Check out my therapy dog posts!
Yes, that's right - Stella is now a therapy dog for KPETS just like her sister Pixie!! I figured it will help with doing visits when Pixie isn't feeling up to it but also in the case where a visit is a better fit for Stella. Pixie can be kind of antsy some times so it's harder for her to sit still during a visit and some visits could be with children reading books to dogs and there's no way Pixie would stay still for that!
Stella went to her group evaluation where they observed her basic behavior and interaction with me and she passed with flying colors! She's so laid back, calm, and sweet that it's no surprise she's totally cut out for therapy dog work.
We then had to visit evaluations where we go on a monitored visit and they approve (or don't approve) how Stella was with actual people. Of course she did great. She's like a little ragdoll and is just happy to sit there and keep people company.
Of course we celebrated her success. She got a delicious meal of CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Petite Chicken and Peas from Chewy! It's important that I feed Stella foods now that will fuel her for her work as a therapy dog.
This food has chicken, turkey, chicken liver, and peas and comes in a yummy broth that Stella slurped right up. And I love that it comes in a singles-serving cup so I know she's getting the appropriate serving.
I love this food for a dog with teeth like Stella's because they are tiny and sometimes hard food can be tough for her to chew. Even if I just mix this delicious broth in with her hard kibble, it soaks in and makes it much easier for her to chew. I also love that there are real wholesome ingredients so I know she's getting adequate nutrition.
I always keep her active too so she doesn't gain too much weight. She needs to stay in tip top shape if she wants to be a successful working girl!
Check back next month where I let you know how her first month as a therapy dog is going!
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I am so excited to share some exciting news with you - Pixie is becoming a therapy dog with KPETS - a local organization! !! Now before you ask what that is exactly, let me explain.
First off, a therapy dog is NOT a service dog. A service dog can go anywhere with the owner because they provide a crucial service to the human they serve. An example of a service dog is a seeing eye dog. A service dog should never be interrupted or petted when out and about because he is working. A therapy dog on the other hand only goes where they are invited, usually through a therapy dog program. A therapy dog can always be petted when they are out and about because that is their job - to provide therapy! Therapy dogs go to schools, libraries, events, nursing homes, and hospitals. They interact with people and bring positive energy wherever they go.
For those of you who have met Pixie in person you know that she loves humans. No matter what size, shape, age, gender, or color you are, Pixie will fall in love with you. So lately I've been thinking what can I do for Pixie that will bring happiness to her life (aside from being super spoiled of course) and then I saw a Facebook post by a friend talking about enrolling her dog as a therapy dog.
It made me remember a time when my Grandma was living at an independent living community and I brought Pixie in the one day to visit her. She made me show Pixie to some of the other residents and they got a kick out of how tiny she was. She was so happy to meet them and I remember how happy the residents looked and how excited Pixie was. So either way it's a win-win. I began to pursue signing Pixie up.
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| Posing quickly while on the way out, after passing the group evaluation! |
I had to attend an orientation to learn more about the program and what is expected. Then I had to take Pixie to a group evaluation where they deem you "Ready" or "Not Ready" for the program based on how much control you have over your pet and your interactions with your pet and how they handle people. So the evaluation was in a nursing home and let me just say that Pixie made many friends.
Pixie did so good, with a little help from Earthborn Holistic EarthBites Chicken Treats from Chewy of course! I actually didn't need to use them most of the time because she was so well behaved. When training or preparing your dog for something like this remember that it's important to choose a healthy treat. Earthborn Holistic EarthBites are rich in antioxidants and contain veggies, fruit, and Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit Pixie's skin, hair, and immune functions. There's no grains or gluten and these treats are a fantastic training aid. They are the perfect size!
I was so nervous going into it and I have no idea why. I think it was fear of the unknown. I had no idea how the process would work so I didn't have any idea to run through in my head. Pixie will attend 2 visits in front of evaluators and when given the OK, her paperwork will be sent in and we will get her badge and supplies and we can start signing up for visits. I am so excited for her!
If you have a dog that just LOVES people like Pixie does, consider signing them up to be a therapy dog. Just look online for pet therapy programs in your area.
There are so many opportunities for therapy dogs to help people. Some dogs are used to keep children calm in traumatic scenarios like testifying in court and some are great at rehab facilities to make recovering addicts feel better. Some dogs are perfect for making weekly visits to nursing homes and some dogs are great company for hospital patients that are in pain or enduring treatments.
Stella has been a therapy dog for a couple months now and she's doing really well with it. I'm convinced that she has the most ideal laid back personality for it too. She just sits there. She's like a little stuffed animal that you can snuggle without her getting fidgety. 
