Animal Assisted Therapy

“Animals stimulate us not only by touch, but by some deeply buried aspect of nature within us, a connection to part of something greater, more healthy and more whole.” Peter Levine

I’ve read you can always find hope in a dog’s eyes and it’s certainly apparent when we go on pet therapy visits. Discounting the tactile nature of his soft fluffy fur, Sam’s connection with peeps is palpable. It’s hard not seeing him connect with people he encounters. This sweet goofy boy treats everyone he meets like they are the only one around.

imageHow does your pup connect with you and others? Is it nose to nose?

Live, love, bark! <3

20 thoughts on “Animal Assisted Therapy

  1. Sand Spring Chesapeakes – Cambria, WI – My husband and I have six "furry" children Gambler, Glory, Guilty, Slammer, Gertie and one cat Bones and two furangel's Norman and Nellie. We breed Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. We are both avid hunters. We also enjoy competing with our dogs in hunt tests and field trials. That is where you can find us during the trial months which are April-September. When were not at a trial we are busy training our dogs. We go snow goose hunting in Canada each year and do all the hunting that Wisconsin offers.
    Sand Spring Chesapeakes says:

    With Preacher it is nose to crotch….others nose to nose

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Bwahaha!

  2. Sampson is the connector. He starts off with barking or rooing at the person, and he doesn’t let up until they come over to pet him. Once that happens, they’re hooked.

    We have a woman up the street that he worked on last year, a couple of weeks ago we stopped at her house for a chat and her neighbor came outside and she said, “Dave, come on over and meet the best Golden-Lab ever.” I chuckled inside. She’s stopped me walking Delilah and said, “Did our boy walk yet?” She even asked me if I’d let her know if something happened to him. It’s really quite amazing the magic they work, isn’t it?

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Sam has a couple of peeps he sees on our walks and you’d think he was going to turn himself inside out getting to them. The worst part is the squealing like a little girl. At 5:30 in the morning…not so attractive. 😜

  3. Genevieve Petrillo – I'm a teacher-turned-writer - Author of Keep Your Ear on the Ball (Tilbury, 2007) and What If I Don't? (Meegenius, 2014). I love doing school visits and author talks. My stories, poetry, and teaching ideas have been seen in many teachers' and children's magazines. In my free time, I volunteer with Ocean County Volunteers for the Blind and TheraPet.
    Genevieve says:

    At home, Cupcake uses the eyes to speak to me. At work, it’s just closeness. She wants hands on her.

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Aww, those sweet brown eyes probably say a lot. 😉

  4. With me, it’s the eyes. One time, an older man who was an employee at a physical rehabilitation hospital started petting me, and he was smiling from ear to ear. He said I was a very special dog, and “God bless you,” to me as we left. As we walked away, the pet therapy person told Mom that was the first time that man had ever touched one of the dogs – that he was usually terrified of them.

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      I love those kind of pet therapy connections, Lexi! You’re such a good girl. <3

  5. Cole touches us with his nose when we walk by. Or when he catches up to me on a walk (of course the Good Daddy lets him linger over sniffs while I walk ahead). Sam is empathic. That’s a gift for all.

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Those poodle noses…oh the stories they could tell. ღ

  6. Kismet – New River, Arizona. – I'm a 16 year old Indian Ringneck parrot curmudgeon in New River, Arizona in the wild west country. If you're a sunflower seed, you're dinner.
    Kismet says:

    Kali would make a great therapy dog. I just have to find the right dog psychiatrist for her.

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Gotta love those happy greeters!

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Thank you! You have a pawsome day as well. 😎

  7. Piglove – In the South BABY – Miniature pot bellied pig and friends - Bacon, Houdini, Hemi and all of the Rock Clan with Journalist Rocky the Squirrel all out looking for adventures from the Hotel Thompson.
    Piglove says:

    You know now that you mention it, Houdini likes to greet nose to nose. It’s kind of hilarious cause sometimes he sleeps you the tongue when he does it. Snorts with piggy laughter. XOXO – Bacon

    1. Tails Around the Ranch – Denver, CO – The inspiration behind this blog was one knuckleheaded Standard Poodle named Sam but is now inspired by a House Pony-Wilson. I'm Monika, the upright. Living in the Denver metro area, we post about dogs, rescue and nature. So grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to howl along with our adventures. And don't forget to bark your 'pup-tacular' comment; we'd love to hear from you.
      Tails Around the Ranch says:

      Thank you, he’s a really sweet boy that everyone seems to like. 😄

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