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Deb currently has three dogs registered for therapy, Clyde, Phoebe, and Wilson. Deb has a combination of registrations with Delta Society and Therapy Dogs Inc. Deb & Wilson's Big Adventure
It all began when I saw an article in the newspaper about Pet Therapy.
I had recently acquired a Golden Retriever puppy (Phoebe) as a
Christmas present. My original intent was to work with Phoebe in this
program. The Pet Therapy group was having an informational meeting
and so I went. As I soon discovered, Phoebe was too young to enter
the program. I learned a great deal that day and as I began to think
about what kind of dog would make a good Pet Therapy animal, my
thoughts turned to a rescued Shih-Tzu we had at home named Wilson.
This dog had bonded to my husband, but as I observed him and his
gentle nature, I began to evaluate his qualities to determine if he
would make a good Pet Therapy animal. On a whim, I took him to a mock
evaluation, not knowing how he would react. He was a trooper. He
surprised me that day and to be truthful, continues to surprise me all
the time. I hate to say it, but I worked with him only four or five
times before we went for our final evaluation. Again, this little dog
surprised me as we both passed the Delta Evaluation. As it turns out,
he loves to go to work. He literally bounces off the front door at
home when he knows he is going out. At 13 pounds, he is small enough
to cuddle and that's where he shines. If he can get up and sit on a
person's lap, he is in seventh heaven. I tell people he was born to
do this job. He's taught me a lot in these few months. He's more
patient than I ever will be. The older residents call him my
"Presidential Puppy" and "Woodrow" after President Woodrow Wilson.
This little dog doesn't mind as long as he has someone to cuddle, he's
happy. His attitude and his manners have changed a great deal at
home. He is a different dog than he was just a few short months ago.
He has his job to do now, and as long as he is willing, Wilson and I
will continue on in "Our Big Adventure."
What first began as idle curiosity over an article in the newspaper has led me to one of the most rewarding experiences in my life I’ve ever had. I guess I should start at the beginning in order to tell this story. Several years ago, a 3-month old Golden Retriever puppy came into my life. I named her Brandee-Pup . She was my companion during a dark and stormy part of my life. Brandee and I were inseparable during the nine years of her life. I always tell people Brandee would walk on water if I asked her to. She had a sweet disposition and loved to have her flowing golden coat brushed every night. Years after her passing, I still thought of her every day. Then along came Phoebe, another Golden Retriever puppy with a very tender heart and sad brown eyes that melt your heart with one glance. As I read the newspaper article about dogs being used as therapy in our area, my thoughts reflected back to my Brandee-Pup. She would have been the perfect dog for this program. Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle disposition, and Phoebe was no exception. So with that in mind, I attended an informational meeting. Knowing literally nothing about the program except what I read in the newspaper, I listened to the dog handlers tell their stories and I was hooked. There was one small problem. Phoebe wasn’t old enough to participate. Patience not being one of my strong suits, I began to think about the other dogs I had in my household. There was Scampetta, a Shih-Tzu with a very strong personality who ruled our household and only liked to be petted on her terms. I quickly ruled her out. That left one other dog, another Shih-Tzu that had appeared on our doorstep over a year ago we named Wilson. We were never sure of Wilson’s background, but in the year he was in our house, we finally convinced him that treats and toys were good things and that nothing bad would ever happen to him as long as he lived in our household. Wilson had bonded to my husband, but occasionally he would cuddle on my lap. I began to watch him carefully and mentally evaluate his disposition. After learning about the program, our group decided to have a trial test walk through. As a group, we had agreed to let Phoebe participate even though she wasn’t old enough to qualify. We decided the experience would be good for her. The testing date came closer and I kept thinking about Wilson. He had the desired qualities in a therapy dog, but how would he interact with me and the other dogs. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. I snapped a leash on his collar and off we went. The group was surprised when instead of a 6-month old Golden Retriever puppy, I showed up with a 13-pound Shih-Tzu they never knew existed. That wasn’t the only surprise of the day. Wilson shined when we took him through the mock testing. Nothing bothered him and he seemed totally happy with the whole process. The only test he didn’t pass was the command “Stay.” Well no wonder. I had never taught him to stay. It wasn’t his fault. So for the next month, I worked with him and taught him to “stay.” The rest, as they say, is history. Wilson and I passed our final exam and now, at least once a week, a rescued Shih-Tzu literally bounces off the front door in anticipation of going to work in the hospitals and long-term care facilities. Wilson brings a smile to everyone he meets. He gives kisses on command, tolerates costumes, loves stuffed animals, and responds appropriately to every situation. Many residents call him “Woodrow” after President Woodrow Wilson. I describe Wilson to people as my Presidential Pooch who just happens to live not in a white house on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but right here in Rupert, Idaho. Patience, Persistence, and Baby Clyde
With three hours left of his life, his adorable brown eyes looked into mine, and there was no way I was going to let this black lab pup die. I scooped him up and he became part of our family. Little did I know this cute little pup would grow into 120+ pounds of love. In his puppy antics, he would remove the siding from my house, literally destroy my antique piano bench, chew the arms off my kitchen chairs, and wiggle his way not only into my heart, but the heart of a man named Mac.
As a Therapy Pet team, I visit long-term care facilities with my other canine partners. It was there I met Mac, a quiet, wheelchair-bound man who I discovered loved labs. From that point on, Baby Clyde and I began a journey that took two years. If Mac would be patient, I would work on getting Clyde certified. The first time we attempted to pass the certification test, we failed. Off to obedience class we went. Graduation day came and went with only a perfect attendance certificate for our efforts. I was not giving up on this dog nor was I giving up on Mac. Every week, Clyde and I walked the streets, meeting strangers, working on manners and obedience. We were determined to try again. Our persistence finally paid off as we passed the test. The day our final paperwork arrived, I snapped the leash on Clyde. Our first and only stop was Mac’s room. That’s where the magic happened. This black lab laid his head on Mac’s lap and suddenly this quiet man was full of words. Love is indeed patient, persistent, and includes Baby Clyde.
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