A couple just wanted to snuggle after reading so came back. The bond that is made between these kids and the dogs is amazing. For some, it is what motivates them to come back to the library every summer. One that was there today was 13. She has been reading to Sadie since she was 7. She is an accomplished reader and really doesn't need the practice. She just likes to read and pet the dogs.
Some of the kids prefer to sit in the chair and just read. Others want to sit on the floor so the dogs can see the pictures. I had to explain to some that Sadie doesn't see as well as she used to when she was younger. Neither the kids nor Sadie seemed to care. All that was important was the togetherness.
After about an hour and a half, Cooper decided that it was easier to just lay flat and just listen. It was hard to tell if he was listening or napping. It was bitter-sweet comparing photos of Sadie from when she started to now. While she still has the same spark in her eyes, it is very obvious that she is getting up there in age. Luckily they have an elevator so she doesn't have to walk up and down the stairs every time we go.
Sadie when she started.
Sadie today. Not sure why she has her tongue out, but it was the best picture I got of her today.
We will get birthday cookies for them tomorrow.
Terrific! I don't think I have ever had a Kees I would trust in a library. All mine get too excited in public. Any tips for me? We now have Stella who is a year and a half and very sweet and sedate when it's just us but just one thing out of her routine and she's crazy.
ReplyDeleteSadie has been doing this for a long time, but even without that experi nice, she has always been a phenomenal therapy dog. You may have not heard the story about her in a nursing home. She was able to sneak away from me while I was talking with a nurse. I went after heras she ran into a darkened room. When I got there, she was in the dark with a woman who was just sitting in a chair and hugging Sadie. The nurse said the woman never left the room and never had any visitors. Sadie "knew" there was someone who needed comfort, even from down the hall. She is able to pick out the ones that need it the most.
ReplyDeleteCooper has been called by more than one person as the "Wild Man". He gets so excited about everything. He also has an awesome ability to know what people want/need. He is so smart. At 6 months old, he went up to a wheel chair and went to the side and sat. He instinctively knew that the person in the wheelchair could reach him better to pet if he was on the side instead of the front.
That said, training is important. Cooper, because he is so active, has to have a reliable "down" command. If he gets too excited I will put him in a down position a little bit away from everything. I use a 4 foot leash and he is always on leash, so he is not that far away. But he understands the concept of time out. I started training him when he was 12 weeks old and he is s5 now. He has surprised me numerous times. I thought he was too hyper to pass the therapy dog test, but did it as a whim when he was a a year old. He passed with flying colors. Same thing with his herding test.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you never know what they can do unless you get out there and try. Go for walk in unfamiliar places. Go to Lowes or Home Depot. Any dog friendly place would be good to get her out of her routine. Just make sure you are the one in control.