A fun therapy visit!

Sorry to have been away for so long! It's been a busy summer!

I wanted to tell you all today about the fun visit we did last night! Mom and I went to Kennedy Krieger for our monthly therapy dog visit. I've never done this visit, Rip and Xander always get to go instead. But mom says that maybe I'll get to go all of the time from now on...because I was so good at it!

We left John behind with Xander to help him at home...and we went off to bring some smiles to the kids!

There were a lot of kids there that were very excited to meet us...and one kid in particular got a kick out of my retrieving skills. Mom gave him a fabric key chain to throw for me...and he'd send it flying across the floor...and I'd run to get it and bring it back to mom for a treat. What fun! I've never heard such squeals of delight! Then he wanted to walk me...so mom let him hold the leash down by my harness, as she held the handle end...she pushed him around the room in his wheelchair, while I walked politely by his side. We did lots of loops, and mom made him say "Watch Your FEET!" to me every time (I mean, I know how to watch out for the wheels...but mom made a game out of it...for the kid!). If I lagged a bit, she told him to say "Come on BEAN!" It was so much fun!

I love that I have two fun jobs...Service Dog first and foremost, and Therapy Dog second. It was so much fun to use my skills as a service dog to bring smiles to the kids' faces. I can't wait to go back next month!

~SDS
*all worn out from last night*

I am a Life Saver!

That's right, I officially became a Blood Donor today. My first time giving blood, and it couldn't have been easier.

Mom left me with the vet and techs, and went out to walk Score (big baby wouldn't potty in the rain). She was waiting in the lobby when I was done, and they brought her into the room where I was. I was having a blast...walking around eating treats and mugging them for more. They told mom that I was really good, that they didn't think I even knew what was going on (there was PEANUT BUTTER). Then they threw some treats into the water bucket, and I amused them by blowing bubbles as I stuck my entire head into the bucket.

I got a new red bandanna that says "Blood donation the humane way." I look quite smashing in it.

This is quite a nice addition to my resume, don't you think? Service Dog, Therapy Dog, Flyball Dog, now Blood Donor.

~SDS: The man of many talents

PS...for more information on giving blood in Maryland and Virginia...check out Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank (EVBB)

Different rules...

Those of you that are Assistance Dogs out there...do you have different rules depending on how you are dressed (or undressed, as the case may be)?

This morning, Mom sat down at the kitchen table and had some breakfast and a cup of tea. Our house is cramped, so we're on top of each other a lot. This morning, I climbed up onto the foot stool behind her, and put my front feet in her lap. Then I smiled nicely at her. She laughed, and John was looking on from the kitchen. He asked, "what is he doing?". Mom said, "He says he would like some tea." (which was true) Mom being the bad trainer that she is (but gooood mom), let me have a lick of tea. Trouble was...it was hot (she claims she had no idea...but then told John something about "consequences"). It burned my tongue a bit, so I shook my head all over, spraying tea everywhere. Then I licked it off of Mom's hands. My tail wagged the entire time.

Mom laughed and told John that his Service Dog was spoiled, and that he NEVER would have let Charlie do that (Charlie was his first SD).

Mom says that I can get away with stuff like that (when I'm polite and cute) when I'm "out of harness", meaning that I don't have my official SD vest on. They know that I wouldn't ever think of doing that when I was out in public or in my vest.

There are quite a few things that I do out of harness, that I don't do when I'm officially working. I tend to make a lot of noise at home...I like to moan, whine, and generally talk back to Mom and John...but in public, I rarely make a noise. I like to lay on the couch next to John at home, but wouldn't dream of getting up on furniture when I'm out and about, even at someone else's home (unless invited of course). When I'm in my therapy vest, I go out of my way for petting...when in my SD vest, I will accept petting, but pay attention to John despite the petting. I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of anything right now...

We dogs are amazing creatures, aren't we?
~SDS

A Therapy Dog Day

As I mentioned before, I am a Therapy Dog as well as a Service Dog. It's nice to be able to do both jobs. It definitely keeps me busy.

Today I went with John to the school reading program we participate in (DEAR-Dogs Educating and Assisting Readers). A third-grade boy reads to me while I sit quietly and listen. Usually my brothers, Ripley and Xander do the program, but Ripley is out with a bad tooth. So I get to take over for him until he feels better. I love helping kids read, and I love the treats I get at the end of the session. Sometimes the books they read are really funny. John reported to mom today that I kept wagging my nubby tail during the entire session. (It was a good book!)

Since John is in a scooter, he can't get on the floor like the other teams...so I sit in a chair right next to our reader. This works well, as he can pet me and read at the same time, and I get to relax up off of that cold floor!

After the reading, I showed off some of my skills by picking up my leash on command. I'm really looking forward to filling in for Ripley in the next few weeks.

~SDS