One Step Closer!

Saturday I had my second observation test for my certification with Therapy Dogs, Inc. Mom took me to the p-a-r-k (she thinks I can't spell, but I know that means PARK, I am not DUM!) so I could run around and get some of my energy out before we went because we were in the car for what felt like a hundred years! We went to a place mom called a nursing home, which I had never been to before, and I got to visit with some of the residents there who wanted to pet me. I was a little shy at first, but I had another therapy dog there, named Fergie, who was there to show me what to do. There were a lot of new smells for me to investigate, and mom kept telling me to pay attention, because sometimes I forget I'm supposed to be working because I just get so excited with so much going on around me! We visted with one man, who gave me lots of kisses, and when we left his room, my evaluator, Miss Sheri, said that she hadn't heard him talk that much in a very long time. That made mom really proud! Some of the people sat in chairs that moved, but I wasn't scared, and I could go right up to them and let them pet me. A few times I was so comfortable visiting a resident, I would lay down at the foot of their bed like I was there to stay! We will go back to another nursing home one more time before I get my certification, and me and mom are both really excited about that, becuase it will mean that we can call all types of places, like nursing homes, hospitals, libraries, community centers, or even schools, and see if we can come for a visit! Today mom promised to take me to the p-a-r-k again because I did such a good job yesterday, so I cannot wait for that! One more test and I'll be BONA FIDE!

XOXO
Lincoln

ps- Mom wanted to post a picture of me in the backseat of the car on the way to therapy. She says it always makes her smile to see my big ol head in the rearview mirror!

Mom Read This to Me...You Should Read it to Someone Else!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/10/22/dogs.irpt/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

It's about time therapy dogs made the news! Mom said she'd like to get us involved in a reading program like this one, which is ok by me, because I am so good at laying around and getting petted, and hearing a good story would be icing on the cake. We are trying to plan our second observation with Therapy Dogs, Inc. this weekend, so cross your fingers that I do really well like I did last time. Mom says after our third observation we will be something she called "bona fide," and I don't know what that means, but it sounds like something about a bone, and I didn't get no treat when she said that. Hmph. Mom says if I am certified by Thanksgiving then maybe we can do some therapy work on Thanksgiving day, and I think it would be pretty sweet to get in a day of therapy before I get to eat all those turkey pieces that the little loud people drop under the table at dinner. Anyway, I am really excited and hope we get to do another test this weekend so I can show Mom what a good therapy dog I am. I think maybe she already knows but I like to remind her, anyway.

Sloppy Kisses,
Lincoln