The power of a dog can be so robust. Dogs are so much more than just a pet. They can be a friend, a follower, and my all-time favorite, a hero. I have been fortunate enough to be able to experience all sides of this through my diligent work training service dogs. It all started in fourth grade when my family received this eight-week-old puppy. I knew right then and there, she was going to be my best friend.
It was the year 2011, and little did I know that this experience would forever change my view on society, and help me develop my forever calling.
Haddie, our little yellow lab, would live with us and play the role of a service dog in training. The connection I had with this dog grew exponentially through each day that passed. It started as this bubbling relationship, to which stemmed off of pressure from my mother, that I had to help out. I was to busy being caught up in the rolls of the puppy's belly, or the golden ears that shimmered in the light. I was overtaken by the way she moved her huge paws, putting one foot in front of the other as if she was mimicking a horse galloping.
I felt so unique, being able to bring my dog into a store; pedestrians stood in awe in response to watching this tiny pup
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being so confident, conquering their world. This journey led me to appear on a local talk show where I shared how this dog was really wise and immaculate. I took her to my grandparent's house, let her play in the yard. Field trips to training class was where we kept ourselves in check on how we were doing, however, I saw it as a chance to pet other dogs. But then the weeks started moving by faster at an accelerated rate. Haddie was getting bigger. Her first birthday passed. Now we are onto month, 13, 14, passing 15. We are almost done with this journey, so I thought. Month 18 passed. Our time with our dog was up. There I was, sitting in the backseat of our family caravan, driving down the Pacific coast, ready to give back our dog to the organization she belonged to all along. I remember sitting in the back seat, confused. I couldn't understand the true purpose of why this organization had the opportunity to take away this tangible object, to which was so important to me. It was the day of ‘Turn In’ the official moment where we would hand over the leash to the trainer in charge, from now on. I stared into Haddie's eyes crying, my eyes flowed like a water balloon that had just been popped. I was hugging her tighter and tighter, begging her to not go, while down the hallway was the trainer, waiting to receive the leash. The moment came where I had to look up into the trainer's eyes, put on a confident face, a face of ‘Crying, I'm not crying’ and boldly transition the leash from my hands, into another's. She walked off. Never looked back. Haddie was gone. My dog was gone. I could not bear it, I recall standing at the side of our car, refusing to leave. Wanting to find the last ball she chased. I was hunting for any scraps of her leftover hair on my body. At that moment, through this journey, I was never in it for the potential of the reward, the reward that someone may receive this dog, and it would forever make a life change in their heart. No. Months went by, no word of Haddie. I wanted to move on when maybe it was too soon. We eventually got the call, the number with area code 707 popped up on the phone, to which we knew was the organization calling us. Haddie had matched with a person that needed her. There we were, once again. Traveling down the Pacific coast, in hunt of finding Haddie once more. However, this time I was in a different mindset, I felt this weird tingle, that this dog was no longer mine, that maybe, she never was. The moment came when we had the opportunity to meet the women to whom was going to receive the dog we so diligently trained.
I walked through the door leading to the room, and instantly tears filled my eyes. These tears were different than the first, it was no longer about me I didn't really know that at the time however, but looking back, that moment was the instance that took my original perspective, and with no control it flipped into no longer being about myself. It changed into an awareness that the work I did, it wasn't about my connection with the dog, the TV interview wasn't about me, the training wasn't to fulfill having a dog in the house. It was about the potential impact, the change in someone else's life that was going to forever
affect. Since that day, and multiple dogs later, I can now realize that the work I put in is about serving others, it's about taking time out of your life, and dedicating it to someone else, even if you truly don't know them. Haddie served as a learning experience that not everything in life needs to revolve around oneself. The feeling I received when I saw Haddie's graduate was something that is hard to describe. I can now look onto that moment as being the motivation to serve in life. I find serving a passion of mine, I find joy in seeing others smile. I can ultimately reflect that my passion for serving others is something that pursues me to be happy, it's something that has stemmed from a journey that I never expected I would experience. The power of a dog can be so robust. Dogs are so much more than just a pet. They can be a friend, a hero, and my all-time favorite, they can serve as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Some medical professionals do not believe that mental health patients can benefit from therapy dogs and go as far as saying it is a risk far as to say that it is a to the patient and compromise the patients ability to take care of the dog. When people who suffer with mental health issues qualify to get a therapy dog. The mental health patient is tested to see if they are capable of taking care of the dog. Those in need of assistance should use therapy dogs frequently do to the part of the benefits to using these pets to improve mental and emotional health as and physical health. Therapy dogs are beneficial to people who suffer from mental health issues by providing companionship as well as support. Some people with mental health issues have a hard time trusting others and need someone to talk to; Service dogs are important because to make they people with mental health problems feel better and help people with these disorders deal with their emotions.
Dogs can help children cross the street, lead the blind, alert the deaf, and they do so much more. Many of times, an adult might focus on the problem that doesn’t need requirements. An adult might focus on the problem that a child is socially disabled and by focusing on this problem, they may not even see how this child is trying to cross a busy street or might be trying to talk to someone that they shouldn’t. A service dog prevents the child from going out of sight and many of times can lead a child out of danger or avoid it in the first place.
This experience confirmed in my heart that I was placed on this earth to help others. I want to work in a field where I can counsel, be a role model, and provide clinical help to those who want to turn their lives around. I want to make a difference. I know why God allowed me to face all I did growing up, so I could have compassion, not only compassion, but understanding, relate-ability. Be the person you needed when you were
It can be a companion, an aide, or both. Pet dogs are loyal and make wonderful company, and an emotional support dog creates bountiful joy, but a service dog is much more. A service dog not only serves the same role as a pet, but creates a safer environment for its owner. Without the service dog it would be much harder for the owner to get around on a daily basis indecently. However service dogs and their owners are discriminated against because people are skeptical of the dog’s legitimacy, but instead the service dogs and their owners should be respected and treated as
Dogs have impacted the lives of 44% of American families and homes. People use dogs for much more than just a family friend. Dogs are used for special needs, assisting police, and hunting and tracking. Dogs should be appreciated and never taught to fight or be neglected. Dog fighting is unethical because man’s best friend shouldn’t have to fight for their lives.
"He's the one." Tom put the dogs back into their kennels before leading us back into the main room. Póilín trotted along side Jack, his lead dragging behind him. Tom and Jack talked price and what we would need. I zoned out till I felt something small scratch at the back of my leg. I looked down to see a little pup who whines up at me as it hopped up on it's back legs and place it's front paws just above my knee. I squatted down and picked it up. I licked my face and caused me to giggle. With my giggle Jack turned to look and was surprised to see the pup in my arms. Tom smiled at me as the pup settled into my arms.
Training your dog is the most important part of canine companionship. A happy dog is one who has structure and boundaries. Dogs are pack animals, and as such, they need guidance in the behavior that you expect from them. If you don't follow through in this leadership role, then the dog will naturally feel as if it is his place to do so. A dog that understands that you are the leader will naturally be easier to train.
This life changing experience had taught me an important lesson. It’s taught me that I can’t let others opinions taint my decision’s, because in the end it’s my choose and I’m the one who has to live with the outcomes. Not only that I’ve also learned that sometimes scary’s good and if you learn to welcome it you never know what will happen as a
Not too long ago, Ms. Morris’s beloved dog, Hattie, had 5 puppies. Everyone in town thought the puppies were boring and ugly. Their eyes were closed, made a little movement, and didn’t make any noise. Nobody thought the dogs were cute, and nobody wanted them.
Dogs are wonderful creatures. They are loyal, dependable companions if given the opportunity. In recent years I have come to the opinion that we could learn something from these animals. We should also take a look at the manner in which they are being treated. Abandonment, irresponsible breeding, and neglect are only some of the ways that humans are failing the canine species.
As a kid, I fell in love with the idea of getting a puppy for Christmas. Wrapped in a small box with a bow on top sitting under the tree just like the movies and tv shows I had seen. I can remember making a Christmas list of all the things I wanted that year, and every year the same thing that I wanted had said “puppy” with it underlined so that my mother knew which was my favorite on the list. Every year no surprise, I didn’t find a dog. I never understood why I never received one. When the kids at school talked about the few dogs they had at home made me so jealous, but I hoped that one day it would be me to have my own best friend at home.
It was new years day, and the sun had just arisen when I felt this feeling inside me saying, what am I doing here, but even more importantly, how would I get out. The realization was scary, but I know that without it, my life would not have been at where it is now. I feel that with this experience, my mentality grew and now I see the world in a different way. It all started in high school, where I felt that all the attention I got during that time was for the façade that was reverted to the people, and not the real me because no one knew the real me. I had to lie about everything I had done and who I am just because one lie lead to another. The area I grew up in has really impacted my life in both positive and negative ways. For one, it helped
My work through Canine Companions defines my way of life. The dogs I train live with me and come with me to the grocery store and to the library. They are a fundamental part of who I am. It’s a year-and-a-half investment of the heart and soul. I teach the dogs basic commands and am responsible for socializing them.
Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted a dog. Never did I think that dogs would end up being by biggest fear. I was just a little kid around 6 years old when it happened. I was walking home from my friend’s house when I saw a stray dog, it was in the middle of the street blocking my way, I decided to walk past it, while I was walking it started growling at me, I hesitated but still kept trying to walk then suddenly it got up and started barking empathically towards me. I was terrified, my first initial reaction being a 6 year old kid was to scare it away, I was ignorant. I picked up a rock and threw it at the dog thinking it’ll get scared and run away. I was wrong. The dog had enough it made a whimpering noise then started barking even louder
To conclude, I am very fond of dogs, they are my favorite animals and pets. They love us unconditionally and they are always loyal to us as much as possible. They express their love and care for us every day on their own special way. They make us smile when we are in the bad mood. Therefore here is an interesting quote by Cesar Millan: 'The love of a dog is unconditional. Being unconditional, that’s a dog. Humans are very conditional. Dogs, accepting. You can look horrible, but a dog will look at you like you’re the most beautiful human being ever, because what he’s looking at is your feelings.'