Dog Jobs

Monday was the start of a new session at CCSC and Monday was the first Monday of the month so it was time for Baker and Me to visit the Adult Day Care Connection at MU in Clark Hall. Baker is the third of my springers to visit on Mondays and we introduced the puppy, Ailsa, to the activity. One of the reasons I link our visits to Dog school is that I hear people saying that their dogs are bored or their dogs "need a job" and I realize that we agree that dogs need to do more than sit in the back yard or sit in the house.

Usually when this topic comes up we talk about getting the dogs into an activity such as Obedience or Agility or Rally that involves coming to class and can be done by any and owner. Depending on the breed of dog there are other activities which maximize the purpose of the dog breed - for example, the terriers as a group were bred to help keep the rodent population under control - that meant having a feisty personality that would not be cowered by coming face-to-face with a rat, for example. Further, these guys have coats that offer protection from the sharp teeth and claws of rodents and their body shapes tend to facilitate getting into small spaces. A terrier without a job can end up leaving the owners with several shredded shoes, holes in the yard (and under fences), etc. As it happens there are earthdog events which allow the trainer to employ the talents and structure of the smaller terrier breeds. Likewise there are herding, hunting, weight pull, lure coursing, and working dog or "schutzhund" as examples of activities make the most of specialized breed work. What about the "basic dog" or one who might be a pure bred but not "into" these activities.

Well that is where we get back to Mr. Baker - and the realization that I, for one, forget to tell trainers coming with their dogs and families to class - that they can contribute hugely to the community at large by participating as "therapy dogs". Depending on the organization (Show-Me Canines, Ann Gafke's Teacher's Pet, and PALS (Pet-Assisted Love and Support at MU Vet School)) there are different venues where the dogs go. Basically, the dog and trainer are expected to have a solid relationship that includes the skills of the Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) test plus the ability to deal with situations (noises, equipment, movements) that might be encountered in a school, hospital, public demonstration etc. In mid-Missouri we are fortunate to have CGC evaluators at CCSC and Teacher's Pet who are also certified as evaluators for Therapy Dogs International (TDI). There is a great feeling of accomplishment having the dog pass the TDI as it is the dog who becomes a member of TDI (the handler comes along for the ride ;) ) and it is especially wonderful to discover how the dogs literally get into their visits.

I recognize that Baker gets a hint that the first Monday of the month has come around again as he gets a bath and grooming on the Sunday evening before.  Then, the next day  I come home earlier than usual, and I usually I grab his special leash and collar and perhaps a toy, if not a seasonal bandana (Santa hat for Christmas, Flowers for Spring, Red, White & Blue for July 4, etc.) to top it off. He moves enthusiastically (spring, bounce, spring, bark, bark) to his crate in the back of the van and rides intently over to Adult Day Care. 

When we arrive he makes a quick stop outside and then walks into the building in a most stately, calm manner turning first to go around the room to greet each client in a counter clockwise direction. He knows who would prefer to only look at him and he them; he knows who needs him to tuck in closely so that they can pet his head, who needs him to get up on the arms of the chair for a closer scratch, who likes to pull on his ears and who thumps his head. Never have I seen him pull away, be impatient, or object! In the wide-wide world, no way does he allow his ears to be pulled! What is fascinating is how serious Baker is at his job - for no other activity does he devote such attention and energy.  Even though we are scheduled for only an hour, by 45 minutes I see him begin to flag and at the end of the hour he is ready to sprint to the van and into his crate.  While it only takes me 5 minutes to drive back to the house he is always sound asleep by the time I pull up in the drive way.  

Baker comes by his enthusiasm for his therapy work honestly: both his mother, Lily and his Great aunt, Shelley were similarly involved.  Shelley, my first black & white springer, had a favorite person at elder care.  Every week she would break all the rules.  After having made her round of the clients she would go to her favorite person and quietly insinuate herself up into his lap.  Then the two of them would snooze until the hour was done.  In those days there were other dog/trainer partners so her devotion to a single person was not a problem.  She continued in her therapy job for a good year after she had retired from other dog performance activities in spite of her  arthritic hips and loss of sight because of her interaction with this one person.  How did I know this with such certainty?  Well the Monday came when her friend was not there. She made her rounds and sniffed his empty chair and walked, with an air unique to Shelley, straight to the door. I was told that the client had died a week before and I did not think of it until the next month.  

I came home to get Shelley and Baker's mother, Lily. Lily promptly got into her crate in the van but Shelley did not even lift her head from her nap making it quite clear that she was now officially retired to the couch.  She had given plenty and I did not argue.  Lily had a different enthusiasm: children.  She really like the library program in Ashland where children a the library would read to her.  She would lay herself out on the floor and let them crawl all over her while they read their books.  She would move her head following their fingers; provide little licks; even appear to nod in appreciation.  It was uncanny.  

It looks like the tradition will go on from Baker to Ailsa as she has now come along for a few short visits and it is hard to believe that she is a 6 month old puppy when she made her rounds following Baker's example.  It is a pleasure and a privilege to go along with these dogs as they go to "work" and worthy or realizing that there are multiple venues for dogs outside of the house.

Ginger