GUINNESS HAS A NEW NAME AND A NEW BREED!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm sure you are all getting really sick of my blogs by now. Who could blame you...I'm a little sick of them too. Things just keep happening....LOL. Today was our second Therapy Dog "practice session" at the Alzheimers Facility, and today Guinness and I were on our own (no trainer). When we got there we saw many of the same patients we had originally met last week. Guinness seemed to be very calm and happy today...tail wagging from the time we went through the door. I was also feeling WAY more comfortable. Anyway, we went down to the community room where everybody was waiting for Guinness's arrival. We started to "make the rounds" and the first patient asked what his name was...I said "Guinness". Blank stare. Then the second patient...same thing. They just couldn't connect with his name at all (apparently they wern't big Irish Beer drinkers). So, the Director asked me if we could change his name for his visits there. I said sure...she suggested "Jinny". I agreed, and for the rest of the visit Jinny (formerly known as Guinness) was his name. A couple of the ladies asked what kind of dog he was. You can already see the problem with this...right? I said Labradoodle...again nothing but blank stares. So, once again the Director stepped in. "Would you mind if we just said he was a Poodle?" I said fine with me. So, now I have a Poodle named Jinny. The funniest part of the whole thing was when I said to the Director "aren't they going to be confused that he's a male named Jinny?" She had a real good laugh over that one. I can't promise not to blog again in the near future. Murph is scheduled to lose his "manliness" on Monday, and I'm already "freaking out" over it. Oh no, I'm afraid that could result in another blog.

[Linda and Murphy]

I'm at work..laughing out loud. Thanks Jane

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Keep blogging - love your stories!

[Anna and Achilles]

Blog away Jane!!!!!!!!

[Kathy Brady]

Jane,
I'm done with school the 3rd week in May and would love to have the "boys" meet Tully. I guess he'd qualify as an Irish brother with his moniker! I'm in New Milford so Farmington is just around the corner. Whee do you get them groomed? I've had a hell of a time trying to find someone good and so far, 6 strikeouts! I loved your story; people continually ask me about his name, "Kelly? Tubby? Telly? Huh?"

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Great story, it made me chuckle. Please keep blogging.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Oh Jane, don't stop your blogs -- what would we all have to do! Love ready them and keeping up with Guinness and Murphy! I can totally relate to the whole name problem at the nursing home. I think I posted a blog quite a while ago about if you are planning to do therapy work take that into consideration when you are naming your puppy. The problem we encounter and I'm sure it is part of their problem with Guinness' name is their hearing. I can't tell you how many times I've had to repeat Sophie's name and they just don't hear it correctly and they try to repeat it and still not get it right. What I have found that helps is the one hospice organization she works for gave her a little purple heart to wear on her collar that has her name on it on one side and it says "Paw Pal" on the other. It seems that even if they can't hear, they can read, so I just show them the heart (or many times they see it and will say her name). Maybe Guinness could have a bandanna with his name! The whole GoldenDoodle thing hasn't been too much problem. Probably because Sophie looks a lot like the Golden. They usually chuckle at the Doodle part, but they understand the Golden and Poodle most of the time. Good Luck on Monday. We will be thinking about little Murphy.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Don't you dare stop your blogs. They make my day! Well, Jinnythepoodle, formerly known as Guinnessthedoodle, will be a big hit next time when he - er she er whatever visits and has to get introduced for the first time - again. Every day is a new day and Guinness can choose a new name and breed each time! LOL

[Adina P]

LOL...where'd she get "Jinny" from of all names? That's pretty funny. I like the picture in my mind of all the residents dumbfounded by "Guinness the Labradoodle"

[cheryl & oliver]

Aww, I think that is the best blog yet, lol...Isn't it wonderful that he can connect so well, no matter what his name is or what kind of dog he is...Don't u dare stop those blogs, I love them and look forward to them...Love it, Jinny the Poodle, gotta chuckle at that one...

[Camilla and Darwin]

Oh my gosh, don't limit your blog posts, I LOVE reading them! They are all so cute and funny. "Jinny the Poodle" sounds like an amazing therapy dog.. :-)