Terrier Tuesday -- Report Card

Dear Readers,

Well, as A.Alpha probably told you, the other day we had a class together so that I can maybe become a service dog in the future. Boy, was that hard! It was mostly very fun, though, and I love to learn. I got a gold star for being Most Attentive in Class, which is pretty cool for someone that A. Alpha says has TTADS (Tiny Terrier Attention Deficit Syndrome). The teachers would often say that the dogs should be doing a certain something, especially like looking at their alpha attentively, and they would say, "Just like little Mr. Jefferies over here." 

A.Alpha was so proud. 

All the other dogs there were 10- to 3,000 times my size. There was a bullmastiff-horse cross (I swear!) whose owner said he eats more than my weight in his breakfast food each morning. The experience was a little bit nerve-wracking, I will admit, even for a strong and well-adjusted terrier like me. A.Alpha was actually shaking in her Merrells at the sight of him. There were some super-friendly dogs, and some that were just stuck-up or stupid or something. There was a dog that lunged meanly at me, and surprisingly to my Alpha, it was not the bullmastiff-horse, but the Old Yeller Lab. NOT.NICE. Her mom said that she had never seen a dog as small as me. That is still SO.VERY.NOT.COOL. That behavior was Duly Noted and made me and Alpha a bit nervous for the whole rest of the class.

There was one dog that did not want to participate. In the first exercise, we were supposed to walk from cone to cone, SIT, and then walk to the next cone. Personally, I still get confused between SIT and LIE DOWN (they both produce treats, so what do I care?), and so I think I might have got a check-minus on that one for over-achievement. But this other dog? He just pharumped down on the floor and refused to move, pretending he was asleep and too tired and didn't want to participate. FLUNK!

They did all kinds of weird things, like put a pile of treats on the floor and MADE US WALK PAST THEM WITHOUT TAKING THEM. Imagine! Torture! But I did it like a champ. A.Alpha said, "Do not TOUCH," and I know what that means, especially when she says it in That Voice. So I got extra points for that.

And then they had guys dress up in weird getups, walking funny, making funny moany noises and loud bangs and all bringing out all kinds of strange stuff like those kids' toys that they push and make pop-pop sounds, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, brooms banging on the floor, ALL AT ONCE, to try to see if we'd be scared or aggressive, or how we would react. It was very disconcerting, the whole thing, but hey, I've walked up Broadway when it was wall-to-wall people, so I did really well on everything except I was, they said, "skittish" of crutches. A.Alpha was sort of freaked out by all of it, so she probably flunked that part. (I didn't see HER report card.) And a whole bunch of them, men and women, crowded in upon me and A.Alpha to see how I would react. They said my avoidance of all the Big People and Feet was OK. 

Then they played even more mind games. They had a person sitting on a chair, like a wheelchair, and the person was saying, "Come on up, Jeffies! Come on UP!" and patted her lap, and A.Alpha was supposed to show that I would listen to her more than the person offering me a nice warm lap, because maybe sometimes in hospitals or nursing homes people might think they want a dog on their lap, but it really would not be a good or safe thing for them, so I have to listen to Alpha. I aced it. 

And of course I was awesome at taking treats from a stranger, even when he acted weird and teased me and tried to jerk the treat from my mouth. And then they touched me and poked me all over in weird places as we walked by them, to see what kind of a reaction I would have -- in case I was maybe at a place where little kids or old people (they said old people are often WORSE than kids about that stuff, if you can believe that) would be tugging on my tail or something. I passed that part well enough,but I wasn't fond of it, I'll tell ya that.  

After an hour of testing, we were told to go outside for a break, and when we came back in, there were several fewer of us for the second hour. So I'm not sure if those others were told to leave or if they just decided this wasn't for them and they left on their own. 

The only parts that A.Alpha has to work on are teaching me how to properly heel when walking on a leash with only one person. I am a champ OFF THE CHARTS about it when walking with two or more people -- that's where I really catch my stride. But when it's only one person, I get all disoriented and don't know which side of the leg I should be on, and I scoot back and forth. It's all A.Alpha's fault, and she has to teach me! And I need to prove to them next time that I'm not really skittish around crutches and stuff like that. 

But anyway, I'm about 90% of the way there. Once it gets warmer outside, A.Alpha has promised to teach me to heel properly and make sure I'm not afraid of things like crutches, and we're going to try again in a few months. 

Love,

Mr. Jefferies

Comments

[Mary]

Well, Mr Jeffries, you did much better than I would have done under the circumstances. I get very tetchy when people crowd me or, heaven forbid, poke me. Best of luck on the rest of the training.

PS...I don't like crutches either.

[lisa]

Way to go Mr. J! My mutt girls' grandmother and auntie do therapy dog work. But not my girls, they couldn't do what you did!

Once, when I was on crutches, I must've passed some person who didn't like them much, because in her rush to get to some consignment children's clothes, she kicked the crutch out from under my weight!

[Kym]

Wow, Mr. Jefferies, that sounds like intense work! Good for you!

[Mary Fran]

Good job, Mr. J! I hope you go extra treats for all that hard work.

[Geri]

Congratulations Mr. J! We all knew you'd be the role model. More treats for you!

[margene]

My two boys would be epic fails at rigorous tests like that, Mr J. You're da bomb!

[Jean E.]

Nice work, Mr. J. My sister-in-law has therapy dogs; they love to go to the nursing home or visit schools. Sometimes they even get to wear silly costumes or play dress up with the children.

[Paula]

Good job, both of you! Sounds very rigorous and I'm sure you'll ace it next time.

[Joansie]

Good job, Mr. Jeffries!!! Very interesting!!!

[gayle]

Nice work, Mr J! We knew you could do it.
I hope they give you extra credit for Extreme Cuteness. That should offset any crutch-skittishness.

[Carol]

Wow! Well done! Sounds like a rough way to get started but necessary for such important work.

[Elizabeth]

Well done, Mr Jeffries!
That was a very interesting lesson for us all. I wondered what training was required for therapy dogs. Your Alpha is awesome, do you know that?

[Linda B.]

Wondering...did that Old Yeller Lab make the first cut?

[Adelaide]

Mr. Jefferies: Super Star!!!

[Vicki]

Way to go, Mr. J.!

[Joannah]

Great start! Looks like A. Alpha needs to get some crutches/canes so you can get used to them. Otherwise, looks like you've SO got the aptitude!

[marianne]

Well done, Mr.Jefferies and A.Alpha!
I'd always wondered about those therapy training sessions, thanks for all the info. You know, you could consider professional journalism too. :^D

[Konna]

Congratulations, Mr. Jefferies! (to your Alpha too) I know you will ace the next tests too! Practice that walking and heeling!

[elaine]

hey ther-where di you get the info about therapy dog training? we've often thought about doing it for our dog, but never looked into training, etc. now that i read about mr jeffries training, i think i may get pearl (our pup) into it...

[Kathy Sue]

Thanks for sharing your story. It is a good example for other good pets. People in hospitals get lonely, and a precious pup visit is so good for them. Don't give up!

[Cookie]

Well done, little man!

[Elaine]

Mr J, no surprise that you are a canine Gold Standard; A.Alpha doesn't have That Voice for nothing! Be proud, Mr J.

[BB]

Norma, where did you find a class? My collie already has his CGC and didn't flinch last year when I broke my ankle (used wheelchair, crutches, and walker). Can Mr. J. tell him where to go or whom to contact? Thanks.

[Doris]

What a smart boy you are, Mr. J. I think you will make a good therapy dog.

[Knitnana]

You'll get used to the crutches - if you've done this well so far? You're gonna be great!
(((hugs)))

[noonie]

Bravo Mr J, sounds like becoming a PAT dog is a lot harder in the US.

My mum says I can try out for this maybe this year but more likely next.

Mr Jinx

[Seanna Lea]

Gah, I need to teach Victor to heel. Right now he is either pulling to get to something Right Away or he is swerving across my path (both in front and behind). Makes it really hard to tell where he is and not accidentally step on him, and it isn't his fault. So, when you learn to heel can you give me tips for teaching Victor?

[Jan in NoFL]

Dude - you've already got the hard stuff down. Attitude is hard to teach, but you got it! I'll bet you get heeling in just a couple of lessons, if Alpha stays consistent. You guys are awesome.

[elizabeth a airhart]

mr jeffries its harder to get a human
being to heel*** love


lil ole pudding pie

[CindyCindy]

Mr. Jeffries, do not worry about the really huge dogs. They are way too slow and tired to hurt you. My 130# Grover is afraid of you little guys, so I think it might even out. Good luck on the heeling. It's really hard. I needed cheeseburgers to get Grover to get the hang of it!!!!

[kmkat]

That dog that laid down on the cone-to-cone-sit-next-cone-sit etc? Was that by any chance Charlie the Beagle from The Pioneer Woman? Cuz we all know how lazy he is... (unlike yourself)

[Melissa in El Cajon]

I'll say it again: I just love Mr. Jeffries posts!

[Judy]

Mr J, you can come to my nursing home in Rutland, anytime. I'll make sure the old people are nice to you, and we don't have any crutches!
Poor Bo went to the vet today. His hips and knees are good, but he can't have anymore treats! He weighs 94 pounds and needs to be on a diet, just like his mother. Poor boy!

[Birdsong]

Mr. Jeffries, you should be very proud of yourself... that's a lot for one day and one very small dog.