Someone asked about therapy dogs

Someone asked about therapy dogs and visiting nursing homes so I thought I'd answer here too.

Scotty is very laid back. Most shelties are not. Due to his temperament, he is well suited for the nursing home circuit.

His first mama died last Dec at 86. She and her friend, Jan, took Jan's shelties and Scotty to visit nursing homes, hospitals and so on. Scotty was more or less "trained" by the other shelties, I think.

I called the director of the local nursing home and she was just thrilled when I volunteered to bring Scotty. I just go in, stick my head in the door of a room and ask if they'd like a visit from a pretty dog. All but one have said yes. She didn't like dogs so I just wave to her as we go on by now.

Most are up and in their wheelchairs so they have to bend down to pet Scotty. I need to figure out a way to get him up about 6". Thinking of a wagon. He could sit in that and let them pet him. I can't keep lifting him and holding him up. Puts us both in a very awkward position and makes my back hurt quick!

The ones that are still in the beds almost always want me to put Scotty up in the bed with them. So I do. He lays down right next to them, lets them pet him to their hearts content and I give them treats to feed him. They're so thrilled to see him it just makes your heart smile.

One lady was sitting in her wheelchair out by the nurses station just sobbing her heart out. The nurse asked me to take Scotty over to her and when she saw him, she quieted right down and pet him.

It's kind of hard on me and I think hard on Scotty when he knows they're very, very sick. The first lady he visited in the nursing home up here has passed on. I think he knew she didn't have long. But then days like last Friday, he was all smiles because everyone he went to visit was doing ok.

We went into an activity that they were doing and they stopped so they could visit with Scotty. Pushed the tables out of the way and circled their wheelchairs around him. He loves the attention but he's always so careful with the people. He's very gentle and quiet so that he doesn't scare or startle them.

All in all, my boy is a pretty amazing little guy. And I'm sure you can tell that I love him dearly.

Excitiing times in Indiana

Scotty, Denis and I have been having some exciting times through no fault of our own! We are about 1 1/2 hrs from the epicenter of the Illinois earthquakes. The first one we all slept through. The second one found Scotty and me in the center of the house watching the glass lamp shades rattle on the antique oil lamps! Scotty had been sound asleep but was up like a shot! wow! We just don't GET earthquakes in Indiana!

Then yesterday, Scotty heard something outside. He sounded off immediately! When I went to see, the FedEx man had left this Doggy Pal and Lil Kitty on the front step. As soon as I brought in the box, Scotty relaxed. He had done his job and scared off any intruder. :) He's so cute and protective.

Got a call today from the lady that tried to keep Scotty when her friend, his first "mom", passed away. Her dogs just wouldn't accept him.

At any rate, she told me that she had gotten a call from a nursing home that is about 70 miles northeast of us. That activity director was looking for someone with a therapy dog to visit them. I wish I could. But I just think that's too far for us to commit. Disappointing, especially since I saw what happened with this guy last week.

I have to tell you that Scotty keeps me in stitches a good bit of the time. 2 vets cautioned us that if we were not training Scotty, he would be training us. I'm happy to report that these 2 old dogs (my husband and I) are still trainable! LOL

Scotty told me the other day that he wanted to go outside. So I went to the foyer, got his leash, turned around....no Scotty. I said,"Hey, I thought you wanted to go for a walk!". He stuck his head around the corner of the door, looked at me with the leash in my hands, turned left and headed down the hall to the computer room to get my husband. He made it quite obviously which one of us was to take him for his walk. We both just cracked up.

He just spreads such joy wherever he goes. And tomorrow we will go visiting the nursing home again.

Our Debut

We're back from the nursing home and I have to tell you all....my Scotty is just amazing! He was SO good. And those old folks just lit up when they saw him. One lady wanted to keep him. Said he could sleep right there in her bed with her. lol

First lady we went to see was in bed. We put Scotty right up in the bed with her and she petted and petted him. I gave her a treat to give him and she just smiled when he ever so gently took it from her hand.

Found out later that they don't expect her to make it through the weekend.

Another lady just talked and talked and talked to us (the activity director took us around the first time) and to Scotty. When we left her room, the director talked about how wonderful it was. I hadn't a clue what she meant. Then she explained that the woman had not been able to even carry on a conversation since she'd been in the nursing home! Scotty opened her right up!

They told us to come back any time we wanted, as often as we wanted and stay as long as we want. They're delighted to have us! How cool is that?

Being a therapy dog

Scotty is quite interested in being a therapy dog from what I can tell. He is very calm and seems to like everyone he meets. This morning, I talked to the lady (Jan) that taught him and his first owner about Scotty being a therapy dog. She said he's happy going to visit in the nursing homes and that he never makes a peep. :)

I think he's going to be glad to go back to work. I'm afraid he's pretty bored just hanging out with me all day. When Denis gets home, they go for a long walk and then run up the hill. Denis says only maybe 100 feet or so but Scotty's little legs just churn as fast as they can go!

We're so happy to have this guy. And we're so grateful to the Sheltie Rescue of Greater Lafayette and to Peg Barton, the wonderful lady that runs it.

So Thursday, April 10, is the first trip to the nursing home. Wish us luck!

Scotty and I go to work next week!

Scotty was utilized as a therapy dog as mentioned previously. I called one of the local nursing homes to see if we could visit. The director was wonderful! She was delighted to hear from us and thrilled that we wanted to visit.

So our first visit will be April 10 and then we'll see about setting up a schedule. Since Scotty knows all about this, he's going to have to teach me!