Another Therapy Lesson Learned Today!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We seem to be the champions of getting in trouble on Therapy Visits.  It is always on the Alzheimer's Wing's as well, but I hate to stop going there because that seems to be the area where they seem to get the most enjoyment out of Sophie's visits.  Today we met a new man and he seemed so sweet and was just petting Sophie, and she seemed to really warm up to him as well (she can be a little aloof if she wants).  He was petting her with one hand and reached out with the other and took a hold of her leash like he was holding her.  I didn't think too much about it until we went to say goodbye and move on to the next person and he would not let go.  He would just smile at me when I would try to get the leash out of his hand.  The more I tried to talk to him to get the leash, the tighter his hold got.  I finally had to call for assistance from one of the aides.  She had to get pretty forceful with him to get him to let loose of the leash.  In the meantime I positioned myself between him and Sophie, and reached down and released the leash from her collar and was just holding her by the collar until the Aide got the leash loose.  Lesson learned .... think I'll tuck an extra leash in my pocket from now on!

[Sandra Griffith]

Do you think that he thought that Sophie was his dog?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

It was hard to tell. It seemed he either thought she was his or that I had given her to him. He didn't talk alot, he just smiled at me! But it was very obvious that he didn't want to give her up. I felt so bad for him because the aide had to be very stern with him to get him to let loose! But obviously she is trained in how to handle the alzheimer's patients!

[Sandra Griffith]

It sounds as though you handled the situation beautifully. What a wonderful thing you are doing for these patients. I did a lot of therapy work with my Newfoundlands in the past. I can't wait until my puppy Aylah is ready to go to work. She so far has earned her A.K.C. puppy star, but we have a ways to go before she's ready to work as an official therapy dog. It is terrific to hear the stories here while we are getting ready. It helps to remind all of us of what we are working towards.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The waiting is the hard part but obviously can be filled with lots of training. Our Lucy isn't nearly as ready as Sophie is. I always thought she would be the one to do the Therapy work, but around 8 months she developed a shy streak and hasn't totally come out of it. She is much more nervous around all the activity. I take her every once in a while, but Sophie does most of our Therapy visits. They are litermate sisters and different as night and day!

[Bridget B]

Thanks for sharing! It's a good heads-up for and example of what can happen when you least expect it.

[Winnie's Dad]

You handled this perfectly.

We never go on a visit without an extra leash. Aside from being useful for "getaways", they're also good for taking walks with the dog. You hold your leash, the patient/client holds the other.

[Ann Kendig]

That is a good idea to bring another leash. I'll definitely keep it in mind. My mom is in the "memory loss wing" and I have to be very careful. Sometimes the patients behavior changes dramatically from one minute to the next. I now know most of the people on my Mother's wing so I am very aware of who can spend time with my dogs and who can't. The aides are quite a bit of help too.