Friends

There is nothing like sharing a good tail wag with a friend.


Whether it be chatting at the picnic table, playing ball at the beach, or howling together in the park, it always feels good to be surrounded by friends.


Friends have a way of making the world feel like it is full of eternal rainbows and gumdrops.


Even when that occasional cloud appears, it is good to know that you have friends to be with you until it passes and another sunny day appears.

So until I see you again dear friend, hold me tight in your heart.

The Lifeguard

While I was sunning myself on the beach, I deftly watched the lifeguard on duty.

What an important job, I thought. As the title suggests, lifeguards literally guard our lives while we swim and frolic on the beach.

I decided to study the lifeguard and see how I could apply some of his skills to my pet therapy work.

Just the presence of the lifeguard seemed to make people feel safe and at ease.

Since I am a small dog, maybe I’ll have to make sure to bounce around a bit more (if that is even possible – many of you know I am a bouncy dog to begin with) at my pet therapy visits to make sure all the patients know I am there if they need me to help with their healing.

And fashion is crucial too. All the guards wore red with a safety symbol on their shirts.

I have to remember to proudly wear my pet therapy ID badge and uniform so that patients know I am official and have taken the proper courses to prepare myself for the job.

Most of all. I took notice of the lifeguard’s smile.

People were walking up to him asking questions and just saying hello.

Like the lifeguard, being approachable is a central part of my job too.

I have to remember that even when I am tired, other people are relying on my bark and grin to make them feel better.

Dirt Bed

When you are out in the middle of nature you have to roll with the punches.

Literally!

Check out this video of me making my own ad hoc dirt bed.

If nothing else, I am one resourceful puppy!

Nature's Agility Course

As some of you know, I am taking agility classes.

Every week I dutifully practice and do my homework like a good little doggie.

In addition to my usual studying routine, this weekend I took part in some experiential learning outside of the classroom as they say.

To celebrate my parent’s anniversary, we went on an adventure trip to the Adirondacks.

We packed up our hiking bags and spent most of our time exploring different trails and soaking in all that nature has to offer.

Every turn there was a branch to jump over, stream to cross, or a rock wall to scale.

The fun was endless!

On the trails we encountered some other dogs, but most of them were of the stocky, large breeds.

When we passed some of our fellow hikers, they all seemed so worried about me because I was a “little” dog.

As you can see from the pictures, I can jump and climb with the best of ‘em!

Don’t let my pretty little pink bow fool you! I am an agility fanatic!

Duck Patrol

Quack! Quack!

That sound always gets me going!

For some reason the ducks always swim away when I jump in the bay to say hello.

What could they be afraid of?

They probably weight more than I do, even when I am soaking wet!

Nonetheless, I keep trying to make new friends and I’ve noticed that each time I jump in the water, the ducks let me get a little closer.

Maybe they want to build a bond of trust before they make the plunge to friendship.

It might take a while to meet one of the ducks face to face (or should I say beak to dog nose), but I am willing to wait and put in the time.

Until that day arrives, I remain faithfully on duck patrol.

Hope

I wish I could record people’s reactions when I enter a room.

My mom tells me that oftentimes patients and staff members will stop what they are doing and smile in my direction.

Usually the smile leads to a pet or a belly rub which leads to a conversation. It is like a chain reaction of fun!

Sometimes, however, patients cry.

At first that made me nervous as I thought I was doing a bad job by making patients cry. Maybe I needed to brush up on some of my pet therapy skills!

But as I helped to wipe away the tears I learned that the tears were a good sign as they were a release of pain and suffering.

As one patient told me while she was sobbing, I was a sign of “hope for a better day.”