Raw Food Diet, Day 224- The Therapist Is In

***

Big Pupi is in his office:

I've got big news!  While Stanislaw is training for the 2012 Olympic marathon, (which I do too, by the way.  He's not the only one up running his wee bum off early in the morning!), I've found a far bigger calling for myself.  Me... Big Pupi... I'm going to make a difference in this world.  You see, my humans decided that I'm going to be a therapy dog.

We've started training so that I can pass my big certification test, and if all goes according to plan I'll be taking the preliminary exam on November 8th.  I passed my CGC exam with 100%, and since this test is quite similar to that one my folks think that I may have a shot at this.  That being said, it's been almost 2 years since I was in CGC class and there are a few skills I need to brush up on.  Like doing my Sit Like Good Boy while on a leash and letting mom greet another human who has another dog.  Yikes!  Sometimes I just get too excited.  

There are many many parts to the exam, and in order to get certified you must pass ALL of them.  There are 3 sections that give my mom pause:

1.  Exhibiting patience with a squeaky toy distraction;

2. Dog left alone; and

3. Gently taking treat from hand.

I'm a super quick learner and #3 is already in the works.  I've made some MAJOR improvements there, since I used to get way too pumped for mini-feasts.  As for numbers 1 and 2... I totally dig squeaky toys so much that I can't control myself (jumping up is an automatic fail) and I typically freak out when mommy leaves me and I'm in an unfamiliar place.  This is the one part of the CGC exam I almost didn't pass, but in the end I was able to keep my wits about me.   But in that situation I had been training at the same place for 8 weeks.  This time around the testing place will be totally unfamiliar.  Yipes!

I totally LOVE to be the center of attention and my most favorite thing to do in the world is work - any kind of work.  Whether it's a morning run or agility or performing for treats... I just can't get enough of it.  I think that I'd totally be into doing tricks to help sick or injured folks out, as long as there's a belly rub or two in it for me.  And maybe my sweet mohawk would brighten their day!  I'm also really good at learning that certain places are for behaving certain ways, so once I've got the hang of the whole hospital situation I'll be an old pro.  For example, The Place of Tile and Steel is for shivering and acting like you're being tortured even when no one is near you, and the bark park is for acting like beast and weebling wherever you please.  

I think right now all systems are Go for my training, but there is one other concern my mom has that she's not sure how to handle... I tend to poop when I'm super excited.  And opportunities to perform make me super excited.  I told mom to stuff her pockets with bags but that didn't seem to appease her.  I told her not to fret too much about it.

You can't fight nature, you know?