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"Wagging Tails Bring Joy to Seniors"
An Article by Ruth Bird
It has been well documented that unconditional love given by therapy animals play an important role in reducing stress, boosting self-esteem, and decreasing recovery time. And, they help some of our older "friends" deal with lonliness and loss.
What is a therapy dog or therapy pet? "Visiting Pets" "Therapy Dogs" "Therapy Pets" are just some of the names given to describe programs in which animals help people just by visiting with them. Research has shown that heart attack victims who have pets live longer. Pets have an amazing positive effect on many people. I read about the following study, and cannot help but to share it with you: A study of 92 patients hospitalized in coronary care units for angina or heart attack found that those who owned pets were more likely to be alive a year later than those who did not.
The study found that only 6 percent of patients who owned pets died within one year compared with 28 percent of those who did not own pets Petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure. When my husband was in therapy for many months, I always brought one of our dogs with me when visiting. All the patients loved my dogs. Bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples' moods and enhance their social interaction. I know this for sure. I visit with two dogs myself. Benny and Nikki. A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced aches and pains than non-dog owners. Add years to your life, own a pet! Or, visit with a pet, and give someone more quality in their life. What Type of Pet? Visiting pets are dogs and cats.
I belong to Therapeutic Paws of Canada with my dog. However, most other establishments are run the same way; basically offering the same types of services. Dogs have to pass an obedience test before they are registered. This test is not hard, but deals basically with control, character and behavior. NOT like in obedience classes. A well behaved dog will pass. Also, of course, your dog must love people. If not, this program is NOT for your dog. Do an internet search for establishments in your area. Then, get the information you need to see if this is for you. I love this work! And so does my Benny and Nikki.
At Therapeutic Paws of Canada they offer a volunteer based therapy dog and cat visitation program for senior's facilities such as retirement homes, nursing homes, Alzheimer day away centers, hospitals and where there is a need. The medical establishment has long recognized the significant benefits of a therapy dog and cat program. The petting and stroking of a pet helps to calm the most agitated resident and stimulates wonderful conversations about the pet they once owned. Recovery from surgery is quoted as being accelerated when there is continued contact with a pet. As a result of the many government fiscal cutbacks, the facility's staff is stretched to their limits.
The positive impact of their programme on the day-to-day life of each senior throughout the community and beyond cannot be calculated. Let me end on a very sad, but meaningful example. I listen to a radio station that once a year has a big blitz to collect money for the Sick Children's Hospital. This year the radio station interviewed a lady with her therapy dog. This dog visits in the hospital. And one day one young child, about 5 years old was dying. That child requested in her last moments to have her therapy dog by her side. And of course, the dog did come, after cutting through some red tape to be allowed in the room. Therapy dogs make a difference; and you can let it happen too. "It's probably the most rewarding volunteer thing I can do." This is a short summary of the procedure that I had to go through with Nikki. Most establishments are not much different. Again, the main point is to demonstrate behaviour and control. You will be able to obtain a copy of the requirements from your establishment.
THERAPY DOG EVALUATION The team is under observation from the time it enters the test area. A clean tidy appearance is expected from both the handler and dog, as they will be the ambassadors for the programme. A dog that relieves itself during the evaluation has failed. A dog displaying any signs of aggression to other dogs or humans (i.e. continuous barking, snarling, growling, lunging, showing teeth) has failed. A handler seen harshly correcting his dog is an automatic failure. A handler seen not following poop/scoop rule will fail. During the evaluation and on all visits the dog must wear a flat buckle or snap collar and be on a 4' or 6' leather or nylon web leash. No promise collars, prong collar, halti or choke chain permitted. The dog should always be close to the handler. At no time should the dog be allowed to extend the leash to the fullest. Handlers may not use food to lure the dog during any of the categories.
INTRODUCING TEAM TO EVALUATOR: While the Evaluator is standing in the center of the evaluation area (wearing white coat simulating a Doctor will be worn for this category) the team will approach quietly and introduce themselves to the Evaluator. The dog must not jump on Evaluator but remain quiet (either standing or sitting) while the handler and Evaluator exchange a few pleasantries.
WALKING AS A THERAPY DOG The Evaluator will demonstrate a specific course for the team to walk. MILLING CROWD The team moves about politely among the moving pedestrian traffic with the dog on a short leash. The handler may talk to his dog to encourage the dog to stay close and move smartly.
PATIENTLY SITTING FOR PETTING With the dog in a standing or sitting position beside the handler the Evaluator or Asst. Evaluator will approach and ask, "May I pet your dog"? The Evaluator will bend over the dog to pet it (lightly tapping the head and hip area) and then walk around the team and return to the front.
PRAISE/INTERACTION The dog should be easily calmed by the handler after a short play or praise period. The handler may use verbal praise, petting, playing with a toy and/or favourite trick in the allotted time frame and then calm the dog upon a signal from the Evaluator or Asst. Evaluator.
REACTION TO OTHER DOGS A test area of not less than eight (8) feet square in size will be marked out with four numbers. Four handlers will approach a predetermined number with their dog on a short lead and have the dog sit on the handler's left side.
DOG VISITING STATIONARY CROWD The team will walk around inside the circle with the dog closest to the crowd. The people will touch and stroke the dog if the dog stops to visit. The person holding the fuzzy toy must not tease or tempt the dog to take the toy.
WHEELCHAIR VISIT AND DISTRACTIONS Sitting in a wheelchair the Evaluator will approach the sitting dog and handler from behind. When approaching the team the Evaluator will use an excited manner and ask to pet the dog.
Congratulate the successful teams and invite the Team Leader to address the group and distribute the appropriate forms.
"Do You Want a Male or Female German Shepherd?"
An Article by Ruth Bird
Are you looking to get a new German shepherd? A puppy, or adopted dog? Are you wondering if it is better to get a male or a female dog? Well, according to the professionals, both are equally wonderful choices. Neither is better than the other. They do have certain attributes that are gender related though. German shepherds regardless of male or female are very loyal, willing to be trained, and, they make great family pets. And, even though German shepherds are great "guard" dogs, they are not of an aggressive nature. But, there are still differences between the two.
The male dog is usually stronger, and bigger in structure, more masculine. This means he will be looking a bit more intimidating than its female counterpart. A mature male Shepherd can easily outweigh a female by as much as 30 pounds. And, 30 pounds on a dog is a lot of structure. A male dog may be a little harder to handle, although, again, if trained properly will be a worthy addition to your family. Male dogs can be more protective and more territorial than a female. They will do what all male dogs do, mark their territory and this could also be an issue, depending on the family home grounds.
Female German shepherds can be more protective of their families. This could make them jealous of other pets in the household, especially of a relationship between you and the other pets. That is why; training your dog is of top priority. Female German shepherds will be a little more streamlined, more feminine. This becomes quite noticeable. Actually, this difference is very noticeable even from a distance. So if the look of your shepherd in that way makes a difference to you, then yes, you may want to gender pick your new dog.
If you do not use your dog for breeding it should be neutered, for its sake and your sake. Neutered dogs are easier to handle, and have less problems connected to their gender. Male dogs are very difficult to handle when on the trail of a dog in heat. And, a dog in heat comes with its own problems of messiness, moodiness and other dogs hanging around. Neutering is best if your dog will be a family pet only. What gender you get, doesn't really matter in the long run as long as you are ready and willing to train your dog. An untrained unmanageable German shepherd can actually be a dangerous animal. Even if not aggressive, these dogs are very strong, and they can hurt someone by their sheer strength alone.
If you are adopting, which I pray you do, then you may not have a choice. But, on the other hand, you will get the dog of your heart.
"A Blind Dog in My House"
An Article by Ruth Bird
First, let me tell you how my dog became my dog.
Dukie belonged to my husband's son. He was a birthday gift to my stepson from his girlfriend. Unfortunately, my stepson was not able to raise a dog, so he gave him to my husband. Dukie is a black lab, a big but lean black lab. He is loveable, gentle and funny. He thrived in our household because we already had two other dogs, one golden retriever, and one other black lab. They all got along just beautifully. No fights just play time all the time. I started noticing Dukie bumping into things, getting "lost" when out and running around. He had one bad eye already; he hurt it on a stick when he was a puppy.
Anyways, I took him to the vet, and once I let him off the leash in the examining room he promptly walked into a wall. Well, I really got scared at this point. The vet checked him out, and low and behold, my Dukie was blind. I couldn't believe it. My vet sent me to an eye specialist, and sure enough Dukie suffered from a degenerative eye disease. I freaked, I thought this is it, now I have to put him down. My eye specialist sent me back to my own vet, and forwarded the information to him. The vet calmed me down and said no way do you have to put him to sleep. He said "Look how well he has handled his blindness so far" And, the vet was right. I mean, I didn't even know he was totally blind. So began our live with a blind dog in our house.
The thing is, if you do not move the furniture around too much, and things pretty well stay where they are, you won't even know your dog is blind. At least not with Duke. He walks around the house like he is king. He goes in and out of his dog door and wanders around the backyard no problem. I take Duke out for car rides, which he loves, and for long walks, and for bike rides. Although I have stopped the bike rides, I noticed more and more that he does not like speed. I think it makes him feel unbalanced.
Duke loves company; he does get hyper and excited when they come though. I suppose because he does not see them, he has a need to lean right against them. But, a few minutes after greeting them, he just goes back and does his own thing. When he gets exited he does tend to get "lost"; he loses his sense of where he is. But, he finds it again fast enough. He still gets along good with our other dogs, and our neighbours dog. However, he no longer likes it when strange dogs come and say hello to him. I suppose being blind and not seeing the other dog poses a threat to him. So far, that has been his only negative reaction to being blind. When I move furniture, or get new furniture I make sure I introduce duke to these changes. He adapts very fast.
When walking, I forget he is blind, and I can have a tendency to walk him into fences, hedges and poles. Duke is the perfect dog to take for walks. He doesn't pull, he heels and he doesn't see those cats or squirrels on our walks. He is a favourite with the kids. He loves kids and is very good with them. And, most important, he is my husband's dog. My husband has advanced MS, and Dukie will spend hours with him. He often "steals" my husband's couch. When my husband gets in his wheelchair to go to the bathroom then Dukie hops right up on his couch. Duke has his own mini couch beside my husband, but, to Duke, that is not the same thing at all. It is a job getting him off the couch again. Cookies help. The two have become inseparable buddies.
I would recommend a blind dog any time from my own experience. Duke had been a wonderful part of our family, and he has not been any trouble whatsoever. So, if you dog is going blind, or you have the opportunity to adopt a blind dog, do not hesitate, they also make great pets. My Duke still does
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruth is actively involved with the internet. Her passions are people and pet health. She is a wife, a stepmom, a dog owner and a business person. She is married for almost 30 years. One of her dogs is a Certified Therapy Dog. Her passions are dog care and dog training, Her Adopt A Dog Blog And Her Pet Blog.
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