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This is how to exercise a Mountain dog! A weighted pack and a long walk = a tired happy pup:) This guy has waaayyyy too much energy these days. We've had to go back to square 1 with training. Gus turned 1 on Aug 14th and currently weighs in at about 95lbs. Gotta learn his size!!! Still believes he's a lap dog, oh boy!

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I am HERE!!! My last day at PRC for awhile. Gosh, I'm gonna miss it!

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I want to let my Parkridge friends know that I will be away for awhile. Mom has taken a new & temporary position at a different site. I plan to be back sometime next year..... I will miss you and the extra special attention I get from both residents & staff. It's been so much fun spending time with y'all 😘

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Mom dropped me off at one of my very favorite places....doggy daycare!!! WhootWhoot!!! Too excited to pose for this picture!!!!!!! Mom thinks i get a bit of extra special attention here from the dog trainers because the more i come the more i listen to commands like sit/stat/come/heel :). Thanks ladies at Paws N' Train !

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July 05, 2015 at 12:18PM

I am in time out. Just can't help myself... The cat is soooo much fun to chase up & down the stairs. Mom, i didn't mean to destroy the stairs in the process...honest!!
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July 01, 2015 at 01:33PM

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July 01, 2015 at 10:31AM

Happy Canada Day everyone!!!
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Happy Canada Day everyone!!!

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Helping build the fence in the back yard on this hot, hot day!!! Also had a weigh in at the vet today.... 84 lbs & growing:)

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June 27, 2015 at 06:40PM

Helping build the fence in the back yard on this hot, hot day!!! Also had a weigh in at the vet today.... 84 lbs & growing:)
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June 24, 2015 at 09:59PM

Hung out with my dog Buddies at Paws N' Train doggy daycare today!! Tomorrow I'll be at Parkridge for a little visit. Missing my people buddies there :)
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June 12, 2015 at 07:46AM

I had a great first day back at work. LOVED seeing my Parkridge friends, both residents & staff. You guys rock!!! I will be back again next Thursday :)
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June 06, 2015 at 05:00PM

Gosh I LOVE being at the farm!!!! Wide open spaces where I can Run, run, run. I'm rocking the recall too and always come to Mom when she calls me.....lots of space to practice here
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See how pretty I can sit (I'm really hoping for a bite of that beef jerky mom's holding)

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Beautiful, natural prairie.

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Cooling off in The creek.

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I plan to be back to work next week..... Thursday, June 11th is my RTW date :)

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I plan to be back to work next week..... Thursday, June 11th is the day I'm planning for :)

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A big shout HELLO to my Parkridge pals!!! My stitches from my hernia repair & neuter are healing fairly well. I need to have a final check from my vet in the next couple weeks. Then hopefully I can make an appearance back at work:).

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May 26, 2015 at 08:11PM

A big shout HELLO to my Parkridge pals!!! My stitches from my hernia repair & neuter are healing fairly well. I need to have a final check from my vet in the next couple weeks. Then hopefully I can make an appearance back at work:).
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Seriously Mom?! An inflatable cone....

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May 08, 2015 at 06:40PM

This video proves Berners are just big love bugs.... Or total wimps ;-) http://ift.tt/1zSfbR2
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Tired 80lbs, 9mo old baby. Home from the Warman Small Animal Hospital after his neuter & hernia repair. Thanks Dr. Neudorf for taking such good care of our Gus:)

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May 02, 2015 at 04:04PM

Just home from our last & final class in Rosetown. Gus received his certificate of completion!! The course and instructor were great..... And Gus did well too. I am very glad we had the opportunity to attend :). We even got to celebrate with lunch and a special cake😊 Unfortunately, today Gus & I had a bit of a scare. I arrived in Rosetown early enough to take Gus for a walk. We'd just gotten out of the van & started down the street when a black lab-type dog came running full speed out from a front yard with no owner in sight. The dog attacked Gus, barking & growling. Gus was afraid and tried to get away, sending me flying through the air in the process!!! We are ok....other than being bruised, a sprained finger and definitely a bit freaked out 😳. So, the lesson in all this is #1. Drop the leash. In a big dog fight its best for the human to get the heck out of the way; and #2. No one should leave their dog free and unsupervised!!!! Especially if it's aggressive like the one that came after us. Could have been much worse.
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Its only 230 & I'm so tired from all my visiting today.... Nap time :)

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Yep...... Kinda how things roll at our house 😉 It's hard to be sneaky when you're 82 lbs.

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April 08, 2015 at 07:08AM

Six Wags Grooming Salon i need a spa treatment!!! In the next week or so if you have any openings :)

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April 06, 2015 at 09:16PM

Hope Everyone had a very happy Easter!! Training was fairly laid back this week/weekend as our family has been really busy lately. However, to recap, last weekend in Rosetown we practiced 'polite greetings' and being in the centre of a crowd. I did great in class. Mom's not holding her breath in real life settings, however. I just love to meet people soooo much that sometimes my excitement gets the better of me! I am still only a puppy I'll turn 8 months next week. Tomorrow evening I have another Level 1 obedience class in Saskatoon at Paws & Train. I'm working on "staying in place" in this class.....which means I'm learning to go to my mat on my own when told to "go to my place". This is part of having good manners and keeping out of the way when residents, staff are in Mom's office and i need to sit quietly. Also, this will be important at my home for when we have company and when my family is eating meals at the table (etc). Practice, practice!! Cheers! Gus

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March 27, 2015 at 11:16AM

Here are some pictures to brighten your day!!!! Our Parkridge puppy with one of our fabulous residents!!!!! Thank you Flo for sending the pictures & giving permission to post!!! See you again soon😊

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March 27, 2015 at 07:09AM

Thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to support Gus & vote for him in the cutest pet contest!!! It was a close race & we missed it by 7 votes.

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Pillow

March Goals :

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February 23, 2015 at 07:23PM

Stopped by Warman Veterinary Clinic - Norsask Veterinary Group for a weigh-in...the results...74 lbs! Gus has gained 13lbs since our last visit about a month ago. He looks like a big boy next to his 5YO 'human' brother. This runt of the litter may turn out to be a really big huggable guy!!

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-27 (-36 with wind chill) and loving it.

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February 20, 2015 at 05:47PM

We had a Mardi Gras party at Parkridge Tuesday evening. It was so much fun!!! This cute newly engaged couple, Neil & Lisa, had their Photo taken with Gus 💗 (Photo posted with permission & photo release consent form)

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So, what's my job as a Therapy dog (in training)?

“What kind of therapy do you do?”

As a therapy dog (in training), my job is simply to engage in “therapeutic contact” with people – which means I visit with people and let them pet me and love on me while I wag my tail and body and act like I think they are the greatest thing since peanut butter.  I’m told this lowers their blood pressure, helps them get their minds off of things, and makes them feel better.  I know it makes them smile.  

This is generally what therapy dogs do, so it’s not a specific type of therapy and you don’t have to know how to do anything special, other than behave and allow strangers to pet you.  Sometimes we will do a trick or two if people ask, but primarily we just visit with people.  Most therapy dogs are volunteers and they only work as therapy dogs part-time when they can fit it into their parents’ schedules.

Therapy Dogs are Not the Same as Assistance or Service Dogs

Therapy dogs are not the same as assistance dogs or service dogs.  Assistance/service dogs help people with daily activities, like picking up things, or help guide them, or alert them to an impending seizure or blood sugar problem.  By law, assistance/service dogs may accompany their owners anywhere their owners are allowed.  These are generally full-time working dogs.  Therapy dogs don't have the same rights as assistance/service dogs, and our jobs are nowhere near as demanding.

You Must Enjoy People!

The most important thing about being a therapy dog is that you must like people and enjoy interacting with and being loved on by strangers.  Some GREAT dogs are uncomfortable with strangers.  If it’s something your dog won’t enjoy, it may not be the best activity for you and your dog.  I have some very good friends who are super dogs and incredibly well-behaved, but aren’t really suited to be therapy dogs because they just don’t like strangers.  That’s just their personality and their parents are wise to recognize that and not make them do something that makes them uncomfortable.

(Above expert referenced from, "The World According to Garth Riley"

http://theworldaccordingtogarthriley.blogspot.ca/p/how-to-become-therapy-dog.html ) 

Too bad you can't train a dog to vacuum.

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A happy photo to make you smile this moring :) Warms my heart! (posted with permission and photo release consent)

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I do remember saying I wouldn't let our dog on our (new) couch.......oh well!

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Happy Valentine's ❤️

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February 13, 2015 at 09:01PM

Parkridge Centre is such a fun place to work! Today a visitor, Karma, stopped by my office. She is in training to become a service dog and already demonstrates great skill in sniffing out drugs for the Regina Police and oil rigs. Karma visited some residents today and showed off some of her jumping and obedience skills! She's one well trained girl!

Gus the Therapy Dog in Training & Karma the Service a Dog in Training

Karma Jumped right up to say hello to this lovely lady!

(photo consent release signed)

If you are interested in learning more about Karma & her Trainer Sheena, click on the link: Unleashed Pet Boutique

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