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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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February 13, 2015 at 08:53PM

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. ( Unleashed Pet Boutique )

http://ift.tt/1zyMPZU

February 11, 2015 at 11:15PM

Its been a busy week and its only Wednesday! Yesterday I played at doggy daycare at Paws 'n Train & today I went to work with Mom AND i had puppy kindergarten! We worked on our sit/stays, manners when greeting someone, and the "leave it!" Command. Not to toot my own horn .... but i rocked it ;-) Well, okay, maybe not the part about leaving the food, but come on... thats tough.

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65 lbs @ 6.5 months

I stood on the scale with this guy yesterday.

 I'm not planning on sharing how much I weigh (wink) but Gus now weighs 65 lbs at 26 weeks! I won't be able to hold him much longer to stand on the scale.

Our Puppy Kindergarten class was last night.  We practiced sit/down stays.  He did pretty good!  We also practiced the "leave it!" command. with food.  Gus gets a big thumbs down for this one.  Where there is food there is Gus.  He's extremely food motivated.  Makes him very trainable and its fun to train him.  However, training him to not eat food that's been dropped on the floor is another matter.  May take a lot more practice!!

We also played a game our trainer called "Pass the Puppy".  Its a great idea and a way to get the puppies used to being handled by different people.  Now, Gus is by far the biggest pup in the class.....and there are a few tiny breeds there to, like mini poodle crosses.  The look on peoples' faces when they were passed 'the big guy' was very amusing to say the least.  Berner's and espcially my guy are gentle, sweet, non-aggressive dogs.  Some were nervous to say the least!  Turned out to be not only a good exercise for the dogs to get used to other people but also for people to get used to a big dog and see how sweet they are (can) be :)  

Here's a picture(s) of Gus at my office today.....he now has his own sign on my door:

2015 SCRAPBOOK JANUARY

5 Months Old (60 lbs)

2014 SCAPBOOK -Baby Pics

August 14th, 2014

September 2014 : 1 Month

October 19th, 2014 : 2 Months (17lbs)

October 20th, 2014

October 23rd, 2014

November 2014: 3 Months

December 2014: 4 Months

Dunnwood BMD's: Oakville Manitoba (July 2014)

When you speak to most registered breeders you really get the feel that they are interviewing "you" not the other way around.  Its important to do your breed research before contacting breeders. And to ask as many questions as possible when you have them on the phone.  Most all the breeders I spoke to offered for me to visit and meet their dogs. Unfortunately, due to the travel distance I wasn't able to do so.

I was starting to be discouraged about the fact that the dozen or so breeder's I'd contacted had no puppies or litters expected for the time I was hoping to get a pup.  In fact, a few breeders informed me that people can wait up to 2 yrs for a Berner and that the waitlists can be long.

"Dunnwood BMD's" was recommended to me by a super nice lady by the name of Lynne Mulder from Blakoke Kennels (Manitoba).  She'd been mentoring Teresa who was fairly new to breeding Berners.  Teresa had bred Shelties for years and loved them.....however, once she got  her first Bernese she was hooked.  I can completely understand this!!

Teresa lives in Oakville MB which is a 8hr drive from our home.  I have to give Teresa credit for patience. I sent her email after email asking more and more questions.  We also chatted on the phone on a few occasions.

My first contact with Teresa was on July 13th/2015 and her opening line to my long winded explanation of wanting a therapy dog and that I had young children in my home was, "your timing is actually really good/lucky. I have a female bred right now, due mid August and only two people ahead of you (on the waitlist) right now."   She went on to explain about her kennel, breeding practices and the 'dog parents'.  Including that Berener's are known as "Gentle Giants" who tend to be excellent with children.

Gus' Dad is the no. 2 show dog in his class in Canada at the time I was speaking to Teresa.  Temperament was what was important to me but that was still kinda cool ;)  Once the puppies were born I was sent the pedigree's of the parents and an entire binder of health checks and temperament tests results.

During the time Mamma Bernese was pregnant with the pups I continued to research and speak to Allison from KENRO Dog Training.  I also chatted with Danica Bouvier from Canine Corner in Warman as she is a dog trainer and K9 Nutritionist/Pet Boutique operator. Additionally, I continued to speak to a professor at the University of Regina, Social Work Department about her knowledge of pet therapy/Animal Assisted Interventions.

Lots of work to get this endeavour started....but well worthwhile!  I REALLY wish I'd started this blog back in July when I began searching and thinking about therapy work with dogs.  Ugh, this blog would have been a lot more interesting to read had you been able to follow along with me from the start versus my trying to play catch-up by these initial posts.  Oh well! Better late than never, I suppose.

Teresa's dog gave birth to her puppies on August 14th from about 2:00pm to 11:00pm.  Huge litter of 10 puppies!!!  Wow, and to think I was worried about being no. 3 on the waitlist and worrying that there wouldn't be enough puppies for me.  

I had requested a male pup as my 'sources' had explained that males are typically better for therapy work.  They tend to be more relaxed and love everyone, whereas females tend to bond more closely with their owner.  Both genders, however, can be wonderful therapy dogs.....in the end its all about temperament and lots and lots of training.

Next step: Finding the right pup......