Sam here. Boy oh boy, did we have a good weekend at hospice and hospital though it started out decidedly unpleasant for me.
Nobody warned me I had to take a bath again! After all, I just had one last month. And here I thought you peeps had my back. 😉 So mom tricked got me into the bathroom with a couple treats. Can’t believe I fell for all her sweet talk…again! That woman knows exactly how to torture me and it’s a four-letter word I can’t even say…B-A-T-H. Blech, I hate baths, but I was mostly a very good boy and stayed there and took it like a man like the pitiful wuss I really am when it comes to water. She used a new conditioning shampoo that smells pretty good if I do say so myself with Rosemary and Mint. If I wasn’t so scared in the bathtub, I might have licked it off.
After the bath water torture, she use the hairdryer on me. The only thing I despise more than bath time is the drying misery. Fortunately she toweled me off really well before hand so the drying with the blowing air torture device was minimal. But then she brought out the clippers to trip my feet, ears, tail and bum the torture continues. Boy, I must say though, she did a pretty good job; several people even commented on how handsome I looked and when I looked down at my paws, they even impressed me. I wonder why Heather at the groomers can’t seem to get my toes quite that spiffy. Maybe I do too much of the fast paw-dance for her. Heh, heh.
Once mom put my bandana on, I hightailed as fast as I could toward the car. I even barked at her a few times-something I rarely do. I really wanted to go to the hospital and she was lollygagging around. Man, she moved so s-l-o-w-l-y I never thought we’d get to the hospital. Open up the car door, woman and let me in! Sheesh, I already do all the work at the hospital, do I have to drive now too?
Once we finally got there, there were loads of patients and visitors I was able to visit receive tons of attention from and I got to see my favorite nurse at hospice. I totally love Ann and there she was…woof, woof! I leaned in real close to get her attention and it worked. She gave me a big hug!
A couple of patients didn’t want to see me though on Sunday. The first lady had some people visiting her and when my mom knocked on her door to ask if she’d like a visit from pet therapy, she said no at the exact same time her visitors all shouted YES! She laughed and then invited us in to say hi to everyone. I had so much fun going from one person to the next one. I could hardly contain my glee and nearly wagged my tail completely off. Then as they were talking to my mom, I decided I should just lay down next to the bed. That means I’m very comfortable with the people and energy in the room. They thought I was tired but mom explained it’s just my way of letting them know I’m on guard duty. When we left, the patient said she was very glad I came in to visit.
The other lady was all alone at hospice. She smiled at me but said she “didn’t care for a visit from a dog.” Mom was very nice and smiled back, saying no worries and we moved down the hall to another family that really wanted to pet me. Mom told me that if she was ever in hospice she hoped that she’d ALWAYS want a visit from a pet therapy dog. I didn’t understand what was going on. I mean I took a bath, groomed up all fluffy and super handsome and was a complete gentleman. I guess some people just don’t like dogs. Maybe she was in a lot of pain, I don’t know, but it made me a little sad andI think it made mom a little sad too knowing I wasn’t able to spread my magic Ju-Ju on her.
We also visited with some of the staff. One nursing assistant dropped the bedding she was changing and ran over to hug and pet me, squealing like a little girl. She really loved dogs and kept saying how wonderful I was. I caught mom beaming at me and then the treats started coming. Finally!
We were there for quite a while on Sunday and when we came home I crashed took a nap. Making people smile takes a lot out of me and I need to reenergize so we can take nice long evening walks when I wake up.
What did you do over the weekend? Did you have as much fun as we did?
Live, love, bark! <3
What an amazing dog you are! I have a new puppy who hopes to grow up to be just like you – we enjoy reading about your adventures and how you are helping people. My pup is going to start training this spring – we can’t wait!
How exciting for you! It has been the best work I’ve ever done. All best wishes as you go through the process. Bringing a smile to a stranger and getting them to have a moment of peaceful bliss with a dog is just the best feeling ever. And thank you for swinging by the Ranch. We 💖 visitors, especially fellow pet therapists.
I think that is wonderful and if I am ever in hospice I hope I have a dog snuggled up on me the entire time~
oh you do look sad in the tub.
So much love there …the simple joys of being able to lift somebody’s spirit. You rock Sam
The look of utter despair when my dogs realize they are about to get a bath are priceless! mercifully, I don’t have to use a hairdryer. Poor Sam – the humiliation!
What a good way to spend a Sunday, minus the bath part of course. Spreading smiles is fun and exhausting!
You are SUCH a good therapy dog, S. And so brave with all that preparation! I DID a have as much fun as you this weekend. I visited at the veteran’s home. I saw a lot of my usual friends and then Mom took me downstairs to the locked security ward where I made a bunch of NEW special needs friends. One man was sad because he didn’t know where he was, and he thought he needed his umbrella even though he was inside. I made him smile and stop worrying about it. He petted me for a long time.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Great job, Cupcake! You and your mom are doing incredible work. Gold star to both of you. ★ Spending time with those who need it is more rewarding that I ever thought possible. They give far more back to me.
Awww…if I was stuck in the hospital I think a visit from Sam would be the highlight of my day.
Wow, Sam. You have the best job in the world. Maybe it was worth having a bath for all the hugs and smiles you get at work. I’m with you on baths. I tolerate the bath part pretty well, but I have to put my paw down with hair dryers and clippers. After my bath, I dry off by running laps in the back yard. 🙂
We’re sorry you had the water boarding but it sounds like the pay off was pretty good! We got waterboarded the other day and the clipper job too.
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Waterboarding! Oh my gosh, I’ll have to remember that one. 😉
Aagghh…we hate baths too – mom’s lucky she has a walk-in shower or else she’d never get me in there.
Maybe I’m mistaken, but I thought you already had your bath for the 21st century.
I KNOW! My reaction too.
Some people have not been lucky enough to love dogs their whole lives. It’s sad but it’s good you and your mom understand everyone is different.
Here’s a tip to tell your mom about bath time–Honey hates baths too. But I started teaching her tricks in the bathroom with no baths to follow.
I used a clicker to teach her to put her paws up on the edge of the tub and than to jump in and out of the tub on cue.
She’s still not happy to get the bath. But we start with some fun training bath tub games at first and it really helps.
You’re such a smart boy I bet you’d love learning some bath tricks yourself. Especially if they come with yummy treats.
that’s an excellent idea, thank you!L:eeanna
Well, Sam, not everyone is enlightened. Some are closed off to the love of a poodle who just wants to take care of them. Why, my momma gets some comments from artists that I (poodle in residence) should not be on her blog! Why I never! I am a constant source of inspiration. Paws up!
Cole Poodle
Whaaat? Cole not on the blog? Those peeps seriously need to get a life. And then take it someplace else. 😉
What a great weekend, except for that bath thing, It’s so great that you could make so many people happy.
We’re really fortunate to be able to visit folks. Good for them, good for Sam. 🙂
Oh man, that sad bath face cracks me up! Glad Sam managed to recover his fluff. And his dignity.
The complete beauty of dogs is their ability to live in the moment. And fortunately Sam’s memory bank isn’t too big. 😉
You are awesome my friend for going and visiting all of these people. You put a spark in their eyes that they may not have had. For that, I send you more bravo’s than you can imagine. As far as the bath, if that’s the price to pay, you do it very well. Conpigulations to you my friend. I’m looking up to you today. <3 XOXO – Bacon
Aw, Bacon you’re too kind. I’ll probably get a big head now to go with the pouf topknot. 😉
Sam, I hear you… I hate that bathtub and the worst thing on earth (except the thermoter of the vet) is that hair dryer… I turn into a canine Concord to escape with Mach2. That was great that you met the patients and their visitors… I bet they will tell their friends about you and maybe it helps the friends and the family of a patient when they know their relatives are in the best paws…
Why do our staff peeps have such noisy instruments? Hair dryers, smoke alarms. It’s maddening for us poor sensitive fur-bots.
Such a loving ministration you are bringing to those in need, and the people who care for them.
That is so nice that you go to hospice like that, even if you have to take a bath first!
It has been very hot and steamy here this weekend, Sam, so we didn’t do much at all. Glad you enjoyed your time at hospital and hospice! You’re a handsome fella; but to stay that way, you have to suffer through a bath now and then. 🙂 Have a fun week!
I can’t imagine anyone turning down a visit from you two! Ah well, you did good for the rest which is freakin awesome btw! Lulu says she’s sorry she ever made anyone not like dogs but she can’t help being possessed by evil spirits sometimes. She does feel guilty about that.
We know she can’t help herself. But like Bridget Jones, we love her just the way she is. 😉
And she’s so sweet when she’s not biting anyone! 😉
Yup, she sure is.