This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

EverythingDogBlog #51: Miss Smudge, Therapy Dog Extraordinaire

Introducing Smudge! (part 1 of 4 blogs on therapy dogs)

EverythingDogBlog: Miss Smudge, One Smudge Transformation (Periodically)

I have seriously been ‘into’ dogs for nearly 20 years now but some aspects of their lives I have less interest in or knowledge of than others: there are simply too many facets to the dog-human relationship.

I justify my lack of expertise by saying I can’t possibly learn everything about the species. I’m not an expert on nutrition or muzzles, for instance: training, behavior, and genetics - yes. Very few dog sports, however.

Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For a long time I just didn’t see the attraction of the therapy dog movement or why some people wanted to become a therapy dog team with their dog.  I tried to understand it – I attended an all-day training.  But I still didn’t “get it.”

It was nice for them if that’s what they wanted, but it wasn’t for me. I just didn’t “get it.”

Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Until I experienced it. I actually saw it happen. A transformation. And now I “get it.”

A friend of mine had five golden retrievers at the time I was visiting when another friend stopped by with her daughter who has a hereditary degenerative neurological disease. The girl was uneasy and appeared restless and perhaps frustrated and scared.

The dogs were outside but I was asked to go get Smudge.

I asked, “Smudge? Are you sure?”

Smudge, you see (see photo), is an independent soul, to put it mildly. Perhaps the most stubborn, obstinate dog I have ever met in all my years of dog training classes (though we don’t use those terms).

Nobody could get Smudge to do anything she didn’t want to do at the time.

Nobody. No how. Nope, no way.

For example, I thought at first that I could lure her outside in the morning with the other dogs to “do her business” and let her person sleep in, but, no. No matter how hard I tried, the dog wouldn’t budge until she was darn-tootin’ ready to. Not even for a treat.

So I asked my friend, “Do you really want Smudge to come in and meet this little girl?” (After all, her other four dogs were therapy dogs, too.)

My friend nodded so I went to the door and let Smudge in.

Smudge immediately went to the little girl and sat close to her chair, within arm’s reach. The mother put her daughter’s hand on Smudge’s head and the girl made her hand go up and down, rather forcefully, on Smudge’s head.

“Poor Smudge,” I thought.

I almost interrupted, not knowing how Smudge would handle it.

But I waited, instead.

Pretty soon the little girl’s hand-slaps became hand-pats and then almost-strokes. Smudge just sat there, gloriously. The little girl even smiled and said, “Dog.”

I was almost reduced to tears.

I had just witnessed the transformation a dog could make in a person. I had seen how a dog just seemed to know what to do, better than people do, sometimes.

So I became interested, really interested in therapy dog teams.

And that is how I came to read two totally wonderful books: A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home and Angel on a Leash. I will post their reviews individually in the next two days.

My life was changed by witnessing one encounter and reading two books. You, too, can change the lives of others if you and your dog become a therapy dog team.

There are more than 300 therapy dog organizations in the country so be sure to select one in your area that trains, evaluates and re-evaluates the teams; provides insurance; and ensures the dogs are clean and healthy.

You can start by researching Angel on a Leash (www.angelonaleash.org). Your dog can even receive an AKC Therapy Dog title (not you), because your dog does all the work – you go along just for the ride (or to provide transportation).

And now, let’s get reading!

Tomorrow: A dog walks into a nursing home. . . . 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?