How a doodle drums up every emotion & The Therapy Dog test

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

I  wanted to share my joy of a successful therapy dog test with Zoe.  Not so much that the test was difficult, but how we progressed from nervous & frantic to the point of where I was a little extra proud of my baby girl.

 

We arrived early like the tester said and I trotted Zoe up and down the side of the driveway getting her all excited, ready to work & go potty.  Task one completed.  Walk her around new area, getting the princess used to being outside in the wet  [she convienently decided during rally class last summer that freshly rained on grass is not to her liking. but she can romp around in puddled up grass, go figure], task 2 semi complete.  We walk in the building and the man said follow the path around the building.  Okay, I can do that, come on Zoe..  So off we go to follow the not so yellow brick road.  We reached the end of the path where we came to a wood fence with a chain fence inside that you have to be a rocket scientist to figure out how to get in the gate.  I can't open the gate.  Mild irritation with a hint of frustration. I hear my speaking out loud "Eli [my 14 y.o.] figure out how to open this gate before we look like total idiots.  "We"? I here in reply.....Just open the gate.  Give it to a child.....a couple seconds later, I get a look and the gate opens.  Unexpected task 3 complete.  We walk thru the gate and BAM!

  

I had to get over it......the smell hits me.  LHM {Lord have mercy] wow.  Okay deep breath under my shirt shoulders back, I am alpha dog lets go.  Waaaait a minute, my dog is pulling backwards on me, she has her feet dug down and is now looking at me with this face.  This pleading, don't make me do that, I'm scared mommy, pleasssse look on her face.  Holy cannoli, what would my teachers do?  I am talking to myself faster than the speed of light, seconds are going by.  Eli is looking at me.  Deep breath.....oh gosh the smelll.  Gag........bend and stroke, hey girl, ready?  Let’s go....and I start walking.....Zoe was moving, I wouldn’t quite call it walking, but I can work with that.  Whoa, watch out for the explsoive Diarrea on the ground, open door and walk in.  Class in progress, back the way we came....we have to do this again.  

  

Long story short....I walk Zoe up and down the walkway, there’s Amber a new youth member of our kennel club, I've kinda taken under my wing] and her dog Louie, Zoe is in the zone.  Zoe and Louie are chillin, I'm starting to relax.  Here come the students.....work her up again okay, let’s go.   We hit the chain fence and Zoe’s not going backwards but she’s not going forward...Amber go ahead of me, Zoe will follow Louie. Another task completed.

  

We are in the door.  I adjust Zoe’s collar and Amber and I start working like we are in class.  I worked on not being obsessed with my dog NOT liking this place.  1/2 hr later there is the tester.  Remember I'm here for the test. Ahhh a friendly face.   a we bit of paperwork, some fun excercises with Zoe and the testing begins.

It's a simple test, really, if your dog understands simple commands and doesn't freak at the slightest thing, you'll do well.   The tester is telling everyone it's time to test for sit, stay & come.  Sit your dog, walk away, come back, walk away again, call your dog to sit in front of you. 

 

 

 

All the dogs trotted behind their owners as soon as they turned away.  Some I think was out of nervousness, which I totally understand!  Some just 'cuz the dog wasn't ready.  Either way, a few were actually adorable about it, some well, would have my teachers rolling their eyes and pursing their lips.  Now Zoe being a doodle is a goofy girl that loves to play, but when it's time for "work" she gets serious most times, unless she knows I'm not so serious.  It's our time to go up.  I'm nervous, everyone is watching, no one has done it right the first time.  Can you see the tizzy I've worked up in my brain...Here come the little voices again.....lol

 

Okay Zoe our turn.  Don’t fail me girl.  Hoist up the collar, loose lead, shoulders back deep breath, [She can't hear me talk, out loud] Ready Zo, Let’s go! and I walk to the other end of the building wondering why I am talking to myself still....  Correct foot placement and turn. Hand command for sit, hand in face, firm stay.  Drop leash and walk straight away.  Please be sitting when I turn around, please be sitting when I turn around.  3/4 across I turn and stand sweet, she's still there.  1. 2. 3. 

 

 I'm still talking to myself I guess so I don't freak out.  I walk back around Zoe who only looks slightly over her shoulder and I stand at her side. 1. 2. 3. Hand in face and just walk away. please be sitting, please be sitting.  3/4 away I turn.   1 . 2. 3 . im so happy lshe sitting there waiting for my command.....Is that my dog?Let’s finish this... Hand command for come her she comes, dogs all around  OMG please come to me and don't go to any other dogs like a couple others did.....drum roll paaaahhhlllease she sits properly right in front of me like she was doing it right all her life. II smile.  1. 2. 3. OKAY! good girl I walk away, tell her to heel and grab the lead.  Give me a shout we nailed it!  I teared up with joy.  The voices in  my head were quite, I guess they were smiling.  Not so much because I knew we passed, but becasue how well she executed that sit, stay, come exercise.  Task for the day completed!

 

Thanks for letting me share my story, It's just so amazing how a dood can make your emotions run full gammit all in the span of an hour!  All doods are just pure perfection in my eyes and we are the luckiest for having at least one in our life!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Wow!!  Quite a day you had!  Congratulations to you both!!

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

Thank you everyone for your congrats!  Merry Christmas!

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

Lucy~ That isn't the only part of the test.  That would be I think the most difficult.  Our test was:

The first part was a person sat in a wheel chair and another walked around using a walker.  As the entire group walked around we had to go up one by one to the wheelchair and walker and speak for a moment or two and go back into the crowd.  Then we had to walk past a plate of food which our dog could not sniff nor eat.  {you can tell your dog no sniff if necessary].  Then the sit, stay, return, sit and come excercise.  Then the tester goes to each dog and introduces herself to the dog and the dog sits for examination.  Head pet, hand down the chest and check out the feet.  {Our tester said to let her know if your dog has "Paw issues" and if so, you can pick up the paw.  Seperation is part of the test too.  Not for us, but our dogs, LOL.  They go with another person for 3 minutes and come back.  It's to make sure they can behave with another person if you are out of sight. That's about it!  I don't think I left anything out.  It's just a bit nerve racking because you want to do well!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Congratulations! You have a lot to be proud of in Zoe! Great job!

[BG and Gavin]

Great work Zoe!  You deserve to be a proud momma Lisa!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Congratulations! You and Zoe make us all proud!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Congratulations, and thanks so much for sharing this.  I remember the day that Guinness had his evaluation...I was such a nervous wreck!  Now for some really fun therapy work!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Thank you so much for sharing your story - I loved it.  And a big congratulations to you and Zoe!  Well done.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Love the story, but I'm wondering was sit, stay and come exercise the complete therapy dog test?  Congrats as it sounds like you have brought Zoe a long way!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Congrats Zoe!