Our Honey is earning her vest as a therapy dog. This was her first trial run and it was a doozy. After an hour and a half of nonstop lovin from almost 400 new college freshman at KU, this dog still wasn’t satisfied with how much petting she got. She could’ve done another session easily. That girl cannot get enough attention.
At first, she did not believe her luck and was happily greeting each guest, trying to make her way through the crowd to get to each one. Eventually, she learned that the line of willing petters would come to her. So she regally leaned back and waited for her entourage to take turns telling her how soft and beautiful she was, and soaking up all the cuddles.
There was a group of four doggies at the event, and the students made their way around the room, visiting each one. They told us stories about their own babies at home, who they missed so much already in just the first week of college.
Earlier in the day, we visited the library and watched while kids read books to the dogs. This was our “shadowing” visit and we didn’t have Honey with us. (We needed training ourselves) She will get to go the next time. I think those visits will be my fave, it was so adorable to see the toddlers hug their new friends and the bigger kids seriously reading the story books to the furry audience.
We will also visit nursing homes, more venues at KU, and plenty of other places. There are up to four possibilities each week that we can sign up to take our girl to.
The first step in this adventure was for Honey to earn her AKC Good Citizen ribbon by passing a series of tests that included staying with strangers after being told to sit as we left the room for three minutes. She had to greet but ignore other dogs on leashes, not pull or jump, then accept the sounds of pans banging. She needed to not be afraid of walkers or crutches and be happy to meet people, beyond just the normal commands of sitting, staying, etc.
She passed with flying colors.
After that, she had to pass a similar test with the local organization, Loving Paws. Once again, she did great.
If a dog doesn’t do well on the tests, a six week class is required for each. Which I would have enjoyed doing, I love dog training classes. Which is why Honey probably did okay in the first place.
Although, I doubt if any of our other dogs would be suitable to join the organization. Molly can be too needy, Sugar only likes people, not dogs she doesn’t know, and Dorothy is so enamored of Rich, she can’t stop staring at him or demanding that she gets to be on his lap. But Honey? This is right up her alley. She was born for this gig.
