Mattie (my TDI doodle)and I found our calling!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Mattie and I had a terrific Therapy dog experience today--maybe this goes on in your area--we were invited to go to a major state university that is about 35 minutes away to hang out with the students on the day before finals. There were 12 therapy dogs coming over 4 hours. When we got there just a few hours before the end,there were 4 other dogs there, but we were in a lounge area and couches blocked our view of each other....there was a huge Australian LD who was gorgeous! Mattie thought it was an indoor dog park and wanted to play but I got her settled down and she was immediately surrounded by students. The kids went wild for her--she is very affectionate and sweet and the students picked up on that right away. They sat on the floor and let her kiss them and they gave her great belly rubs. It got everyone talking about their beloved dogs at home and how much they missed them. Some of the students were saying that this was the best event they had had and were hoping we would come back for the next set of finals. Mattie really enjoyed the attention, so hopefully, we will be invited back.

Since I was a high school teacher for over 30 years, I felt very comfortable with this age group and had a great time chatting with them about school, their summer vacation plans, etc. It was really fun and it gave me an idea. In my state of New York, the kids in high school have ten days of state finals called Regents exams--it is very nerve-wracking--I think I might ask the principal of the school I retired from if Mattie and I can hang out in the lobby on test days--not the whole time, but here and there--to give the kids some stress relief. I think it would be a great time for all. If you have a therapy dog, maybe this is going on at your schools--or could be--this is a terrific help to the kids who are stressed out.

They did take a picture today and asked for Mattie's name, but I have no idea where the picture will be shown--I will have to check the school's website and see if she ends up on it.

Here is Mattie get some loving on my son's lap. Rio and Lyric are in the background....

[Ginny Nightingale]

OOPSIE--that is MY Lap--I recognize my ugly foot!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Ginny - what a great idea - and wonderful stress relief for students!

[Jenny and Chester]

Chester and I were at "Fluffy Finals" at State University at Oneonta, New York (SUCO) yesterday.  This is his most favorite TDI visit of the year!  The college kids get down on the ground with him and he gets SO much loving.  They all comment on how kind and gentle he is.  He is in Doodle Heaven.  I am very lucky to have a Doodle in my life!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Ginny and Jenny, what a great idea. Who did you contact about the event? I work for a major state university and this would be just great. Our finals are over, but perhaps the next semester I can help them organize something similar. Do you know who was the driving force at the universities behind this program?

[Ginny Nightingale]

Someone contacted me after getting my name from my TDI trainer--BUT I believe the whole thing was organized by a student who seemed to be in charge of it today--she gave us all bags with SUNY Albany Tshirts at the end and she had refreshments there too--so it seemed to be a student organization that organized it.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Terrific! Lots of my former students are at Oneonta--I live just south of Albany (NY) and was at SUNYAlbany today-for those of you who are not from around here, Oneonta and Albany are both NY State colleges.

It definitely was doodle heaven for Mattie too!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Andrea, do you think you would be able to find the report online? I would be really interested in viewing this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Petting a doodle sure helps me relieve stress!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

That's a good idea!  I wish I could bring my dogs to my school too!  You'll have to let us know if your principal goes for that idea!  Your dogs are all absolutely beautiful!  And you have such a variety!  You're killing me with 3 dogs...Don't even get me started!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Well three seems like a vacation to me after just having the last of 9 puppies leave--but it is a bit much when they start wrestling in the living room.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Ginny, What a great program and glad Mattie did so well :)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

way to go Mattie!