Hudson's Nursing Home Visit

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

My dad fell about 3 weeks ago and suffered a bleed to his brain. He was doing well and was released from the hospital, but started gettting worse about a week later. He lost a lot of his speech and had numbness in his arm and face. Luckily he has improved greatly, but is now in a nursing home/rehab center for rehabilitation. They allow dogs to visit! :) I would like Hudson to be a therapy dog one day, so it was exciting to be able to take him. He handled everything he encountered (wheel chairs, walkers, machines) very well. It was nice to see him brighten many of the patients' faces. While we were talking, Hudson was over by my dad and was licking his hand. The next thing I knew, he jumped up on the bed and started cuddling with him and making himself at home! Ooops....... We'll have to work on the fact that different places have different rules!

No dog's on the bed? But why??????

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

Thanks for all of the well wishes. My dad is doing amazingly well! It is great to hear that Hudson didn't violate Therapy dog rules by getting on the bed. :) He just loves people and loves being close to them, so it is nice to know that it is allowed in some cases! :)

[Susan and Sasha]

So glad that Hudson could make your Dad's day a little brighter...
I hope he is up and about very soon...

[Frannie & Callie]

Aww - Hudson would make anyone smile! Glad that your dad is doing better and hope that he continues on the good recovery path!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Our family dog was allowed on the bed with my dad when he was in inpatient rehab after a car wreck. I think Hudson knew he could that it would help your dad :) What a great photo. I hope your father recovers very soon.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

First of all he is adorable and Dad looks very happy. The fact that you were visiting family does make the rules a little different. I believe with Delta Society the rules for dogs on the bed are that you have to use a towel underneath them on the bed and you have to discard the towel after each room. This should limit spreading germs from room to room, and also protect your dog from anything that might be on the bed as well. I haven't had any facilities tell me "NO DOGS ON THE BEDS", as a matter of fact, I've found them to be very lax with the rules. I trained Sophie to not jump up on the bed so when we started to encounter a few of our regulars that want her up on the bed it became a little tricky for her to know when it is ok, and when it isn't. If I had to offer one training tip if you plan on getting into therapy work it would be the "LEAVE IT". I'm struggling with Sophie on that now that we are visiting in a hospital environment. There are so many little things on the floor and so many food items on their trays that she is really preoccupied with them and her leave it needs some refresher. Most of the time she will leave it, but occasionally something gets her attention and it is a struggle. So, hope Dad gets better and best wishes with your Therapy Dog plans with Hudson.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Awww, Hudson will be a wonderful Therapy Dog. Hope you Dad is back to normal real soon.

[Carol and Banjo]

Wishing your Dad a full recovery. I'm sure Hudson was a bright spot in his day!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I bet your dad was so happy to see him, who wouldn't, with that adorable cow costume... :-)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I bet your Dad's eyes lit up when he saw Hudson walk through the door. So, what is wrong with sharing the bed if the patient is OK with it? That is the best therapy ever...way to go Hudson!

[BG and Gavin]

Hudson says: "More Cowbell!!"