Tag Archives: Joy

Methods to Success

Dogs & Other Animals, , ,

I have learned over the years that each of my Therapy Dogs has had a different way of working. Each has excelled in his or her own special way.

Jewel was my first certified Therapy Dog. She was one of the moms from a puppy mill case that took in 97 dogs but ended up with 105 after puppies were born. Jewel was a color headed white, full sized collie. I named her Jewel because her beautiful sable spots looked like jewels on her white coat. She was a sweetheart. Her method of providing comfort was to stand quietly while she was petted. Sometimes she would lay down with a person who wasn’t ambulatory. You could feel the gentleness emanate from her.

The photo above is my Trevor. He was an abandonment case that I took in. He came to me as an adult, but weighing only about 20 lbs. At his full weight he was 32 lbs. Trevor was a natural born Therapy Dog. He could do the job without me. He would go to people I didn’t even see, because he sensed that they needed him. He could work a room like I’ve never seen. What a gentle soul he was.

Duncan, above, trained and was certified as a Therapy Dog the same year as Trevor. I was Duncan’s third home by the time he was 4 months old. He was quite the handful and continued to be for many years. Duncan was a good Therapy Dog and brought joy to many. Duncan was different though in that he did the work because I asked him to and it made me happy. Whatever made me happy, made Duncan happy.

That brings us to my currently certified Therapy Dog, Shelby. She is a rescue dog whose original owners purchased her from a flea market. When she was 18 months old, they decided that she was too rambunctious. Hello, is that not the definition of a teenage puppy? Shelby is a tireless worker and has a work ethic that doesn’t quit. She can greet and visit with people for hours. Shelby is a good Therapy Dog because she enjoys working, and working with mom is even better. She is a joyful worker.

There are many ways that a dog can approach therapy work. And more than one way to be a success at it. As long as the method leads to happiness, the goal is achieved!

Share the Joy

Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, ,

There are numerous benefits to having well trained dogs. One of these benefits is that you get to go places and do things together. Here are Nikki and Shelby (The Girls) after our walk at Bear Town Lakes Park over the weekend. They are sitting and laying down (on command) for their post-walk photo while my niece played on the tunnels and slide. The Girls also did some socializing with some other children at the park who wanted to pet them.

My older niece got to walk Nikki. If the leash is dropped Nikki will just sit down and wait. My niece did a great job of walking Nikki though and had so much fun that she wanted to go around the lake a second time. So we did.

After we got back to the house and ate lunch, we all played with hats. Shelby and Nikki are trustworthy and able to play with and be petted by my nieces who are 5 and 1 years old. (Never leave dogs unattended with small children, even reliable ones. Accidents happen.)

The dogs and I also stopped at my workplace on our way home. It had been such a wonderful day that I wanted to share the joy. Everyone feels better after a little dog therapy.

If Shelby and Nikki were unruly and disobedient, we would not have been able to have all these fun experiences together. Training your dog/s pays off.

New Dog!

Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue Happenings,

We added a new dog to the family today! Meet Paisley. She won’t actually be living at our house. Paisley is my mother-in-law’s new dog. So we will be seeing lots of her.

Our dogs attend most family gatherings so this is nearly as good as getting another dog myself! At the majority of our family shindigs there are as many dogs as humans. That’s why they are so much fun.

Paisley is 2 years old. Her ancestry is open for debate. We are currently going with corgi mix. Maybe some beagle? I would guess black lab but she only weighs 18 lbs. She is good with dogs, cats, and kids. She is friendly and affectionate without being overbearing. All in all, she is a wonderful little dog.

Oh, and I should also mention that she is from a local rescue group. So one less displaced dog is looking for a home tonight. 😊

Welcome, little one.

Gratitude List

Thoughts On Life, ,

My journal had a page for a preprinted gratitude list so I thought I would make a list of things that make me happy.

Who would have guessed that number one would be dogs? Hmmmm, everyone who’s ever met me?!

So according to the list, an ideal time for me would be a spring hike through gardens with my dogs while reading a book and eating a dessert. Sounds like a great time. I couldn’t work the pens in there but there has to be something left for when I get home!

This Evening’s Garden Walk

Country Life, Gardens, ,

May the flowers in our garden bring you joy. 

Namaste

Magic 

Dogs & Other Animals,

All the world is her friend. Shelby is able to spread joy wherever she goes. And she thinks belly rubs make the world go round. 

Her smile can spread happiness. Whether at home or visiting her friends, this look can change your day. 

People stop by and pet her and the smiling begins. 

And she can work this magic with the old and the young. Not to mention those in between. This is the power of a therapy dog. 

The Last Hurrah 

Country Life, Gardens, ,

We know winter is creeping this way but we still have flowers to enjoy right now. It is so warm that I am sitting on the patio with a book. One of my favorite pass times. I want to make the most of this opportunity. 


The snapdragons are still in bloom. 


As are the regal trumpet flowers. 


A self seeded celosia.


And the mandevillas.

I think this qualifies as the perfect October day. So my friends, my wish for you is that you may have an equally brilliant day.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Thoughts On Life, , ,
Friends
Me and my friend Becky in Bar Harbor, Maine, 1998.

The last year has been quite a time of change and loss for me. Last June my mother died. Two of my very close, dear friends died of cancer related illnesses, one in March and one in May of this year. In June we lost our beloved greyhound, Phoebe, to a traumatic injury as a result of cancer. And yesterday my one-time mother-in-law, and always mother, left this earth.

For a while I was feeling very mortal, not to mention old. I dare say I was somewhat depressed. This seems understandable considering the losses I have had to bear. Now I am reaching the point of being retrospective. I would not want any of my loved ones to continue to suffer their worldly pains and infirmities. Ok, maybe a selfish part of me wants that so I could still have them with me. But the other part of me knows that it is selfish and too much to ask. Sometimes love is letting go. At least for me.

And so it is time to reframe my outlook on life. It is time for the last pictures of me and them, taken during their end days, to come down and be replaced with pictures of us in the good times. Pictures of us living our lives and embodying the joy we shared. Pictures that embrace life! My friends and family were not their illnesses. I will honor them by remembering the love.

Family
Family-my brother, me, and my then mother-in-law at Stan Hywett in 1998

The memories and love are but one part of the experience though. The rest is what I choose to do now. My loved ones are gone. I am not. It is still my time on this earth. Time to live by one of my favorite quotes, the author is unknown to me.

“I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do… or any kindness that I can show-let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again.”

It is my time to show perseverance, caring, helpfulness, occasional goofiness, and undying love. I shall take the parts that they have left me and use them to help pave the way for the rest of my life. The life that is still to come. They will go with me and continue to make a difference in the world. We are but a sum of our experiences and what we choose to do with them. And my friends, I choose to go on joyfully living, taking the bits of each I have known who have gone before me, with me. Onward!

Weekend Bliss

Dogs & Other Animals, Thoughts On Life, , ,

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What a great weekend! Practicing being a kid again. It’s easier when you watch life through a child’s eyes. We got to watch my niece this past weekend and what a fun time it was. We got to create with Play Dough. I forgot how much fun Play Dough is. I think I need to buy some for myself. I’ve been missing out on lots of fun!

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We also took my niece to a park where she got to bird watch and meet Ranger Dan. Everything is more fun when you see the novelty of someone experiencing things for the first time.

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It was also such a beautiful weekend that we got to take our dogs hiking two times. And seeing as we only have four dogs right now, they all got to go. (Nikki not pictured because I had her on leash and she was back with me.)

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There was also time for napping. For the humans as well. It was what I call a successful weekend. ☺

Simple Things

Cooking, Thoughts On Life, ,

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Sometimes the simplest things can make me so happy. One of those things for me is to have leftover pancakes for lunch at work as I did one day this past week. The pancakes I had this time were blueberry oatmeal chocolate chip.

My lunch made me smile that day. I think that it is good that small things can make me happy. That means that I am happy more often than if only monumental things could make me happy.

May your joy be great and your pancakes be plentiful.