Come my friend let’s sit awhile
We’ll share a joke; We’ll share a smile
And before our visit is marked through
We’ll share what’s new with me; what’s new with you.
Just HAVE to Brag!
Posted By ê¿ê on December 29th, 2008
As you know, my husband and I breed Whippets and we are so lucky and proud that several of the dogs in our last litter (that just turned 4 years old!) are certified Delta Society Partners and do Therapy Dog work at local hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and schools.
One owner is very active in doing therapy work with her Whippet, Ashley who is especially good with cerebral palsy victims. Their shaky movements don’t phase him at all nor does their sometimes heavy petting. Here he’s dressed for Holiday visits in his red Santa suit — what a guy!
It was really hard for me to give Ashley up as he was already well on the way to a breed championship, but this is so much more important than a certificate on the wall ever could be.
He joins sister Tara as a therapy dog and follows Wendy and Bridget (not related, but all “my” dogs) who were therapy dogs before him.
I’ll be breeding his sister, Butterfly later this year and hope that at least some of her children follow in the steps of their Aunts and Uncles.
ê¿ê
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Tags: Therapy dog, Whippet
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Comments 4
Congratulations!!! I have heard that Whippets can be great companion dogs for people with disabilities, but haven’t seen one. There are mainly Labradors or Golden Retrievers, although I think some Assistance dogs now are other breeds. I keep toying with the idea of an Assistance dog myself – but not until I know I would be unselfish enough to go out in the rain to take it for a walk!
Jane´s last blog post..more time
Hi Jane! Over the years, I’ve had several Whippets serve as therapy dogs and as reading dogs. I’ve heard of a few people using them as dogs for the hearing impaired, but they are not big enough to serve as assistance dogs and dogs for the blind. Those dogs need to be tall enough so their owners don’t have to bend over to reach them and retrieving is not as natural a behavior for them as it is for labs, goldens and poodles.
ê¿ê
Well, they’d be ok with me I sit down all day! In fact they would almost be as tall as me when I stand up, he he.
Jane´s last blog post..more time
Therapy dog = very cool! I have one that would be a great therapy dog if his mama wasn’t too lazy to do his registration.
Carol @ She Lives´s last blog post..I See What You’re Saying (take one)
What wonderful dogs! It also helps that he looks very cute as Santa too
Alison´s last blog post..The London Journal 1857
Carol — doing therapy work certainly takes a significant amount of time for the handler! It’s nothing to sneeze at for sure.
Alison — Thanks! He’s a very handsome guy!
ê¿ê