register |  login
› LAKEWOOD
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
Blog
Blog Entry 2 of 25 A Therapy Dog's Journal
I was curious about pet therapy when I first learned about it in the mid-90s. Pets can have an important role in the well-being of children, the elderly and hospitalized patients. In 2002, I was ready to look for the dog which would be compatible with me as a therapy dog. I wanted a smooth-haired dog; clean and easy to groom. I wanted it to be small enough to carry in my arms, hold on my lap, and travel in a little crate in the car. It must also be trainable, healthy and have a people-pleasing, forgiving temperament. I liked many of the characteristics of dachshunds. I owned one before, but she passed away in 1997, at age sixteen. This dog won an AKC obedience title. I narrowed my search for another dachshund. There were puppies available, but I didn’t want one from a pet store or puppy mill. In 2004, I heard about a litter in Utah. After several long distance calls and emails, I was excited about the runt. I drove to meet the breeder at a dog show in Greeley. Jewel and I were a good match. We visited for a while then I bought the puppy and brought her home. Jewel is a ten pound, smooth-coated, black and tan daughter of AKC champions. Jewel was sold to me as a pet, and has never been a show dog. But she’s a very healthy, happy and pretty little girl. Some day I might write her story as a book for young children, but am starting with this blog. It tells the adventures of Jewel: Therapy Dog.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~JewelWeekly

Awareness, alzheimers and a therapy dog's impact

Contributed by: Gail Kirkegaard   on 7/28/2007

Sometimes Jewel sees some results from her visits. The other day, we worked with four elderly persons at a facility in Lakewood.

" La dee dee dee da, lubba dee dub! La dee dee da, lubba dee dub!" Jewel turned her head up to this lady singing to her. Only a minute before, Margaret's (not her real name) head was slumped over her chest as if asleep. A nurse announces the dachshund's presence, and her eyes suddenly open and she starts to sing. I remove Jewel's uniform vest, which is not as fun to pet as the dog's smooth fur.

I offer Margaret a dog brush. She takes it into her wrinkled hand and continues to sing while stroking Jewel slowly with the brush. "La dee dee da, lubba dee dub." For several minutes, she enjoys interacting with the canine visitor. " Have you ever had a dog Margaret?" She doesn't appear to hear me; she's pre-occupied with the ten pound furry friend on the chair next to her.

The laps of elderly patients are not always stable enough for a small dog. They're usually in wheel chairs and arm chairs in a circle in the recreation room, taking turns with the dog's attention. Jewel's not a large dog, as many therapy dogs are, which people can simply reach out to pet. So I usually have her seated on her blankie on a chair beside them. The hard part is, I have to shuffle this chair from one person to the next, and squeeze it between their chairs in just the right place so they can see her. If their vision is poor, I ask if I can place their hand on Jewel's back so they can find her. If their hearing is poor, I have to ask more than once.

Communication is difficult at best in a facility like this. Sometimes, there's almost no vocal communication with them. Since many of them suffer from alzheimer's,one will ask," How old is she?" and " What's her name?" very often within only a few minutes. I just answer as though they had not yet asked that question. There was nothing like this with Margaret. She was solely focused on the pleasure of petting Jewel.

"May we take Jewel over to visit Pete now Margaret?" Margaret releases the brush to me and allows me to move the dog. Almost instantly, her head slumps back down to her chest and her eyes shut; no more singing.

After the others have their turns, Jewel and I say goodbye and head for the office, where we record our visit. Jewel's still a rookie, but some responses are like those for a pro who's been practicing therapy for a lifetime.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog



Current Rating
Based on 1 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 8/25/2007 @ 5:38:07 PM
(Not Rated)
It's one of those things I'd like when I am too old to have a pet of my own. Thanks Gladys.
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Gladys Mercier
posted on 8/23/2007 @ 7:54:36 PM
Rated Blog Entry
You are a wonderful person to do this for the patients. They do not have much to make them happy but a cute dog like Jewel would brighten any day.
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Gail Kirkegaard

Lakewood , CO

Gail Kirkegaard has posted 25 blog entries and 246 comments since joining on 3/2/2006. Gail Kirkegaard 's average blog rating is 4.86.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS BLOG ENTRY
BLOG ENTRY RSS FEEDS
BLOG LIST
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is  register,  then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyonewhat events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos