How I became a Therapy Dog by Eilish
(Arannwood’s Eilish Cream, CGC, CD, ThD)
My mom could tell right from the beginning that I would make a good therapy dog. I was calm, even when I was a puppy, and different things didn’t scare me. I was really friendly and liked attention from people. She took me to Puppy Kindergarten to help me learn about lots of new things, such as how to behave, have good manners, get along with the other puppies and play nicely. I got to go to lots of different places, meet lots of new people and do different things so that nothing scared me. She also made sure I was used to walking on different surfaces, such as linoleum, different types of carpeting, polished wood, smooth, slipper, concrete, gravel, bark dust, grates, asphalt, gravel, and grass.
Then I went to beginning and advanced obedience classes, where I learned such things as heel on lead, come when called, stand-stay, and sit and down on command. I also learned how to behave out in public at lots of different places, and did such a good job on my obedience that she began taking me to nursing homes to visit the people. We wanted to be “certified” so we first tested for and passed the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test. We knew about the program of Therapy Dogs International, and applied for certification. We passed their testing and became certified. We then began official visitations when I was 1 ½ years old. While doing the visiting with the patients, I learned additional commands such as “Back-up,” “Turn Around,” “Say Hello,” and “Paws Up” that helped me visit with everyone and get into their rooms and out again without knocking anything over. They also helped me not get tangled up in equipment or patients in wheelchairs while walking through the halls at the facilities. I also learned how to go up and down stairs, ride in an elevator, and go through revolving and automatic doors.
We then heard about another program, Delta Society’s Pet Partners, and applied for their certification. That was hard, but fun also. I knew it was just a test, but I behaved anyway, cause I could tell my Mom really wanted me to do well. So I was certified as a Pet Partner and continued visiting people in nursing homes and the rehabilitation center. We liked those programs, but my Mom wanted to work with a local group, so she helped create the Paws for Love program. So, I had to be tested again, with my Mom. That test was lots of fun cause everyone kept trying to feed me and trick my Mom. We passed, so I got another certification. I later tried to eat the cake at our Paws for Love graduation party! We had to retest every two years to stay certified. When I retired, I’d been going to nursing homes and the Salem Regional Rehabilitation Center for over eight years. There are many stories my Mom could tell about all the people we saw and helped. I really enjoyed all the attention I got from the people and staff where we visited. It was also fun seeing my dog friends who would visit with me. But I especially liked the crackers staff gave us when we finished visiting with everyone!!
It’s fun to be a Therapy Dog!
