dog Mediator, Father, Husband, Categories |