Therapy Dog Diary - some memorable days

Amber is now also in the therapy dog training. The tollers aren’t exactly famous for this kind of work in Switzerland. I was very curious about how she would react and if she would enjoy doing the work that Bella so obviously has all talents for. The training is very similar to the one we did last year. One could wonder why I would do the same thing all over again… One good reason is, that I have seen qualities in my toller lady and I was very curious in getting to know her better. There are so many stressful situations in this kind of work but she really shows no signs of distress in any way!

January is going to its end and we have been visiting Daniel on Tuesdays. The weather has been awful but clearly he has enjoyed taking care of Bella. He has held on to the lead without loosing interest in the dog. He is always very good with her and his walking has less stops and bendings-down when he holds on to the lead.

Often I have allowed him to walk the dog independently but today I got a lesson I won’t forget so fast. The helper and I allowed Daniel to take Bella’s lead already in the house and Daniel helped himself and Bella through the door. Then something happened that has in the training always been a classical example of a flop. Bella saw the black cat that had plagued us poor Golden owners (during the training) opposite to the handicapped home. Bella took off and Daniel held on to her. He fell prostate on the ground and got his once dry clothes totally wet again! Now I know, the double lead has to be on more often than not.

Danny was extremely tired and wanted to lie down on wet snow on several occasions. Fortunately he was manageable but then he started pushing us and slapping our jackets. Well, it was time to take his hand on both sides and the dog was forgotten. This was the first time it happened. The helper looked a bit surprised when I started singing a nursery rhyme and Daniel picked up some words as if he wanted to hear it again and again. His English is beautiful. Well, I repeated the rhyme several times. Of course I know that he hears such songs at home, but whether he knew this particular – Diddle, Diddle Dumpling – I don’t yet know. Later on I also understood why he wasn’t so motivated.

He had been having logopedy the hour before and the teacher took him to see a nearby pig. Who knows how long they had been talking to the poor thing and now Daniel was supposed to show intense interest in another four-legged creature. A bit much I would say. Well, we have good and bad days, don’t we?

It is so rewarding to visit Daniel! It gives one such a good feeling. I must say Bella was thrilled about the idea too as we entered the schoolhouse. She started wagging her tail and pulling a bit as if to say she can’t wait to see these wonderful people and especially Daniel. Up we went to see where he was and Bella waited until Daniel’s jacket and other things were on. This time I held on to the lead meticulously so that the teasing cat wouldn’t mess up our walk again. We didn’t walk very long this time and then we went in a corridor to let Bella fetch a ball and fluffy animals. Daniel did not like the slobber on the soft toys and feeding Bella directly from hand was a bit awkward too. I used the soft rubber ball instead. It was easy to wipe between the throws. What thrilled me most was his concentration when he tried to figure out my instructions. He had to turn the lid of the goody box so that he could place a goody on it and serve it to Bella. He really tried hard and succeeded. Someone walked by and had to greet Bella by rubbing her. After having spoken to us a while he jokingly asked, who was getting the therapy here, he or Daniel. By the look of the dog I had to answer, that Bella got the best contact therapy at the moment!

The sun was shining and a walk was a natural way of beginning the hour together. This time there was another boy with us. Daniel paid no attention to him during the whole hour. No touching, pushing or any verbal acknowledgement of his schoolmate. Daniel was walking quite fast at times and held on to the lead the whole time. He noticed when Bella wanted to stop sniffing and always he came up with his standard sentence: "She’s trying!" At times he stopped as if to wonder what on earth he was doing in the forest and when Bella pulled a bit, he woke up and started walking again.

Back in the schoolhouse we stayed in the entrance hall. I took up a soft rubber ball and a squeaking light bulb with a funny face on it. These Daniel could throw for Miss Bella as he now called the dog. Well, from now on Miss Bella will be visiting him every Tuesday afternoon! He does have an English sense of humour that boy! He rewarded the dog after every little job and this time we put the goodies on the floor with 30 cm distance in a row and Daniel sat on the floor watching Miss Bella crawling to each goody.

The other boy was present, but paid no attention to what was happening. Only when Bella happily brought him a toy, he almost panicked. I thought he would be indifferent to animals because he grew up on a farmyard but now I understood that his autism made him avoid dogs. Well, I wonder if his behaviour will change in the future. What impressed me this time was that all the short instructions that I gave to either Daniel or Bella, were faithfully repeated by him, sometimes several times. On walks he has his standard comments but now he said a short sentence and then did accordingly very often. It was clear that he was using language appropriately in the context. During the play there was very little meaningless language. It was so much fun to see this!

Danny had had a turbulent week. He had been sleeping very badly. So when we came he was taking a nap. Once he was dressed he very determinately took Bella’s lead and marched out. This time there were two new girls who each took one child for a walk. We ended up walking a bit separated so that the two girls could talk to each other while Daniel and I walked ahead. Nothing special happened but he didn’t stop very often either. In the hallway, where we usually play there was a lot going on and concentration was a bit more difficult than before. He did remember what to do, though. A certain routine is good for his memory too. He clearly knew how to throw the ball and give Bella a reward. It’s funny how he never slaps the dog or treats her badly in any way. He can push or slap people around him, but never Bella. This time he took Bella’s head and kissed the tip of her muzzle. They really like each other. Bella likes the crawling game and Daniel laughs as the dog crawls toward the treats. The autistic boy was with us but I didn’t pay much attention to him. I think he is best left out of the games, as the dog seems to throw him off balance. Just before we were about to go the boy suddenly kicked the soft ball back to Bella. Interaction! We were all pretty surprised. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when he stays close by in the future.

This boy has now been taking Amber out for a walk with great SUCCESS! After I had observed the boy’s behaviour toward Bella, I thought Amber could be a better companion to him. Amber likes to be close, is very patient and does not insist on being stroked. I mentioned to the personnel that it would be interesting to have these two together. I was met with incredulous eyes and hesitating comments. The boy is not used to dogs and there will hardly be any chance of making it a positive experience. I was thrilled to hear a bit later on, that they were prepared to have a go anyway.

It has worked beautifully! The boy is visibly exited when we come. He relaxes and is able to hold the lead in his fingers almost the whole time. Sometimes he drops it and has a twinkle in his eye, probably to test how we react! He never touches the dog and cannot pick up the lead, if it rests on Amber’s back. Symptomatic to this type of children, he has difficulties to bend down when nervous or exited. His body becomes very straight and stiff. Well, this doesn’t happen during our walks! He loves balls and we stop at a bench, sit down and let Amber retrieve toys. I have now noticed, that he is very sensitive to high and strong squeaks. Whereas Daniel laughs and enjoys the sound of a squeaky toy, this boy covers his ears and is distracted by it. With these type of children, the best and most impressive moments take one by surprise. How this boy concentrates and tries to win his fear when he is asked to take the ball out of Amber’s mouth! We were almost there but obviously he needs some more time to dare to do it.

There is now an autistic girl with us from Daniel’s group. They are about the same age but the girl and Daniel are a bit chaotic together, I was told. One always has to watch them, that their love-hate relationship won’t cause them and others trouble. The two of them, my two dogs and personnel have quite fun together. We run slalom in the forest among the trees. After the children and their helper have gone to hide in the bushes, I let the dogs find them and the screams of joy can be heard far, when they are found. We do adventurous walks on logs and run after the dogs when I’ve set them free. Sometimes the dogs enjoy going ahead and Daniel, who has lately lost his interest in holding the lead, runs after them. This is also a way of getting exercise and progressing on our walk! What I often hear also is the satisfaction of seeing the two teenagers having a dog each and actually being in harmony with each other!

Today the new boy came first again. He was in a much better mood than last time. Now he was willing to hold the lead and to take a look at the dog every now and then. Last time, when we thought he wouldn’t cooperate at all, he finally took apporting sticks directly from Amber’s mouth! Up to now it had been an impossibility! A bad day can bring lovely surprises! He has some compulsive habits with his fingers. One has to watch it that he stays calm. This time I was trying to figure out how to keep his hands concentrated on the lead. I gave my alibi-lead to him to hold in the other hand. Now he had reigns! It worked beautifully. We didn’t have to watch his hands anymore and he was delighted to keep the dog to himself. He is wonderfully sensitive when Amber wants to sniff around or mark a place. Naturally we move very slowly with this particular boy. Since Amber is so small and these children really don’t need any support in walking, their self-confidence grows when they are allowed to lead the dog by themselves. I wouldn’t do with Bella though, merely because of her size! Another thing happened, the boy dare to stroke Amber’s back, very hesitantly mind you but it happened!