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Blog Entry 5 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

Look out, wiener dog!

Contributed by: Gail Kirkegaard   on 10/17/2007

This morning during our therapy visit, Jewel didn't see as many people in the activity room as she did walking through the halls on the way in and out.

We often run into several elderly individuals who didn't "get the memo," so to speak. They apparently weren't informed or invited to Room 4 where we're scheduled to sit in a circle with a handful of "participants."

" Oh, look at the little wiener dog!" A childlike squeal is heard several yards down the hall as we appear around the corner. They bend over to pet her, as best as they can, being restricted by their walkers, or worse, without a walker or other device to safely assist them with such a frightening maneuver.

It worries me. I'm not trained in nursing, but I know impending danger when it's leaning over my little wiener dog, or also wrongly called a "dash hound." Most often, an aide is close by to give a hand, and prevent an accident.

Not that I worry more about the fate of my little wiener dog than that of the elderly enthusiast. Jewel is spry enough to dodge them. I'm just way too aware of the injuries fragile seniors can sustain to their hips and other bones. Their visual imparity frequently miscalculates the distance to the floor, or they might err in predicting how inept their bodies are when they demand them to cooperate at a time like this.

My own mother broke a hip in her mid-seventies. My husband's mom likewise. More recently, she broke a femur, in her mid-eighties, and had to undergo surgery and several weeks of rehab. Why? Tripped over her cat, I'm told.

Everybody survived the therapy dog visit, and had an opportunity to pet and babytalk to Jewel once I was given a couple of seconds to lift her up to their level.



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Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 10/25/2007 @ 10:32:39 PM
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Charmaine, the breed's German nickname is Teckel! I think you've got Wiener right - I'm changing the spelling from e-i, to i-e.
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Submitted By: Charmaine Robledo
posted on 10/25/2007 @ 2:53:32 PM
Rated Blog Entry
I used to say "dash hound" before my boyfriend's sister, who worked as a vet tech/pet groomer, corrected me to pronounce it "dock sund." Yeah, I usually go with "wiener dog."
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Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 10/19/2007 @ 10:30:07 AM
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Katherine, I'm going to send you a message in your email.
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Submitted By: Erin Feese
posted on 10/18/2007 @ 4:34:48 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Cute bumper magnet! My own poor gramma lives alone and takes care of two dogs, and I worry for her sometimes, because she can't do the things she used to, but will still try (like shoveling in the winter, etc). But bringing Jewel to visit these people must surely make their day!
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Submitted By: Katherine Jerome
posted on 10/18/2007 @ 8:50:20 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Our "Nana" is in assisted living after breaking her hip, so I know firsthand how fragile some seniors are. Your awareness of all aspects around Jewel and her admirers is great Gail. Would you consider bringing Jewel to Western Hills?
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Showing 1-5 of 5 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.
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