About ME!

A lot of people ask my mom why she has me in therapy, since I'm a dog and all. My mom usually tells them that I am the one giving the therapy, although she has to go with me because I can't drive. Anyway, a long time ago (it was like 2 years ago for you people reading this, 14 years ago for any dogs reading this) my mom thought that because I'm so well behaved and mellow (is that like a marshmallow? I don't know, but either way, it sounds like a good thing to be) that we should volunteer together and do pet-assisted therapy. So we went to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington and joined their volunteer team. Me and mom signed up for a place called the Argus House, which mom said is a group home for teenage boys, and once a month we get to go there and I show them how many awesome tricks I know, and they give me treats. I LOVE treats. I can shake hands, and lay down and give kisses, and I can even sit there and stare at you and drool. Mom likes that one. Some of the boys try to balance treats on my nose or get me to roll over. Mom laughs and says I'm not too quick on the uptake, but I don't know what that means. Oh! And we also visit another place, that I really like. It's called Project Success and we haven't gone that many times, but my friends there are SO NICE and they all want to pet me or walk me around the yard on my leash. Mom said they have something called Autism, which I think means that you are extra special because they are the nicest people ever. Mom thought I should be writing all of this down, so we decided to make a blog so we can share the fun we have with pet therapy with other people. I said that is a good idea, so here I am! More to come later!

XOXO

Lincoln
ps- that picture is of me and one of my friends at the Argus House. Mom says she likes how big I smile when we go visit there!

Certification, Here I Come!

This weekend, me and mom went to our first test to see if I can be a member of Therapy Dogs, Inc. Mom seemed kinda nervous, but I don't know why she was nervous, since I'm the one who had to take the test! I had to do things like sit, and show that I wasn't aggressive to other dogs, or that I could walk up to a wheelchair or be distracted without barking or being scared. I did all those things, AND I kissed the lady who was giving me the test, so I passed with flying colors! Mom was really proud and she even let me have an extra treat afterwards. After my test we did what they called an observation - I don't know what that means, but I got to get petted by a bunch of really nice kids, which was super nice, cause they even rubbed my belly and I LOVE that. Mom said that once I am certified (I even get a fancy tag to wear on my collar!) we can start to make even more visits, which I'm excited about. The other dogs I met at the test were all therapy dogs, except for one other dog that was taking the test, too. She was really cute, but Mom said I was not there to flirt. Hmph. Our next two observations are at a nursing home, which I've never been to, but Mom said I would do fine because I'm very calm and I'm tall enough for people to pet me if they are in a wheelchair or in a bed. I got a special thing to wear when I'm visiting that says I'm a therapy dog in training, so I feel really official when I wear that. I can't wait until my next visit!!

LUV
Lincoln