I will preface this by saying this is something that I always wanted to do with Sassy. She would have made the perfect Therapy dog. We just never got to do it (I didn’t know how to go about it then she was diagnosed with Osteoscaroma).
So after almost 1 year of classes and passing our test before my vacation to VA to the Tripawds party & beyond 🙂 we started our first in training visit on the 17th of June. What that consists of is 10 one hour visits with a certified therapy dog team. We went to an assisted living home. Our first thing is we met and did a meet & greet with the other teams so the dogs knew each other. That part went awesome. Snickers sat and let the other teams walk up to her and then sniffed each other.
We then went inside to the floor we would be working. There were two IT teams (in training), Snickers and I and Brix and his dad. The 2 certified teams were Becky & Flicker (a black lab mix) and Mich & Stevie Nicks (a Golden retriever). Mich & Stevie were our training buddies. It went well we split the hall we took one end and the other 2 teams took the other end then we switched. Snickers only had one hick up and got a little nervous. One lady had a talking animal of some type and made noises. It startled her. We went out into the hall. I petted Snickers and talked to her in a calming manner and petted her. Told her how proud I was of her. She settled down and we went back into the room and finished the visit.
Other than that one small bleep on the visit she did excellent. Mich commented “excellent visit” and how impressed she was. We only did 1 hour. The other 3 teams went to another floor to do visits but I felt it being Snickers first visit that we don’t push it.
I know Sassy was with us. I felt it and she helped guide Snickers. We have 9 more visits to go and we will be a certified team.
hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy & Snickers
Snickers
That’s so wonderful! It means so much to the residents, and I’m sure at least some of them had to give up their animal companions. To be able to spend time with such a sweet, beautiful girl surely lifted everyone’s spirits. Great job, Snickers! Sassy was with her, no doubt.
Tracy & Zatoichi
Congrats! I know you will be a great therapy team and bring much joy to whoever you visit.
Paula and nitro
OH MICHELLE AND SNICKERS!!! WE ARE ALL BURSTING WITH PRIDE!! 🙂 YAAAAAAAAAY FOR YOU BOTH!! 🙂
And thanks for sharing the details of that hour. Quite fascinating! And allowing strange dogs to come up sniff her, check her out, without flinching……beautiful!
And speaking of BEAUTIFUL….that pocture if Snickers is stunning!! 🙂 I always notice how every dog of yours has the shiniest coat!
And yes, our beautiful Miss Sassy Sugar Bear was DEFINITELY there to help guide you and Snickers 🙂 And Sassy didn’t need any certification to say she was a Therapy Dog…….she was always a Goodwill Ambassador for the breed and always impressed everyone who met her with her gentleness! 🙂
Ice cream, right? Good job = ice cream!
You are a ROCK STAR SNICKERS!! GREAT JOB TO BOTH IF YOU!!
Lots of love!:-)
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Michelle & Snickers well done! Of course we all knew it was going to be an amazing first visit because you have had Angel Sassy guiding you this whole time. You two are going to bring so much joy into the lives of all you touch! Love to you my friends!
YESSSS! Snickers, you ACED this one. Even the scary furby critter didn’t keep you from doing your good work. Good girl! And your Momma is pretty pawsome too. Those next nine visits are gonna fly by!