General Chat

HAD A WONDERFULL EXPERIENCE TODAY,
WAITING FOR MY FRIEND TO GET THE CAR,
I WAS IN MY WHEELCHAIR WHEN A MAN CAME
TOWARDS ME HE HAD TWO DOGS
BERNIESE I THINK MOUNTAIN DOGS,

NOW ME AN DOGS APART FROM TWO OTHERS
DONT GET ON BUT FOR SOME REASON THESE TWO
CAME STRAIGHT TO ME AND I FELT SO CALM,HE THEN
TOLD ME THE DOGS WERE WORKING THEY WERE THERAPY
DOGS,HE TOOK THEM ROUND HOSPITALS AND HOMES,ONE
DOG WORKED WITH ADULTS THE OTHER CHILDREN,
BRAIN INJURIES AND STROKE PATIENTS ,
IT WAS A LOVERLY EXPERIENCE

How wonderful Dizzi...... :-D <3

there used to be what was called a "Pat Dog" scheme - at our local psychiatric hospital were I worked for many a year people came around with dogs to take on the wards for patients to pat and stroke - not sure if it's still in operation, but it had a wonderful effect on the patients - most elderly wards also had a resident cat but no doubt Health and Safety has seen that off :-(

l'm sure they still do that AnnC...amazing work they do too:)

Dizzi....that must have been a lovely feeling, dogs are so comforting:)

jude x

I'm a great believer in the soothing power of dogs, Dizzi :-)


anyone interested might like to look
http://www.petsastherapy.org/

There's a poem on the blog pages

"I’m Toby the PAT Dog…and this is what I do,

I visit a big hospital with people just like you

I met a poorly man last week, I did not know his name

He couldn’t talk…he couldn’t walk..his life was not the same

When I sat with him at first he looked at me unsure

And then he cried..silently..big tears fell on my fur

His family stared..shocked..not knowing what to do

But I knew…I always do..I looked into his eyes and waited…

…and there it was…the smile..!

It closed his eyes and lifted his cheeks..and the mouth that couldn’t talk

He moved his hand and tapped his foot on the leg that couldn’t walk

He bent his head and kissed my nose then slowly tried to speak

He tried so hard to say how he felt…the first time in a week

I may not see him next time..but there will be someone new

I’m Toby the PAT Dog…and this is what I do…"

Rose that's such a lovely poem :-)

Dizzi that must have been so wonderful....they are very special dogs <3

If you need some laughter as therapy, you should have seen our dog today, 'helping' OH clean out the pond. As fast as OH was filling a bucket with weed, dog was grabbing it and flinging it round the garden, or standing in the pond (in the way) or running over newly grass-seeded area, or grabbing OH's gardening gloves. Not very soothing though :-D

I can vouch for the effect the "Pat Dog" visits had. Once when I was visiting MiL in her care home (and she was in the EMI set because of memory loss). There was one lady there who was always curled up on a chair almost as though in a coma. And the pat dog came in and she suddenly lit up. sat up to stroke him, she was smiling - you could suddenly see what a lively person she had been in the past, it was really touching.

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVELY, DIZZI.

THEY'RE PROBABLY LITTLE B*GGERS AT HOME, BUT KNOW WHEN TO BEHAVE!! :-D

That's lovely for you Dizzi.

PAT dogs do play a wonderful part in peoples lives albeit for a short period of time,but they do lift the spirit and that in it self can go on for longer.


I am a fervent dog lover, 'my first' dog was born a week before me.
Mum came home from ante natal clinic to find that the family dog had given birth to pups at the bottom of the stairs.
They kept one dog sadly the mother died before I could remember her ,my sis was 4 and chose the pup ,so he grew up with children around.
He wasn't that big but remember sort of riding on him as if he was a horse.!
He was such a softy.

Nan was disabled after breaking her leg, lived next door used to ask for him to go in to see her ,if he wasn't with one of us when we went there (many times a day )....' Where's our Trix ' was her first question, tho he was usually with us ,he had a calming effect on her.
When I went out play on the lane below our house he always came with me,(my carer) and all the kids used to love him,some were a bit rough with him but he was as good as gold with them and some of their fears of dogs were elevated.

He wasn't a trained PAT dog but had a wonderful nature and gave pleasure to many.

I think it is a scheme that is brilliant,and hope you see the dogs again Dizzi.:)
Lovely Poem Rose :)

Sandie.

I have worked with deaf students who have hearing dogs for the deaf, along the same principle as guide dogs for the blind. These dogs are amazing for the support they give to help and enhance the lives of their owners, and most importantly they really love and enjoy what they are doing.

we have several wonderful schemes here ..............

guide dogs for the blind, and hearing dogs for the deaf of course

but also dogs to help the disabled, especially in a wheelchair. They are trained to pick up things dropped on the floor, open doors, the fridge. Some can even take objects out of the fridge and carry it over to the wheelchair. I used to see one lady in a wheelchair frequently at our local coffee shop ................ her dog could pick up coins dropped on the floor and give them back to her :-0


Dogs trained to help with autistic children ............... both in calming them and being "carers" to keep them out of danger.


Training these dogs is horribly expensive ................ more expensive than training a guide dog for the blind.


Taking pets into care homes has become very common over the last few years, and there have been some wonderful stories.

At Crufts every year they have an award "Friends for Life" for dogs who have made a difference to their owners lives. You can see the details on this link:

http://www.crufts.org.uk/news/friendsforlife2013

I also remember seeing a programme about a pet dog who tells his young diabetic owner when her blood sugar levels are dangerous. He did this instinctively but has since had training. On the same programme was a dog who did his disabled owner's shopping for him, taking tins off shelves and even take money out of a cash machine.

These dogs really are man's best friend!

It is nice to have a positive thread about dogs after all the negative ones there have been recently.

Lovely thread DIZZI............ thank you xxx