register |  login
› LAKEWOOD
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
Blog
Blog Entry 7 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

Root for the underdog!

Contributed by: Gail Kirkegaard   on 12/20/2007

There's no doubt Bob's cat, Josey, thinks she runs our household. Named after one of his favorite movies, the Outlaw Josey Wales, she slinks around the house as though we're all tolerated guests. She looks ready to pull a sixgun if we startle her coming around the corner.

The younger cat, Frankie, tries unsuccessfully to be friends, but Josey growls and hisses. I think it's hatred and jealousy, but Bob insists, " Don't worry, they're cats. It's their way of playing." Some days when those two "play," I'm sure there's a murder in action in the living room!

I am not a cat person. My animal of choice is the loyal, happy-to-please, eager-to-play, follow-you-everywhere, good-old, everyday puppy dog. Josey doesn't know this. I've tried to explain it to her. I've tried to demonstrate it to her! Uninvited, she'll jump on my lap when I sit down to compute - in spite of my best efforts to thwart her attempts to force her affection upon me. I'll see her approach in the corner of my eye, and I'll throw out my elbows to defend myself against her leap. Yet, before I know what hit me, there's a white ball of fur curling up and purring in my arms. How does she do that? It's an art.

Jewel wishes she could do that! She has no athletic prowess for jumping. Dachshunds are built for going underground after quarry, like rabbits. That's why they have stubby little legs; better for digging and crawling into holes. Yeah, they were originally bred to hunt and kill badgers, a few hundred years ago in Germany. Yes, BADGERS! Those stout, vicious, nasty, mean, long-toenailed, toothy rodents. Nobody wants to run into one of them. They live underground, and dachshunds are the ideal hunting dog to go into their tunnels and get them. And get them they do! Dachshunds are all muscle, and they'll shake their prey until its neck breaks, and they drag it out of the hole and show it off to their proud handlers. I'm not pulling your leg!

You'd think Jewel would be able to handle a housecat, right? Wiener dogs these days. Mine is a genuine wuss around Josey. It was not always so. When Josey was a kitten, Jewel was often on top in their little wrestling matches. She'd look up at me, " Look at me, am I not the coolest?" As the kitten grew to teenager, they took turns being the winner. Later still, Josey began to take some winning punches and well-placed nips at the ever-shrinking dachshund. Josey is full grown now, and Jewel has had her share of the bossy cat. Josey will strut past Jewel, tail raised high and waving, while Jewel very carefully looks the other way, as if not to notice her. A look into her eyes is a challenge, and that ain't happening any more!

Phoebe, our aging German Shepherd mix, tries her best to put up with Josey, only because she is so loyal and obedient to us humans (gag). Josey usually leaves a wide berth between the two when their paths cross. Cats might be proud, but they're not stupid. We had to teach Phoebe to leave her alone. She thrills in teasing the cats. She'll make a sudden, frightening lunge, just to watch them turn and jump to the top of a chair, or dart into a safe hideaway. Oh what fun! Now, sometimes, I will catch Josey carefully tip toe over and secure a little snuggle in the big black dog's arms. It's rare, but ever so sweet. I wish I could have it on film, but haven't had any luck yet.

We never had a cat in the family until we got Josey in the summer of 2005. I picked up the cute baby kitty at Table Mountain Animal Center for Bob's birthday. Cat lovers, what can I say? I felt sorry for him. He had cats for decades before we were married in 1998, when he left his two cats with his sister. We were afraid that the mature, set-in-their-way felines would not get along with Phoebe. For his birthday, I didn't want to get him clothes or tools. It had to be something I knew he'd absolutely love, but never get for himself. I surprised him. He fell in love with her, as I knew he would, and chose her name one evening while we watched the Clint Eastwood classic.

Our pecking order is Phoebe, Josey, Jewel and Frankie - for now anyway. While Frankie is a more petite kitty than Josey, she's still only about ten months old, and might one day reach a level above Jewel. But don't forget the old saying, " It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog." As small as she might be against all foes, I know that if need be, Jewel will go all out for her people. Nobody will harm her family without first answering to her. No doubt, dachshunds have to be brave to fight badgers. The Dachshund breed standard includes the phrase, " Courageous to the point of rashness."

She's displayed rashness, (read "stupidity"), in the company of other dogs, big dogs even, on the street and in the park. That's my biggest problem with her. The remark, " doesn't play well with others," would be on her report card every term if she were in school. I believe she might even fight to the end for her cats. She's a little hot dog with a big heart.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog



Current Rating
Based on 5 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

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

Showing 1-8 of 8 comments
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 10:44:09 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Jewel wishes her best to Beau! Thanks, and Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Katherine Jerome
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 5:56:13 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Gail, I will always remember this blog as special. A true dog lover presenting a true cat lover with his perfect birthday gift! Your husband is lucky to be married to a very thoughtful wife. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I have enjoyed reading your sunny and fun blogs. Oh, and Beau send his wishes to Jewel!
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 5:32:31 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Wow Gladys. You TRAINED your cat?
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Gladys Mercier
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 2:40:41 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Cute pictures Gail. My cat Tommie tries to get on my lap when I'm on the computer but I tell him to lay down on the floor and he goes to sleep there! Merry Christmas.
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 12:33:21 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Hi Charmaine. I never had a housecat before Josey. When I was a girl, cats lived outside on our small acreage in Aurora. I come to learn how easy they are to care for, but insist that they stay off the tables and counters. They seem to know that, but, of course, I'm not always around! I suppose what I don't know won't hurt me.
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Charmaine Robledo
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 10:50:44 AM
Rated Blog Entry
If you see some of my other comments, you know I love my cat Chester. He is the friendliest cat, not at all picky or hissy. When new people come over, he'll walk up to them, sniff their leg or shoes and rub up against them. Then he'll jump up on the couch to let you know you can pet him now. He, too, does the jump on your lap while you're on the computer thing, but it's because he's saying, "Hi, mom. How was your day? I missed you. Meow."
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 12/20/2007 @ 11:10:14 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Beau and Josey have the same temperament. Josey seldom lets anyone except Bob pick her up, and never turns him down.
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Erin Feese
posted on 12/20/2007 @ 9:48:23 AM
Rated Blog Entry
My roommate's cat, Beau, is pretty friendly, but like most cats, he wants attention when he wants it, and if you try to pet him when he's not in the mood, he'll run away. He does love to jump on my lap whenever I sit down at the computer -- what's up with that? My boyfriend, Gabe, sat down to check his e-mail yesterday, and I got a hilarious photo of Beau on his lap looking up adoringly (and Gabe is not a cat person, but Beau would not take no for an answer -- it was pretty funny).
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1-8 of 8 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