simpple019

Hi. Ike here.


















If you read my post last week, you know that I'm going to school. Mom says that I'm going to be a therapy dog. I am so excited, because I know Mom and Dad were both helped by therapy dogs, and I want to help others too.

Last week there were only three dogs--me, a Bernese Mt. Dog, and a pit bull.
This week school was much more crowded--4 golden retrievers, 3 labradoodles, 1 Bernese Mt. Dog, 1 pit bull, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Just kidding about the partridge.

Here's me and my pal Moses.
















And a new friend, Dixie. She came from Tennessee.

















Things got a little crowded with the whole gang. But everyone is so focused on trying to learn, we all got along together fine. Her we are practicing our sit-stays.






















Hi Dad! (He's taking the pictures!)






















Moses is learning his recall. At first he got so excited, he bounded up to his handler, bouncing like a (HUGE!) bunny! The trainer helped him learn to calm down a bit.














I'm supposed to SIT in front of Mom when I do my recall. I forgot.






















Here I am with the trainer. She's using me to demonstrate something. I'm more interested in looking at Mom.























What do you think? Do you think I'll ever make it as a therapy dog? It's a lot of hard work. We only have 4 more classes to learn everything we're supposed to know. Then we have a TEST. Yikes! I hope I pass.
love,
Ike

Ike wanted to step in today to tell you all about his new venture, therapy dog classes. So, here he is!

Ike:






















Last week a funny thing happened. Mom and Dad brought me to a new place--a big building with lots of doggy smells. That's okay, I like new places. Especially if I'm going to get treats when I'm there. And I'm pretty sure I was going to get treats, because I could smell them in Mom's pocket.


Mom said I was going to school. Even though I'm 9, I guess I'm not too old to learn new tricks. The teacher's name is Sylvia. She looks nice. Several other dogs came into the building.


 One was a Bernese Mountain Dog named Moses. He was huge, even though his mom said he was only a year old. And there was a pit bull named Lola. I barked at her and she barked at me and Moses. Moses didn't bark at anyone. I guess we're all just trying to get to know each other. Right now, the teacher said, we're here to learn and we'll have time to meet and greet later after we get used to each other.






























































We practiced our sits, downs, stays and healing. Mom isn't very good at it yet, I guess she'll need to do some homework. I did my best, but sometimes all those smells, and little dropped training treats on the floor, distracted me. What's a golden to do?

Overall, I think I like school. Mom said when we're done, I have to take a test. If I pass the test, I'll get to be a certified therapy dog. I'm going to try my best to pass. I really want to help others, the way I know therapy dogs have helped my dad when he was in the hospital.

See you next week.
Love,
Ike