Retirement Home Visits with Beau

One of the most fulfilling things I have done with my dog Beau is visiting a retirement home. A year ago I was invited to do an obedience demonstration at a retirement home in Arlington.

I was a little nervous because, even though I trusted my dog’s temperament, he had not gone through Therapy Dog testing. The sights and smells would be different, but I had been taking Beau so many different places over the course of his life, that I was confident he would be okay. He had been to many different training facilities, dog shows, hotels, home improvement stores, pet stores, schools, and walking everywhere.

At the time of our invitation, we were working on his Companion Dog Excellent Title. So I packed up my jumps and his dumbbell and some traffic cones and off we went.

I left him in the car and set everything up. I retrieved him and allowed him to smell the outside grounds and take a look around. I then approached the sliding door and he looked a little apprehensive as he entered. He then saw his obedience equipment ahead and new why we were there. I used bait heavily to have him heal in and keep his attention on me.

We had an audience of about 30 people who really reacted when they saw him. His tail wagged and he was fine.

We went through our routine and he did so great, completing all of the exercises perfectly. I placed him in a down stay and told the story of how he came into my life. (See article on “Celebrating 5 Years with Beau”).  That went over well and then I answered questions about Beau and his training and about dogs in general. I then had the privilege of hearing about the dogs that had been in the lives of the residents. It was a challenge to hold tears inside as I heard stories of love and wonderful dogs. I knew one day I would be in that position telling my story about my wonderful labs.

It was a great day and I was thankful for two main things. The first was that I had taken my dog so many different places that he was desensitized to performing in a new environment. The second, that meant the most, was that I could use this sport of canine obedience, and this dog that I love so much, to bring joy to the faces of a group of people such as the precious residents of the retirement home.  I was thrilled when I was invited back again this year.

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 This article was written by Caroline Oldham of http://dogtrainingonlinetips.com - your online source for training tips, real life stories and advice in dealing with dogs. We ask that you consult with a professional dog trainer, veterinarian or canine behaviorist before implementing any of the advice or opinions contained on this site.