The life of a therapy dog
The day before I "work" (note from Marilou: Ahnung volunteers as a therapy dog working with at-risk youth at The Lab, a program serving St. Paul Public schools), mom often takes me to Pampered Pooch Playground to see auntie Jenny for Spa Day ... ahhh, yes, a bath, massage, pedicure, blow dry and even some playtime with the other pooches.
They love me so much at Pampered Pooch that I get to roam around and I even get to be a greeter at the front door as my puppy friends get dropped off for daycare. Auntie Jenny let mom come back so she could take some photos and a movie clip of me getting my bath :) I just LOVE getting a bath and auntie Jenny told mom that I am the best and the easiest dog to bathe and groom ... I can't understand why anyone wouldn't love it. Mom tells me it's important for me as a therapy dog to make sure that I am well groomed before I go to work volunteering with the kids. When I smell good and feel soft I get even more hugs.
Here I am after spa day giving my auntie Jenny a 'high five' to let her know I really appreciate her working on a Sunday so that I can be ready for work this morning. I got to hang out in the front and roam around the offices while waiting for auntie Laura who was coming so that I could try on my new therapy dog vest that she's making for me (thanks auntie Laura! you're the coolest!). I look so sharp in my bright orange vest and it's so comfy!! :) She's going to sew the letters onto my vest now and make a couple adjustments. When she's done I'll be able to go to work in style!!This morning I get to go to The Lab and work with these awesome kids!! We're on week 4 of the "dog group". Our lesson plan for today is going to be "Go to your place" where mom and auntie Danielle will show the kids how Sharpie and I will go to our place (which is rug) and how they can teach that to us. It's important for these kids who can often get overwhelmed and not have a healthy outlet to know that there is a place they can go that will be a safe and happy place for them.
When I work I get these delicious treats. I've noticed that mom gives me a smaller portion for breakfast on days that I work because she knows i'm going to get lots of treats.
If you want to watch a couple short movie clips of me at Spa Day, check out the original post.
On the first one you'll see auntie Jenny showing off to mom that I'm so good about even getting my head wet. Then on the second one i'm just soaking in the massage!
Can't wait for when I get to go back again!
3 comments:
what a sweet, hope-instilling post about Ahnung's therapy-dog success!we look to her family and her as role models for how owners can help their dogs become better-behaved pooches -- maybe even ones who positively impact others!
xxoo,
pam & Ode
I wonder if it was Ahnung's purpose to leave the reservation and work with others ...! She's so good at her job! Thank you to everyone who rescued Ahnung and helped her to help others. You're awesome!! :)
I think it definitely was my purpose to land at Red Lake and to be rescued by Karen, and then by my mom Marilou ... I love my job as a therapy dog. I had the chance to work two classrooms again today at The Lab ... and on Monday my mom and I are going to interview at Allina hospice as an animal therapy team. If we pass the interview then mom will have to go through 3 full days of hospice training then we can start volunteering as an animal therapy team at hospices. We love working with at-risk kids but want to also make a difference for those in hospice.
I will always be forever grateful to my rescuer Karen for saving me and my pups.
love,
Ahnung
http://ahnung-northstar.blogspot.com/
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