Volunteering your boxer at a nursing home

[malinda]

Well now I'm going to have to call the Humane Society and ask what is involved. This put a whole new spin on things, not that I'm not willing to test Megan and I'm sure she would pass but there is no indication at all that she needs any testing or special training on the web site. So this may delay the process some what.

Thank you all for your help.

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Mom of Megan-flashy, female, fawn boxer. Natural ears and docked tail. Born 5/23/00.
<A HREF="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/younme/megan.htm" TARGET=_blank> http://people.ne.mediaone.net/younme/megan.htm </A>

 

[ChrisM]

Hi all! My hubby is an Exec. Dir. for a nursing home company and I can tell you from first hand experience that the residents LOVE to see our Boxers come in! I find that the employees are often terrified of them....who knows why, but the residents LOVE them. I would offer these suggestions to anyone interested in this type of thing....
*Your dog must be very obedient and must NOT paw anyone, for any reason unless you tell them it's ok. The elderly and infirmed have VERY thin skin which tears easily.

*Be prepared to show the administrator your pups shot record. They have to cover their rears with the state regulators.....

I think this is a GREAT idea and I encourage everyone with an exceptinal dog to give it a try. In one of the last facilities my husbad ran, he provided pet parakeets to any resident who wanted and could care for them. He also took 2 cats to live there and one pup. The residents LOVED it! There is a site on the net somewhere about a doctor in NY who does that...it is called the Eden Project. Cool idea!

Good luck!

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Mom to:
LADY - White female, natural ears. Rainbow Bridge February 2000
TESS - Flashy Fawn female, born Dec, 1999, natural ears
ZELDA - Semi-flashy Female, natural ears, born May 31, 2000
REBEL- White with dark brindle eye patch and ear. Born 6-27-00 Natural ears

 

[TabithaL]

I, too, have been wanting to get Rainy involved in therapy work. She passed her Canine Good Citizen Test this past October, and once January rolls around, we're starting training with the Delta Society (I believe the link has been posted). Our PetsMart trainer has been wonderful and extremely helpful.
I used to be in dog 4-H when I was growing up and we would take our dogs to a local nursing home. I cannot tell you how it felt to bring such joy to that many people. They loved it! Rainy and I have an elderly couple we used to live by that we still go visit and I'm amazed at how gentle she can be around them and how she understands that they need her company.
Good luck to everyone who wants to share the joy of boxers!

 

[Margaret]

Chris, are you talking about Therapy Dogs in the nursing homes?
I've been told that only Therapy trained dogs are allowed in Texas nursing homes.
Our obedience trainer who has also boarded Maggie said she wouldn't pass the Therapy training because of the 'abuse' they have to take.
'Abuse' as in they must allow themselves to be treated like a sick or senile person might treat them. For instance, being yelled at, being petted hard like a mentally retarded person might do, etc. without reacting to it.
Although Maggie is getting better she still feels obligated to growl and bark at strangers. And I so wanted to do the Therapy thing with her!
Maybe someday! :(

 

[Tina-SCBR-NY]

It's really not as bad as you make it sound. I go to 5 nursing homes here in the area and 95% of the patients are fine with the dogs. If you find someone being rough with the dogs you just don't go to that person. We have one person in that loves to pull on everything...including the ears. I redirect the persons hand to Missy's back and help her pet Missy the correct way. Some of the people who go just don't stop by this woman.
Not all patients in the nursing homes want to see the dogs so you must ask them if they want to pet your baby first.
We needed to go for a visit first without the dogs to see how things worked. Then we went with the dogs for a couple of trials before we tested. This way you see if you like it.
Missy does like to paw at the patients(what boxer doesn't) but I am always ready and after the first couple of times correcting her she knows what not to do.
I can't recommend it enough. If you think you might like it, give it a try. Contact a couple of nursing homes in your area to find out if they have this and if so they should have a contact from the therapy group you can speak to.
As I said in an earlier post Missy is just over a year and very much a puppy, loving to jump and box, but she does wonderfully in the homes.

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Proud momma of 3 boxer babies and 1 foster:
Dallas, F, Brindle 3/21/95
Dakota, M, Fawn 7/10/99
Missy, F, Brindle 8/7/99
And 1 Second Chance Foster dog
www.secondchanceboxer.com
American Boxer Rescue Association Affiliate
http://hometown.aol.com/scbrboxers/myhomepage/pet.html

 

[malinda]

Well I talked to the local animal shelter this week. Megan and I go in on January 16th to one of the local nursing homes to meet with the social worker there. I am so excited I can't wait.

She told me that Megan didn't need any special training and I was honest and upfront with her. I told her Megan's age and that she had been through Obedience training Level 1 and we were starting level 2 in a few weeks. I also told her Megan is very bouncy.

So everyone keep your fingers crossed for us. I think this will be great for both Megan, myself and the nursing home.

 

[ChrisM]

Good for you! I know that in Texas you don't have to have any special certificate for your dog to take it to a nursing home but I think it is a good idea to meet with the social worker who knows what the needs of the residents are and can judge your pups ability to work within those perameters. My husband is going to take Tess to work with him once or twice a month starting in January. The residents really LOVE it! You might also consider visiting a Children's Hospital with your baby!!

 

[malinda]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed figured worse that is going to happen is they are going to say she can't do it. I won't know unless I try and try I am going to do.

I don't see a reason she won't be able to. Although she could use more training, which may be a draw back but I did tell them that she only had the first level of training and that didn't seem to scare the animal shelter worker. So I have hope.

 

[Little Vera]

I have worked in a nursing home for almost 10 years now, and I have to say that our residents LOVE when people bring their dogs (or any animal) in to share. Usually the activity department goes around and asks residents and staff who would be interested in seeing the animal. They go from there. Here in Wisconsin it isn't necessary to have the dog be "therapy" certified. Family members, staff, and visitors are VERY encouraged to bring their pets. I have seen laughs, tears of joy, and VERY RARELY fright from "our" people. We currently have a woman that brings in her Great Dane, Ben, at least once a week. I think that a Boxer would make a great visitor to a nursing home, they are gentle, loving, and oh so cute...They loved Vera when I took her in a few times. :D

 

[Tina-SCBR-NY]

Good for you Malinda. I'm sure your baby will do fine. Keep her on a short leash and when you walk her up to someone it is best to hold her collar(more control). Also I find when I sit Missy next to a resident if I turn her around so her back is facing them then sit her so they can pet the back of her head and down her back things go much better. Be prepared for her to paw at some...if she does just grab her foot right away and put it back down on the floor and tell her "No pawing". They learn very quickly how they are to behave. As I said in a previous post my Missy is just over a year old and she is VERY active and jumpy but does great with this.
Good Luck and Let us know how it goes!