Raw Food Diet, Day 462- Polish Constitution Day!

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Big Pupi reports on his event:

Oh my feasting, my fellow canines. Thursday was a big day for me!

The day started off a little iffy, as it was raining cats outside and mom was none too happy since my yellow-ish fur had been scrubbed and groomed to fluffy white perfection. As we geared up for a wet walk to the AwesomeMobile, mom snuck up behind me and slipped this horrible, rubbery contraption over my head~I've seen this so-called "rain coat" hanging in the closet, but I've never had to actually put it on. It was a little embarrassing for us both to be seen about town with me in that ridiculous get-up, but it kept my back and neck dry and clean for my therapy show debut.

When we arrived at the school I was CRAZY pumped and wiggling like a mad man. I saw my therapy lady friend Daisy and we said our bum-sniffing Hello's and made our way to the library. It was going to be a smaller crowd than we had geared up for, but that was okay... I hadn't figured out how I was going to get belly rubs from 200 people! Boggles the mind.

Here was our set-up:
Mom and I walked a few laps around the room so I could sniff EVERYTHING and get into the right mindset for the event. Then we did a few practice tricks and before we knew it, the room was flooded with people all speaking in high voices to me and getting me all snarzely and crazed again.

Once the room was full (very full - there were humans in the seats, humans on the floor... people everywhere!), we made our introductions and took some volunteers to the front of the room. We had a mock therapy session with the volunteers and explained the purpose behind certain tricks and how different types of interaction help people with different illnesses and special needs. We were even able to slip in some real therapy work, and had 3 girls take part that were TERRIFIED of dogs. They each said that they were bitten or attacked by large-breed dogs and haven't been near another canine since. I focused a lot of time on them, and by the end of our 30 minute presentations one girl was walking me around the room on my leash and another was letting me take treats from her hand. At the very end of a session, the first girl even snuck in and gave me head scritches! It was a very successful day.

Daisy and I did two 30-minute presentations and each time the room was overflowing with humans. We both were very good dogs and earned lots of treats and even more pets and belly rubs. At the end of each show, every single human rushed the front of the room and I was drowning in hands and pets. It was SO AWESOME! At one point I jumped on to a chair so the folks in the back of the pack could reach me too. That was the BEST reward of all.

Although we weren't able to get photos during the event, I can tell you that my tail was waggling at super sonic speeds - so fast the camera couldn't catch it!After the event I was POOPED and snoozeled in the car on the way home. All together we were at the event for 4 hours, and it's EXHAUSTING having to be 100% Good Boy for that long! I snored like a beast in the AwesomeMobile, and was so happy to see my comfy sofa snoozel spot when we got home. Stanislaw was kind enough to keep it warm for me while I way away, and I kicked his skinny bum out of it and went down for nappies. I needed my rest for Friday's fast hunt and the big event on Saturday. I'll let my bro fill you in on that one.

Later Feasters,
Big Pupi

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Stanislaw chomping on pierogies:

Yesterday was a big day for me - Polish Constitution Day! It's a day for celebrating my namesake and the co-author of the Constitution, Stanislaw, and the day the document was adopted - May 3, 1791. There's a huge parade in honor of that event, and folks fill my territory wearing red and white and speaking a language that I don't understand. But I love it!

Big Pupi - the Irish son (note the freckles and greying hair) - donned his festive harness and a blinking red light for the parade~
~while I got to wear my totally awesome Polish Eagle shirt with my name written in bright red letters underneath. My bro and I couldn't wait to hit the streets and be the center of attention like we were last year.
It was a gorgeous sunny day. Absolutely perfect for parading. Big Pupi really enjoyed the show and lots of people on the parade floats called out to us and got us really excited.
We saw the Flag of Poland everywhere~
~and there were tons of human puppies performing dances and wearing the country's colors. I even got to wipe my slobbery tongue all over one of the kids when she was done parading and she laughed and spoke to me in Polish. She tasted just like human puppy!
Eventually we had to leave the parade because the horsiffers (police officer horses) came in and made Big Pupi get all Naughty Boy and start screaming. He really HATES those stinky beasts!
But before we left I got to see the awesome Feasting Goat of Poland (I'm almost positive that's what it was there to represent)~
So many people took photos of me and got crazy excited when they heard my name. More often than not the humans would point to a man in the crowd and say "He is Stanislaw too!" I had no idea that people liked my name so much! The whole day made me really hot but really happy.
As if my day couldn't get any better, on the way home I found what I'm certain would have been my new BEST BESTEST BETTEREST friend in the whole wide world!!!!
I became possessed by his awesomeness and couldn't move or take my eyes off his fuzzy face. My annoying parents said that I wasn't allowed to hold him in my mouth (he told me he wanted me to hold him!) or even get close enough to give him a good sniff. NOT FAIR! I could tell he was lonely lying on the streets and I would have taken such good care of him if I were only allowed to bring him home. Parents just don't get it. I LOVE animals and I just wanted to play with Mr. Ratbutt for a little while. They dragged me away and I will never forgive them for it.

Neither will Mr. Ratbutt - I'm sure of it.

But at least I got my parade and chance to party with the Polish humans. That was pretty awesome! And boy was I a tired beast when I got home. I joined Big Pupi on the sofa and dreamt of feasting on pierogies with Mr. Ratbutt. I had mine with cheese on top, but he ate his with a nice garbage sauce. That's my kind of guy!

I am planning a parade in Mr. Ratbutt's honor.
Stanislaw

Raw Food Diet, Day 458- Will Do Tricks for Treats

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Big Pupi takes us on an outing:
Hey guys! The big beastly brother is reporting. Everything here has been pretty awesome. We've been feasting and playing and fast-hunting and I've been therapy-ing. Sweetness! We have some footage from my last trip to the hospital. No... we're not allowed to take pictures while inside, but I thought I'd share something that's 1/2 of the fun of therapy days: The trip there!

It's a wonderful walk to where the AwesomeMobile lives. I totally dig taking a stroll and getting coo-ed over by tourists and folks about town. It is just about the BEST way to start the day. Here's a little video of me on my merry way. (Yes I walk at the end of my leash but no, I don't pull. I'm just SO PUMPED I can't stand to hang back! There was a time when I pulled and trudged ahead like a savage... not too unlike my stinky brother. But I'm all about Good Boyness now!)

Music: "Free and Easy" by Dierks Bentley

On this particular morning I was feeling an extra bit of snarzle in my bum so I thrashed the heck out of mom's (not-so) dog-proof car seat cover and then sat tall to enjoy the ride. ...That is until she began to stick that flashy box in my face at every red light. I let her know that it was NOT appreciated by making Jowly Stink Face every time she took a photo.I have a great time sniffing sniffs and barking at this dude that's always selling newspapers at this one intersection. He never knocks on our window because I'm such a wild beast!

Therapy was great on this day, especially since this one little girl I had gotten to know over the past few months got to go home. I missed her and her crazy great belly rubs, but I was so happy that she no longer needed to be attached to tubes and a tall beeping machine. There was a fresh set of kids this time and although they were really tired and feeling a little icky, they were still able to gather up all their energy and play with me for a bit. Kids can't resist the mohawk!

On the ride home, I looked a bit more like this:
Actually, that was one of the only photos mom could get with my eyes open. I usually snore like a tractor the whole way home. Then it's another long walk home from the AwesomeMobile. I LOVE IT!

I've got a little bit of news for you folks...
I've been asked to be one of 2 therapy dogs giving a BIG presentation on the work that we do! Tomorrow I get to go to a school and show off my tricks, during 2 sessions, to almost 200 people! I am crazy excited. Mom and I have been working on my Good Boy behavior (heel on a loose leash, and STAY! while she tosses treats all around me - that one's hard!). We've also been tightening up my new tricks, and I've been learning lots!

It's been hard work, but so far I can read Sit, Down and Spin off flash cards, and we're adding Stay and Come. The last 2 are a bit iffy for me still since this is one SERIOUSLY difficult trick for me to pick up, but I'm getting really good at the first group. This trick drives people at therapy wild, especially the kids' parents. We need to entertain them too!

Another trick that's in the works is jumping rope. We haven't worked the rope in just yet, but I've learned to leap into the air whenever I see mom jump. I'm really good at it and stay tucked in pretty close to her. This one's not quite ready yet for the show, but we'll try to get a video of it once I have it down!

Finally, I've mastered my Take and Give (a stuffed toy) and I will Down Stay while balancing my stuffy pencil on my schnozzle. This isn't my favorite trick to do, but what they heck... I'll do just about anything for treats and praise!

Wish me luck tomorrow! I'll try to take photos and let you know how it all goes.

Practice makes perfect,
Big Pupi.

Raw Food Diet, Day 429- Double Feasting Points and a Triple Beast Score

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Big Pupi is catching y'all up on the goings-on:

Heya dudes! Lots has been going on here and I'm a bit behind on my blogging. Or shall I say that my wacky, ill-trained humans are behind on typing out my dictations. I wonder if Naimh teaches a brush-up obedience class for humans?

Anyway... it's time for some PetExpo news! On March 21, my mom and I drove all the way out to Arlington Park racetrack. I was in the TakeMeToFunPlacesMobile for over an hour which was TOTALLY awesome and I got to protect my vehicle from some dangerous looking joggers as we made our way through the suburbs. We arrived at the beautiful grounds on a perfectly sunny Saturday.
Inside the pavilion there were oodles of bipeds milling about and 2 floors of non-stop animal action. There were sections of toys, treats, and lots and lots of booths filled with dogs, cats, ferrets and birds all up for adoption. Needless to say, each and every one of the humans from Cocker Spaniel Rescue came and oogled over yours truly. I found the ferret folks to smell the MOST interesting. I could pick them out of the crowd with my specialty ferret-sniffing schnozzle.
This was our booth. I saw lots of my good therapy buddies and met a couple new ones, including a gigando 140 lb great dane. I practically had to stand on my nails to get a whiff of that bum. It smelled really laid back.
I had to wear my uniform with these fancy pockets that humans used to slip me a dollar or two and make donations. I was super good at wiggling my way across the floor and earning those bills. It was a tad confusing, however, because money is NOT tasty and I was certainly NOT allowed to shred it.

Because my excitement level was at 1,000%, I got to make frequent trips to the potty zone outside which was just COATED in good smells from other Expo critters.
Whenever we'd go outside I was allowed to be all crazy-bum, but as soon as we walked through those doors it was all "Heel" and "be Have" and "Don't eat that human puppy's cookie." Whatever! I'm cute and that kid totally wanted to give me that chocolate cookie.
I was scheduled to work with my buddy Mike and together we had a really good gimmick going on. Lots of folks thought that Mike was my mom and I was his wee springer spaniel puppy. It got us some serious attention and pets which was totally sweet, but c'mon guys... we all know that Mike is MY doppelgänger. Big Pupi is an original!
Mike and I were scheduled to work for almost 4 hours, and let me tell you~
I am either at full speed or I'm asleep when it comes to these kinds of situations and I was not able to survive so many hours of that stimulation and attention. The last hour of the event was spent in mommy's arms with my legs hanging all dangly-like. Only my head was still mobile and I'd stick out the ol' mohawk for some scritches whenever some nice human folk made eye contact. I don't even remember the car ride home but I'm sure that was pretty awesome too. I'm surprised we made it back in one piece without me guarding the vehicle from bi-ped trespassers! I guess mom barked and thrashed the scary ones away so that I could get some nappies.

In the days after the event, Stanislaw and I have heard mumblings about us moving and little by little all of the silly stuff our folks crowd our apartment with is disappearing. It's great! Lots of room for games of chase and I can REALLY get into a good post-feast stuffy thrashing now. The downside is that our people are either coming and going all day long, or they're missing for hours. From what I gather, they've been spending their time smearing this stinky colored stuff on the walls. This new territory sounds GREAT! Stinky stuff on the walls?! I hope it's tasty!

To keep ourselves occupied in all this down time, Stanislaw and I have been exercising our noggins and playing some rousing games of Scrabble.
I totally kicked his bum. I had like a gazillion feasting points if I added correctly (and I always do).
Stan did well for a first time Scrabbler, but it took a while for it to sink into his head that "FEAST" is not spelled with a "Q" or a "W." And I guess when I first invited him to play the game he thought we were eating scrabbled eggs, not playing a board game. Dude needs to get out more.

We should be all done and moved by this Saturday and we'll be catching up with all our blogging beastly buddies soon!

Happy fWeastQing!
Big Pupi

The Therapist Is In: Visits 3, 4 & 5

Whazzup guys?! Check out my new bling!Pretty sweet, huh? Last night I was officially certified as a therapy dog. All 3 of my working observations were completed, forms sent in, reviews and evaluations done, tests passed and I'm in!
I got a form that was a summary of my 3 working observation evaluations (filled out by the chair person of 3 different programs, after I attended each of their visits and they watched me work my magic). I GOT PERFECT SCORES!My folks are hanging this one on the human meat locker. I'm feeling pretty good. Can't wait to show this new license off at the bark park this week.

In other therapy news, I've been on 3 more visits and have been rather delinquent in blogging about them. The first skipped visit was at the children's hospital and it was a rather uneventful one for us. My friend recovering from brain surgery wasn't there, and there were very few kids to play with us. Mom and I got there super early that day and an entire office full of adult humans emptied into the hallway to play with me, which was super crazy awesome. I did combat crawls on my belly, rolled over for tummy scratches, and skipped from one person to the next for some lovin'. I was SO EXCITED with all those folks circled around and me in the middle - the center of attention and the only one getting pets that I just about passed out right there from exhaustion. Still, once my therapy buddies arrived we all went upstairs and worked our little bums off. However, by the end of the visit I was passed out cold in a chair next to an extraordinarily gentle little girl who stroked me from schnozzle to tail while I snoozeled. AWESOME! Mom had to keep a hand on me because I was so sound asleep that I began slipping through an arm hole. I totally didn't care! Man. I was tired that day.

The next trip was to a school with classes for learning disabled children. Their abilities ranged from almost fully capable of any task, to unable to walk or coordinate movements. I met up with a springer spaniel and his mom. I looked like the springer's puppy roaming the hallways. Boy did we get attention! We were like bookends! He was a cool black and white dude and about twice the size of me. Together we visited 2 different classrooms and performed our tricks and entertained the kids, then we worked on life skills with them and had them each participate one by one. It was a good program, but some of the kids are a little too rough for a wee beast such as myself. It's not the kids' fault by any means... that program is just better suited to a larger dog. Plus, the kids would come running from the back of the room and try to pick me up since I'm all small and I kinda look like a stuffed toy. I always gave mom the "Save Me!" eyes if I was uncomfortable or if a kid was being too rough with me and we'd move on. Whew! I was a crazy Good Boy though and tolerated everything. It was a great to learn about a school program, but I don't think I'll be signing up for that one full time. I might be a beast but I'm a sensitive boy.

Yesterday, mom and I went back to the hospital. We're full-time in that program, and it's just perfect for me. Once again we got there early and that office full of humans came out to give me my welcome parade of pets and tummy rubs. Sweetness!! When my buddies arrived we went upstairs to the play room. That's when mom started to warm me up and get me to focus on my job, and I discovered after a few routines that...

SHE BROUGHT STRING CHEESE SLICES!!!!!!

Awesome! Talk about motivation! I'll do back flips for cheese! The only problem was that I was a little too crazed about feasting on cheese that I was non-stop performing tricks and running through my repertoire. I kept doing Sit, Down, Up-Up (jump on a chair), Watch Me and Hulas over and over and over. It was exhausting! However, it didn't take long for me to realize that if I was doing tricks without being asked, that I only got cheesy treats when doing Down Stay. So... I did a lot of Down Stay that afternoon. Sometimes mom called it "Settle." Whatever. I call it "The Means To Cheesy Snacks."

Anyway, we had just a few visitors this time as most of the kids in the hospital weren't able to get clearance to play with us pups. Boo! There was one extremely sweet boy in a wheel chair who just LOVED seeing us dogs and missed his pup terribly. I spent a lot of time sitting in a chair next to him while he massaged my mohawk and told me over and over how cute I am. That's the life! Afterward a little girl was brought in - about 3 years old - and she sat on a nurse's lap on the floor. She was a little scared of dogs so I did Down Stay next to her and acted all calm until she felt brave enough to pet me. Boy oh boy did she surprise us all! With strength that no tiny human should ever have, she snagged my ear and began to make origami out of it. Ouch! It only took a second before my lobe was freed and I decided to teach her a lesson and stood up to lick her face. HA! She squealed and thrashed with laughter. Seriously dudes. I know how to work the humans.

I had all but given up on seeing my friend who had the brain surgery, when she was wheeled into the room. I zoomed over and plopped myself in a chair in her line of vision. She looked GREAT! She was able to stay awake the whole time, and on her own she was able to cup her hand so mom could give her a bit of cheese, then reach out and feed it to me. Yes, cheesy chunks hit the ground a few times but WOW! Talk about big news. She was even able to stroke my ear and chest fur with the back of her hand without any help. A whole month has gone by since I've seen her last, and I am so impressed to see such improvement. I can't wait to see her next time.

So that's it folks. I'm one happy boy. And a tired boy. There's nothing better than a belly full of cheesiness and a few mohawk pets. Mom is looking into another program for me so I can work once a week, instead of twice a month. My toes are crossed that there's a match. I need to do this more often!
'Til next time feaster dudes!
Big Pupi

The Therapist Is In: Visit 2

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Big Pupi's back with the badge:
On Wednesday my mom and I returned to work at the hospital. I was excited, perhaps a little too much so once again, but all that spunk wound up being a blessing because this trip would be a little more difficult than the last. Sure, there were more kids this time which for me meant a lot more hoops to jump through and many more spins to be spun. But I can muster energy for days and making a few extra leaps through the air took little out of me. Emotionally however... emotionally this particular trip to the hospital was exhausting.

For the most part the kids were new this time. Out of the 6 human pups only one boy was without tubes and wires, machines that beep and tall poles with bags of fluids dripping and dangling like ripe fruit. There was a brightness about this boy - something shining and energetic. He was quick to raise a hand and offer himself as The Special Assistant in any manor of tricks and games, and his smile would stretch clear across his face sending his light into the room. I've discovered that little boys tend to take to the beast with the mohawk rather quickly, and I soon became his favorite. It was a good thing that I started work with him because he certainly put me through my paces and took the edge off my energy reserves, enabling me to sit still for the first time all morning. Whew. That was some warm-up.

My friend from my last visit was wheeled into the room. The scar on her scalp was healing wonderfully and the stitches had been removed. We were ready for another round of physical therapy and both her parents were in attendance this time wielding cameras and cheers of encouragement. But it was not to be a success story as it had been on the last visit. Unable to keep herself awake the girl slept hunched over in the chair, only to have ice pressed upon her back which sent her arching into fits of anger and frustration. And then she would sleep. They had been talking about me for 2 weeks, her mom said. For fourteen days she waited, and when the day came for her routine to be brightened by a canine visitor her brain betrayed her and left her sleeping. The lucky mohawk went untouched and no amount of kisses could get a response. I missed my friend and hoped for a better visit next time. But that's another fourteen days away.

My mom and I have discovered that there is usually one patient that remains in your thoughts long after visiting hours are over. There is the memory of one person that is haunting and sticks with you like a shadow. On this visit my shadow came in the form of a little girl who appeared as to have been pulled from the pages of a nursery rhyme. Blond curls pinned back just so. Eyes blue and dark. She was about 6 I would guess, dressed in a hospital gown which hid a mass of tubes reaching into her like so many tentacles. Three feet behind her at all times was her pole with her bags of fluids and her very own relentless beeping machine. Her mother carried with her a bucket for the child to spit up in whenever she needed - which was often.

The child was lovely but subdued. Deep behind her eyes lied a person who in her youth was forced to understand all that had been brought upon her and all that was going on around her. There was a physical pain and it was visible to anyone looking at her. It was like interacting with a person who hid deep within a cave.

And yet she walked. With me. She insisted upon it.

We attached my extra leash and she grabbed it tight and short. We pushed slowly on making a lap around the room, her mother keeping the pole and bags in tow. She grew tired quickly and her blue eyes darkened even more. The girl climbed back into a chair and leaned over her bucket. I leapt into the seat next to her and remained there as she rubbed the lucky mohawk and stroked my ears. I bent my body in such an impossible manor that allowed me to expose my belly, then I sat and pressed my side hard against the arm of the chair so she could reach me easily as she stroked me with the back of her hand.

She was tired.

A type of tired that most of us will never understand - and be grateful for that. It went beyond a physical exhaustion and the only way to describe the depths of the condition is to say that it had infringed upon her soul. She was just so tired. And so was her mother.

There is something that so many of the mothers we see with their children in the hospital have in common. They are thin, frail, bluish behind the skin. Eyes sunken, broken, lips dry. They cheer and speak happily and make pleasant conversation with the volunteers. They see their children perk up if only for few moments when the dogs come to play but none of this seems to override the sound of the machines beeping beeping forever beeping.

A nurse turns the machine towards her, writes down some numbers and leaves the room.

There was sadness in this visit. Sadness that should never be allowed into a room with a child. Sadness that invades everyone in its presence and sticks for days. Mom and I could understand it fully even though we knew nothing about the patients' conditions - we are not allowed to ask. It sits so heavily upon your shoulders and it makes you just so tired.

We will go back in two weeks. We will go back and pray that we see some of the same faces and feel as though a weight has been lifted. I will go back and spin all the spins to be spun and offer the mohawk to outstretched palms. You go back because that's what you do after a rough day and you maintain the belief that there is good in the world and just maybe you can contribute to just a little bit of it.

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My dearest blogging folks~
I apologize for the general gloominess of this post. I will leave you with the lesson learned from my super brief time as a therapy dog:

Life is about perspective. Take stock in what you have and what you hold dear. As the economy sits precariously on the edge of ruin, the job market shrinks its waistline and you worry about shrinking yours, or that co-worker who always says the wrong thing is rounding the corner - these are truly not problems in the grand scheme of things. Save your head the worry. Just spend some time with the people you love this weekend. Find yourself in the presence of what truly matters.

And pet your pup where the mohawk would be.

-Big Pupi

The Therapist Is In: Visit 1

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Big Pupi finishes his tale:
Okay, okay... so that's an old photo of me (notice the lack of 'hawk and winter leg fuzz), but that's pretty much what I've been up to the past few days, thanks to therapy-induced exhaustion and the mini blizzard outside.

Right. So... to finish my Tale of the Therapy Visit. Where was I...

I was still a little more excitable than mom would have liked me to be when the hospital nurses began bringing in the kids. There were people EVERYWHERE and they well ALL looking and smiling at us canines. I even had a small swarm of nurses taking photos of me on their cell phones because they couldn't get over the fact that I arrived sporting bright red rubber boots (they help prevent me from slipping all over the floor - important when leaping through hula hoops!). I used this as a prime opportunity to work on my modeling skills and so I sat, lied down, showed my belly, and otherwise acted like a ham. (Mmmm... ham.)

We introduced ourselves to the children. We got to spend lots of quality one-on-one time with them since there were 4 dogs for 5 kids, and that made our visit extra special. My very first human pup was a pretty little girl, about 8 years old, who was developmentally disabled. Today the nurses wanted to work on getting her to respond and react to her surroundings and they thought the dogs would provide great stimulation. They didn't know what I had up my furry sleeves! I sat on a chair next to the girl (she was in a wheel chair and I'm a wee boy in need of a boost), and I made my introductions by giving her a gentle kiss right on the chin. The nurse held the girl's hand and pet my mohawk, then cupped the human pup's palm so that she could feed me treat after treat. It was awesome! But no matter how slobbery wet I made her palm or how many Good Boy Give Kisses I doled out she just would not look at me nor show any signs that she recognized my presence. Fed up with the lack of progress, I heaved myself up onto her highchair-style table and balanced there, shifting my weight from one foot to another, only inches from her face. It was then that her body gave a little jerk and her eyes grew wide like saucers. She was looked at me - a very, very big deal. Her eyes traced the spots in my fur and the nurse guided her hand along my back. "Look! She's responding! She alert!" the nurse kept telling her co-worker. "This is incredible!" I held my position until the human pup began to fall asleep - I guess the intense stimulation was a lot for her to handle - and I leaned back and gave her a kiss on the nose before jumping down.

My next human was a young boy, about the same age as the girl and also in a wheel chair. There were all sorts of tubes coming from beneath his sheets, so I was not allowed to climb up and give him my Hello Smooches. Instead, I performed all of my tricks for him and he loved it! I even did my targeting tricks for him - I use an old, plastic, large yogurt lid and on the command "Touch It!" I will poke it will my schnozzle or slap it with my paws. The boy held the lid and flung it from one side of his chair to the other, making me run in circles and leap through the air. He would toss the lid across the room and I'd chase after it, slapping it down with my paws before returning to the boy for a tasty niblet. He laughed and laughed and when it came time for me to move to the next human I overheard him say to his dad: "That dog is sooooo cooooool."

Human pup number 3 was another boy, about 6 this time, and he was a little nervous around dogs. He wouldn't allow any of them near him, but after seeing some of my tricks he asked to meet me. I did some Hulas and Sits and Downs, and then mom asked the boy to hold the hula hoop for me so I could jump through. Before I knew what was going on, the boy got so excited about my hopping skillz that he moved the hoop higher... and higher... and higher. Gulp. It got so high that I needed a running start just to get through it! But jump I did and I made it through every single time. The boy rubbed my lucky mohawk and I was off to the next kid.

This girl was around 16 years old and had recently undergone some sort of brain surgery that left her working to regain motor control. Her motions were slow, concentrated and gentle. She kept cupping her hands to ask for treats to feed me and in the most purposeful way she would reach out to rub the lucky 'hawk. I put all of my hoop jumping and target touching energy behind me and I sat ever so still on the chair next to her, leaning my head gently forward to bring my mohawk within her reach. I licked her hands on command, crawled onto a pillow in her lap when asked, and gave kisses to her cheeks. I moved slowly, softly and quietly around her, and made sure that some part of me always remained within her reach. Her mom snapped pictures wildly as she took my paw in her hand and gave a slow up-and-down shake to tell me that it was a job well done. The nurse by her side couldn't believe how calm and focused she was - I guess she would often get frustrated and give up. But then... that's the magic of Animal Assisted Therapy.

And the magic of the mohawk.

So that was my big day. I loved every single second of it. I slept so soundly in the car that mom could hear muffled snoozel snores coming from the back seat on the way home. Man, my tail wagging muscles were sore the next day! But I'm counting down the seconds 'til the next round. Bring it on! This lucky mohawk needs a good rubbin'.

Your buddy,
Big Pupi

Raw Food Diet, Day 345- The Therapist is Pooped, Part I

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Big Pupi loves his J-O-B:

On Tuesday my mom took me to have my interview with Volunteer Services at Advocate Hospital. I don't know why people make such a big deal out of interviews. They're pretty awesome! I wish I could be interviewed ALL the time, EVERY day. For those of you pups that have never been formally interviewed, it goes like this:

You exit the SuperAwesome Car and get into this wacky moving box thing called an "elevator" in the parking garage. As the box lowers, you get to place your paws and smoosh your face against the glass window that lets you watch the world as you sink down to ground level. People in the elevator coo over you and make your bum wiggle, and then people on the sidewalk speak in high voices and make you even more excited. You walk to the main entrance of the hospital where you feel about 100 pairs of human eyes staring and can hear folks saying "look at the puppy!!". More serious tail wiggles. As your person and you walk down the hallway to get to Volunteer Services, nurses and doctors appear out of thin air and give you pets and belly rubs, chin scritches and kisses on the head. When you FINALLY arrive for the interview, you are 20 minutes late thanks to all of the hoopla and excitement that happened on the way, but the interviewer couldn't care less because she is almost as excited to see you as you are the be there. Then there's a walk around the office, introductions to folks that speak in really high baby voices that make your tail wag at supersonic speeds, a couple of questions aimed at your human (your job is to lick a stuffed toy during this time), and then another 20 minute trip through hallway just to get back to the car.

At first I was a little suspicious about this interview stuff, but I have come to the conclusion that they are AMAZING. The next morning bright and early, I found myself back in the SuperAwesome Car, back in that sweet moving box with the window, and back to prancing proudly through the hospital halls. I wound up in the Security Office with my person requesting that I be Have and Sit Like Good Boy so that I could get my picture taken for this:
Coolness! I'm official! My mom wore a matching one with her photo on it and this one was clipped to my collar. Shortly after my mug shot mom and I were back outside where I saw three of my canine buddies that belong to my therapy class instructors. It was a festival of bum sniffing! We swirled and smelled around each other for a few minutes, then it was time to be Have and Heel Like Good Boy back through the hospital. I tried SO HARD to be good but any time I had to Sit Like Good Boy my uncontrollable wagging tail made me vibrate across the floor until I hit a wall, or better yet... a nurse from whom I could finagle a belly scratch.

We were all lead into a play room and before we knew it 5 human pups were brought in and we got to play with them! Now... the material from our 90 minute visit (it went 30 minutes long because we were having so much fun) is more than enough for a post of its own, so I'm going to save it for next time. My typist doesn't have the digit-power to write it all out right now and I'm late for my afternoon snoozels, so we'll have to keep you in suspense for next time. All I'll say for now is... I was SO GOOD at this therapy stuff. I'm a natural!

*Quick Paisley Update*

Paisley is healing well but is still quite uncomfortable. Her parents are keeping her crated to limit her activity and she's not taking to it well. Here you can see her nakee leg and stitches:
We figure that the worst is almost over and by next week the real struggle will begin as my grandhumans will have to figure out how to keep her from overusing the limb. She'll begin physical therapy at home, and it works out perfectly that her folks have a pool and a life preserver for her so she can work on the mobility and strength in that leg with some water therapy. I think I should go visit her... therapy is my thing now! This lucky mohawk can work miracles!

That's all for now, folks. Happy feasting!
Big Pupi

Raw Food Diet, Day 280- Final Exams

***
Big Pupi here:
I passed! Check out the newest certified therapy dog in Chicago~

We almost didn't make it to the test because of the massive Obama rally that's going on this evening in my city. Roads are closed and there's supposed to be 1 million humans attending the event. Do you think they'd all like to pet my mohawk for good luck? My car is parked in a garage that's right in the middle of all the action, but fortunately we managed to make it out and back in again. Now I'm home and totally pooped after my exciting morning.

The hardest part of the test for me was the Leave It exercise. We never practiced that one in class! There was a HUGE hunk of delicious cheese just asking to be feasted on - sitting on the floor right within my reach. We walked loops around the cheese and I was seriously tempted to scrap the whole thing and just chow down. I had to Heel Like Good Boy and be Have and the leash had to be loose the whole time. It was a close call on more than one occasion.

When I was being tested on my tolerance of being handled all over by a stranger, I melted to the floor and decided that I'd rather get a belly rub instead. That earned me extra scritches in my leg pits which was totally awesome. The humans also got a huge kick out of my new trick called Paws, which tells me I must put my front feet on a human's knee so they can pet me. We use this one if a friendly human is sitting or in a wheel chair, and I'm totally game for anything that gets me extra pets. It's a sweet deal.

In the end, the instructor said I passed with flying colors which is appropriate because I'm now a full-fledged member of the Rainbow AAT group. Once my lame-o mom finishes the human set of requirements we'll go for our final evaluation. During this process I will attend a therapy program and the various program chair people decide for which of the programs I am best suited. (Even though I've already been scoped out by the Hope program coordinator and matched up with them!) We're hoping to have everything done before mid-December so we can start volunteering during the holidays.

I can't wait! I'll even share my dehydrated lamb's liver and fish treats with the kids!

Chilling with my new diploma,
Big Pupi

***
Stanislaw says:

I am so honored!! I received a wonderful Butterfly Award from Niamh which is totally sweet and awesome! I tried to post the picture of it but blogger is not cooperating. You can read Naimh's post here.

And I also received a major shout-out from my blogging buddies and I'm super pumped to say that I tied for DWB's Post of the Month! My mug is on the main page of the website. How cool! Thanks all for voting, and I couldn't imagine sharing the recognition with a cooler pup than Toffee. Today was filled with good news all around!

Time to bark at the noisy folks attending the Obama rally,
Stanislaw

Raw Food Diet, Day 245- Observations on Humanity

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Big Pupi on "Training my Human"

On Saturday my mom attended her first "without dog" observation, which is one of the human requirements that must be met before she is able to work with her fabulous and outstanding therapy dog (me, of course). She woke early on that day. I got an early breakfeast and then she was gone until afternoon. When she returned on the sunny Saturday, the first thing she did was snap on my leash and take me for a walk. I guess it was part determination to help me ace that exam, and part of her needed that sunshine and air. We had to be out and moving and seeing and breathing and why? Because we could.

**

Mom met two ladies, each with 100 lbs of dog at their side at the entrance to the hospital. They made their introductions and together they swooshed through the hospital lobby into a hallway lit yellow and bright. They peered into doorways and offered a visit from their patient pups. Some said Yes and others No, and together the group weaved and bobbed between the rooms.

A woman, sitting upright in a metal chair next to her bed said Yes to the dogs and in they went. In a shaky, weakened hand the woman balanced a bowl full of feastables and bit-by-bit she fed the dogs from a fork, like one would a child. The woman concentrated hard to coordinate the tasting, and she never dropped a single niblet. Never even came close. She did it for the dog and she was talking and happy all the while. A few more days and she'd be home.

In another room, a man laid in his bed with a nurse at his side. On his face was an expression of shock and amazement. Dogs in the hospital? Big dogs? He was in his 50s and never in his life had he touched a canine. And now he was feeding one neatly with a utensil as it perched its massive hindquarters on his bed. Mom never thought a smile could get so big or eyes so wide. When snack time was through the man clasped his hands together and declared this to the highlight of his stay. He was counting the seconds until he could tell his wife all about this. "Just wait until he finds his health again," mom told me. We're certain we'll see him proudly walking his first dog around town.

Into another hospital room... it was quiet. A woman lay low in her bed, thin and weak with dark eyes. Unmoving. Tubes of all sorts were attached to liquids held high and they darted into the sheets and disappeared. The room was warm and sweets sat on a table uneaten. And then there were the dogs. And with their entry came life to a frail body and light behind her face. She struggled to speak and begged the dogs be brought closer and closer. A chair was set next to the bed and the massive canines took turns sitting nicely and accepting treats and pets. It was happy.

Until the woman began to cry.

They were sobs from a body unable to find the energy for tears. There was a sadness so deep from a young person facing something she didn't seem quite ready for. Paper-thin hands were held tight and tears gently pat away. Soft words were whispered but how can a human really understand? One that is well and walking... how do they find the words to comfort another? It was then that the rottweiler hoisted his triple-digit body onto the bed. He was careful with his feet, balancing gingerly on the bed's edge and resting his mammoth head so gently on her fragile chest. Tears melted into kisses and arms wrapped snugly around the dog's neck. They laid like that for some time - the dog still and comforting.

Breathing in

and

breathing out.

The big pup had patience for days. He would lie there with her and melt into her embrace. Food was no longer interesting. Life was on pause. This was his place and he was her medicine. The woman's body relaxed and she drifted lightly to sleep.

In time the dog dismounted and parting words were said, along with promises that next week they'll be back and next week she will have a furry neck to hold and a fuzzy forehead to kiss. And next week she can drift to dream feeling life and warmth lying next to her, unafraid of her, giving her more than words ever could. And we all hoped and prayed for next week.

**

An hour visit to a hospital may not be much out of a schedule. An hour visit from a week's-worth of hours may not be a whole lot to ask. But somewhere in that hour humans are changed deeply. And suddenly an hour just doesn't seem like enough when it means a lifetime to someone bound to their bed. One hour and suddenly the world looks different and it wouldn't be possible without the therapy dog.

So take 60 minutes and spend it with your dog today. Walk, talk, play and pet. Take it all in, every last little bit of it. There will be a day when you can no longer do this.

Today is not the day.

Raw Food Diet, Day 240- Sit Boo Boo Sit

I'm kind of a tired boy this morning because I went on a solo walk with mom. We trained all the way down to the bark park and since I was such a Good Boy I was allowed to stick around and play with my Border Collie buddies. While at the park I only went through my obsessive behaviors 2 times... plus a half of a third time but I was able to be distracted from that one.

The bark park is right next to a commuter train line, and the sound of trains going by is a definite trigger for me. Whenever a train pulls into the station I run a trail around the park's fence and then end amongst a bunch of pots screaming my head off. It's always the same thing in the same order, starting from the same spot and ending with the same screaming pattern. If for some reason I'm not able to run my loop, I'll stare off into the bushes and shriek.

Today, however, was a very good day for me. Mom says that I had my demons under control for this outing. I heeled well and Sat Like Good Boy for treats and wound up feasting on a seriously big bag of tasties and STILL got breakfast when I returned home. Delicious! My folks said I earned it after all those good games of chase with my canine companions.

So now my tummy is full, my body is stinky, and my muscles are tired. It's mentally exhausting for a wee pup to be Have on such a long walk! I even saw a squirrel and continued to heel! I should get a second breakfeast just for that act of Good Boyness alone.

Stanislaw: 1, Demons: 0 (counter starts fresh today).

Your man,

Stan

***

Big Pupi with the 'hawk update:

Pretty sweet, huh? This bad boy grows like a weed! And if you look closely at the photo you'll see that my stuffy goose even admires my 'do!

Well, folks - I started my therapy dog class this week and it was SO MUCH FUN. I totally dig hanging out with a group of pups and their people and earning my tasty treats. We practiced walking on a loose leash, being handled by strangers, and Down-Stay while strange people walked by and reached out to pet me. The first time I hopped up to get a proper pet and greeting from these nice humans, but I figured out pretty quickly that I was to stay put. I did my Sit Stay like a champ while mom walked away from me and learned the command "Go Visit" so I know which humans to steal belly rubs from. I'm telling you... this therapy dog thing is a pretty sweet gig.

If I dare say... I was the best dog in class! In fact, the instructor called me the "Balanced Dog" and used me to teach other pups how to be Have. I had to sit calmly and focus on mom while a big bouncy puppy thrashing about on the floor and learned to also Sit Stay even with another dog (me) nearby. I greeted shy puppies and took treats nicely from hands. I was a little too pumped at the start of class and had some trouble concentrating for the first 5 minutes or so, but even with all that excitement I didn't do a pooble inside! I amaze myself sometimes.

Class is once every 2 weeks, and the next one is all about individual tricks. Mom is getting me a hula hoop so I can put my Agility Skillz to work on a small scale. I think that the kids will like that trick, don't you? Oh... and the mohawk. They've got to like the mohawk.

I got Have, yo.

Big Pupi

Raw Food Diet, Day 227- Mental Marathon

Hi folks!

Sorry I've been MIA (Meat In Action) for the past few days.  I haven't been able to update you on my super exciting feasting times as much as I'd like to!   Things around here have been busy, with my folks working to earn the cheese money and such.  All the hustle and bustle has made me need my snoozels.

This morning followed suit and it was action-packed.  We tried to beat the rain and ran as quickly as our little legs could take us during our AM fast hunt.  Pupi and I ran side-by-side like we were racing in the Iditarod and zoomed our way through downtown.  On our way we met Miss Pit Bull who had a black spot over her eye just like Big Pupi!  I stood on my very tip toes to give her ears a good sniff and she was super nice.  Then we bumped into 2 beagles who were also super cool.  One was this sweet red-roan type of color and I've never sniffed a beagle like that before!  

Continuing on our way, mom was afraid that we'd wind up too far away from home when the skies opened up so we only went a mile down the road to the bark park.  As suspected, we had it all to ourselves and the kiddie pool was mine... ALL mine!  Well, okay.  I did let Big Pupi in it sometimes.  We practiced some obedience and worked on our recalls at the park, then headed home with empty bellies just growling and demanding meaty feasts.  I chucked down a few chicken necks and some yogurt and thrashed my birthday goose stuffy.  Mom hopped into the Place of Cleanliness and afterwards, when she was using the hot-air-blowing-thing on her fur, she used it on mine!  I LOVE it when that blowing thing breathes its hot breath on my belly!  Big Pupi and I pushed and shoved each other to get at the toasty air.  That was just icing on the cake.  It was a good morning.

I'm super duper hoping that this stinky poo-face rain goes away for the weekend.  I heard dad mention something about not having a ton of homework this time and so we may be able to get out and about the city for an afternoon.  My toes are crossed!  In the mean time, I'm going to go stare at mom while she works and whine softly.  Maybe that'll get me a bully stick.

Feast hard,

Stanislaw

***

Big Pupi on being a therapist:

I've been thinking so hard lately that it's been fertilizing my mohawk.  It's been growing like a weed on my head and my humans are curious to find out how crazy my cranium fur will actually get.  All they have to go on is my shelter photo, but I was so matted it's tough to tell.  If I keep using my brain power like I have been lately, I should be able to braid my 'hawk in no time! 

After much, much help and advice from Niamh's mom, I've decided to postpone my November 8th test date and sign up for classes to help me with my therapy dog certification.  I've been doing really well on my own, but I could use the extra stimulation and excitement that are part of classroom learning to really kick my manners into high gear.  We've been focusing on my response to verbal commands, as most of what I know now is based on hand signals.  I know "sit," but "down" and most other tricks run off of motions my mom makes.  I'm fluent in body language because that's dog-speak!  Why do I need to know this blabbering human tongue?  People need to master the art of The Silent Conversation.  Seriously.  The only real verbal commands I understand are for agility, since I can't be watching my mom while I'm flying over jumps and through tunnels!

My first class is a week from Monday and I'm crazy excited!  The only set back is my appointment this afternoon at the Place of Tile and Steel to fill out my health certificate.  Turns out that since I had Bordatella the last time I was at the vet they won't complete the form without a quick check just to make sure I'm a-okay.  I'm all for being careful, but I'm pretty sure this isn't necessary.  Please mom?  Can it not be necessary?  

So, someday in the sort-of near future I'm hoping to be either a Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy dog or Delta Society pup.  Mom isn't sure which yet but is leaning towards Rainbow.  If anyone has any experience with either group please let us know what you thought of them!

Filling my brain, growing my mohawk,

Big Pupi