I decided a few weeks ago to take this day off from work today. This was the day that I had scheduled Charlie to take the Therapy Dog test. I planned to keep everything low-key so as to keep Charlie's energy level at a nice quiet range.It has been a day that has been not as I had anticipated it should be. I had taken the day off to refresh and prepare Charlie for the test. But the day started out a little different than I had imagined.
I had planned on waking up leisurely this morning, maybe stay in bed and listen to the news, read a little from a book I started and you know... just lounge somewhat before starting the day. But that was not to be. I woke up to an early phone call at 6:35. Just one of those "good morning" ones from the spouse. The one that translated says, "I've been awake and at work for an hour, so you should be up also".
So up and at it at 7:00 am, I let the dogs out and began to get ready to face the day. From a distance I heard water running in the front of the house. When I went to check it, I found that ,once again, Charlie had turned on the faucet and water was running at a steady force all over the front yard. Not sure when he decided to fill up his water bucket by himself, but from the looks of it, it must have been awhile. Sometimes I feel like I am so outsmarted by the Aussie.
I brought the other dogs in and when I called for Charlie, in he bounded, covered in mud. Not only was he covered in mud, but he had a not so aromatic scent about him. I am still uncertain where or what he rolled in, but he was as happy as a....let's say... smelly pig in mud.
Determining that I could not dry him and get the mud completely off, let alone the stench, I was left with having to give Charlie a bath. Time was ticking by and Charlie's fur is thick and long enough to know that it would not be dried out by test time which was 3 hours away. But into the tub he hopped and the process of bathing a furry 65 lb dog began. He thoroughly enjoyed the bath, but insisted on giving his body a shake every chance he could. Needless to say, I was completely saturated along with wet precariously smelling Charlie. He was quite impressed with the hair dryer that kept blowing warm air at him and his energy picked up.
Two hours had passed and Charlie was clean, somewhat sweet smelling and had fluffy fur sticking out. The Australian Shepherd version of an Afro.
I had planned on taking Charlie for a long quiet walk at the walking trail just before we left for the test, so as to refresh Charlie on a few things, such as don't pull on the lead and please, please no sniffing where you shouldn't. But alas, we needed to be in the car heading in the direction of the test. So I hustled Charlie to back by the field and told him to hurry up and "do it", meaning go to the bathroom so it doesn't happen, God forbid inside during the test. He complied and I got him loaded into the Jeep.
Memorial holiday, everyone getting off work, construction and the fact that I should have left earlier began to allow anxiety to creep in and I found myself feeling rushed, annoyed at the drivers ahead of me and nothing I could do to speed up the drive to the test. We got there with 5 minutes to spare.
We walked in, or should I say, Charlie bolted in pulling me behind him. Definitely an entrance that is not one that will convince people that you are with a passable Therapy Dog. In fact, some people with there beautiful dogs and designer leashes actually turned away from us and pulled their dogs closer to themselves, looking appalled.
I attempted to fill out the paper work, while all the while, Charlie was bound and determined to sniff at every dog within 6 1/2 feet of him (I had a 6 foot lead). Needless to say, my forms are less than desirable in the legibility department. I stood there handing over the check, wondering how much of a fool we would be making of ourselves
As soon as I finished the paperwork, it was our turn to be called out to the center of the ring where everyone now began watching with anticipation to see how foolish we would look. The tester explained what she expected and would call out each instruction. Charlie looked directly at me and it was then that I saw him switch into work mode. The lights were on and he was home. He completed each skill with such mastery that I only had to let him do the work and go through the paces. One of the final skills was to have 5 children run closely by him, screaming and jumping. This was the skill that would later cause several dogs to not pass, especially the herding dogs. Charlie sat there without a flinch as the kids went by him. Just another day for him as this is the constant motion of the household with the grand kids always running by.
Charlie performed without distraction, or unnecessary use of the leash by his frazzled handler (me). He passed not only the therapy dog test, but also the canine good citizen test. He is officially a therapy dog....in spite of all my plans to not cause stress to him or me today before the test. His being able to complete the task and skills is not a result of a one day refresher course that I had planned to throw in right before the test. Rather, it is the result of many hours of being together and learning who I am and what I am expecting of him. It has been a long-standing communication between us, both verbal and non-verbal.
Today let me be reminded that I need to spend consistent and plentiful time with my Master in order to know what is being asked of me. Let me hear audibly and be still to quietly feel my Master's presence beside me.
Charlie the Therapy Dog
I had planned on waking up leisurely this morning, maybe stay in bed and listen to the news, read a little from a book I started and you know... just lounge somewhat before starting the day. But that was not to be. I woke up to an early phone call at 6:35. Just one of those "good morning" ones from the spouse. The one that translated says, "I've been awake and at work for an hour, so you should be up also".
So up and at it at 7:00 am, I let the dogs out and began to get ready to face the day. From a distance I heard water running in the front of the house. When I went to check it, I found that ,once again, Charlie had turned on the faucet and water was running at a steady force all over the front yard. Not sure when he decided to fill up his water bucket by himself, but from the looks of it, it must have been awhile. Sometimes I feel like I am so outsmarted by the Aussie.
I brought the other dogs in and when I called for Charlie, in he bounded, covered in mud. Not only was he covered in mud, but he had a not so aromatic scent about him. I am still uncertain where or what he rolled in, but he was as happy as a....let's say... smelly pig in mud.
Determining that I could not dry him and get the mud completely off, let alone the stench, I was left with having to give Charlie a bath. Time was ticking by and Charlie's fur is thick and long enough to know that it would not be dried out by test time which was 3 hours away. But into the tub he hopped and the process of bathing a furry 65 lb dog began. He thoroughly enjoyed the bath, but insisted on giving his body a shake every chance he could. Needless to say, I was completely saturated along with wet precariously smelling Charlie. He was quite impressed with the hair dryer that kept blowing warm air at him and his energy picked up.
Two hours had passed and Charlie was clean, somewhat sweet smelling and had fluffy fur sticking out. The Australian Shepherd version of an Afro.
I had planned on taking Charlie for a long quiet walk at the walking trail just before we left for the test, so as to refresh Charlie on a few things, such as don't pull on the lead and please, please no sniffing where you shouldn't. But alas, we needed to be in the car heading in the direction of the test. So I hustled Charlie to back by the field and told him to hurry up and "do it", meaning go to the bathroom so it doesn't happen, God forbid inside during the test. He complied and I got him loaded into the Jeep.
Memorial holiday, everyone getting off work, construction and the fact that I should have left earlier began to allow anxiety to creep in and I found myself feeling rushed, annoyed at the drivers ahead of me and nothing I could do to speed up the drive to the test. We got there with 5 minutes to spare.
We walked in, or should I say, Charlie bolted in pulling me behind him. Definitely an entrance that is not one that will convince people that you are with a passable Therapy Dog. In fact, some people with there beautiful dogs and designer leashes actually turned away from us and pulled their dogs closer to themselves, looking appalled.
I attempted to fill out the paper work, while all the while, Charlie was bound and determined to sniff at every dog within 6 1/2 feet of him (I had a 6 foot lead). Needless to say, my forms are less than desirable in the legibility department. I stood there handing over the check, wondering how much of a fool we would be making of ourselves
As soon as I finished the paperwork, it was our turn to be called out to the center of the ring where everyone now began watching with anticipation to see how foolish we would look. The tester explained what she expected and would call out each instruction. Charlie looked directly at me and it was then that I saw him switch into work mode. The lights were on and he was home. He completed each skill with such mastery that I only had to let him do the work and go through the paces. One of the final skills was to have 5 children run closely by him, screaming and jumping. This was the skill that would later cause several dogs to not pass, especially the herding dogs. Charlie sat there without a flinch as the kids went by him. Just another day for him as this is the constant motion of the household with the grand kids always running by.
Charlie performed without distraction, or unnecessary use of the leash by his frazzled handler (me). He passed not only the therapy dog test, but also the canine good citizen test. He is officially a therapy dog....in spite of all my plans to not cause stress to him or me today before the test. His being able to complete the task and skills is not a result of a one day refresher course that I had planned to throw in right before the test. Rather, it is the result of many hours of being together and learning who I am and what I am expecting of him. It has been a long-standing communication between us, both verbal and non-verbal.
Today let me be reminded that I need to spend consistent and plentiful time with my Master in order to know what is being asked of me. Let me hear audibly and be still to quietly feel my Master's presence beside me.
God is great, Dawn is small. Good lesson Sue. Thanks. Congrats to Charlie who knows his master well. I pray that I can grow increasingly close to the Lord to be like Charlie.
ReplyDeleteSue that was beautifully written and a great reminder. Thank you for sharing that!!!
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