The Sniff Of Approval

Tags

Acceptance, Animal and children, Awareness, Blind, Blindness, Connect, Counselling, Diversity, Dog, Education, Equality, Free spirit, Guide Dog, Munch, Non Judgement, Pet Therapy, Visual Impairement

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Going to counselling for the very first time can create a mixture of feelings. From nervousness to relief, most people will feel something about what lies behind the counselling door. Most people however, will not expect to be sniffed and may be a little perplexed when they are met with a friendly dog who has no personal space boundaries and happily sniffs them to analyse their whole entire life.

Munch’s initial sniff of approval will first tell him if of course they are “one of his people”. If said person enters the room with a hint of Suzi the Schnauzer scent on them, he knows they will be best friends forever. Anyone who loves dogs in his eyes, is a trustworthy person. To be fair, he accepts cat people too but may not go and get his toy to offer them a game of fetch as he knows that feline friendliness operates on a totally different level.

A quick sniff of their bag, will determine whether there is a chance they can bond over the love of food. The beauty of working in schools means that lots of young people carry food with them and therefore the cupboard love will begin from the first nostril full of beef crisps. In all honestly, he is a little more partial to the meat eater clients taste palate as he gets far too bored with his maid’s vegan one. Chicken will always be preferred over cucumber. He has tried to convince her to bring a far more exciting lunch to work each day but she stubbornly refuses. Sigh, you just can’t get the staff these days.

The mud lovers in life also come top in his favourite type of people as they are seen as the fun ones who would play with him outdoors. A sniff of a sweaty sports kits tells him that these are good friends to go on free runs with. They may not want to chase squirrels up trees with him but at least they would be more energetic than his maid he is stuck with. Despite the fact they are there for counselling, he will have ideas in his head that they have come to pick him up for a play date.

When tears begin to fall from their eyes, he is the first one there to catch them as they fall. He gives his doggy kisses to shaking hands and a gentle paw in their hand to know they are not alone. He smells unhappiness and won’t leave their side until they want him to as he snuggles in beside them. He sniffs cut knees through their trousers and unless stopped will try to lick them until they heal. He sniffs out emotions along with everything else , to tell him what is really going on with the clients.

He may not be a trained therapy dog but he is therapeutically active in each session. Guide Dogs chose him to become a Guide Dog due to his loving and clever temperament which has in turn given him the opportunity to meet people who need him in their lives. This friendly scruffy face they meet each week, always accepts them and has been there for them since they received his sniff of approval. Luckily they are all pre warned that there is a dog in the room before they come , to give them the option of having a dog free counsellor if they wish.

The sniff test is not part of the assessment for counselling don’t worry. The patient clients who choose to work with an over friendly dog who is best friends with everyone, are so lovely. They allow him to be Munchlike in the room and still accept him just the same. The sniff of approval does go a little unbalanced however when he gets a little over excited and let’s out a rather noxious anal exhale and fills the room with green smog. The clients are so brave to come back into the room a week after such events but they do.

Dogs always know far more about a person upon meeting them then other humans ever will.

Jack Of All Trades

Tags

Guide Dog, Kindness, Labradoodle, Pet Therapy, Unconditional Love

Hahahaha I have fooled them again. Humans are so easy to trick.

We started in a new school this week which meant I was able to bring the wow factor to the school. The gasps of sheer delight that echoed around me in surround sound as I sashayed down the lengthy corridors towards our new counselling room gave me plenty of opportunity to let my presence be known, As I graced the space with my face, I knew that before long I would have my fan base increase from both teachers and pupils who would eagerly await me each week. They will probably be tolerant of the maid too.

As we settled into the new room for the day, there was a lot of commotion outside of the door. Through the small narrow glass panel that ran down the side of the door, many excited faces looked on in glee as they spotted my handsome self. The “there is a dog in the school, quick come and see” voices that spread up and down the corridor was music to my ears. Not wanting to disappoint, I ignored the maids request to get away from the door and instead I sat in front of the glass, turning my head one way and another to ensure that my best features were seen by all. The pupils loved it nearly as much as I did.

My first session went well, and the pupil fell in love with me (which was not surprising). As soon as the session ended and break time began, an even louder commotion erupted outside of the room, this time we heard pupils shouted to others to come and peek at “the therapy dog” in the room which I had to chuckle at. In the room I obviously do not have my guide dog harness on so that is all they saw is my fine physique sitting in front of the door and they assumed I was a therapy dog. It would not be the first time that I have been mistaken for a different type of working dog.

There was a time a few years back when we first started in schools that a group of boys thought that I was a police dog and the maid wound them up even more by saying that yes I was a sniffer dog and asked if they had anything to hide. Their silence was deafening until she put them out of their misery and admitted I was a guide dog. I did however try out as a trainee sniffer dog a couple of years back on a train when I met a delightful Spaniel police sniffer dog. As we rubbed noses as we met and she went off in the carriage to sniff out danger, I followed her too sniffing as I went much to the amusement of the police officer she was with. The fact that I was sniffing for dropped food (found, retrieved and disposed of it may I add) and the spaniel was sniffing for illegal dodgy stuff and ignored the food did not matter, I still tried my best.

In the past a lot of people have mistaken me for a therapy dog especially as I do not emit that stereotypical guide dog looks apparently but I love to be different. Therapy dogs are amazing and are just like all of us other working dogs who change peoples lives forever. The bonus that the children get with me is that they have counselling and pet therapy all at the same time and I love being of service to them. Whatever people want to think I am, I just want to keep putting a smile on their faces and brightening their day up as much as possible. If we can put a smile on a face and fill them with happiness, then that is all that really matters in the world. Hope you get a chance to do the same each day as it is the best job ever!

To The Bullied Child

Tags

Animal, Bullying, Children, Counseling, Dog, Guide Dog, Humour, Inspire, Kindness, Love, Pet Therapy, Unconditional Love

Come in. We have been looking forward to seeing you today. Munch has warmed up your seat ready for you, but he will soon be jumping to the floor when you come in. Sorry in advance for the doggy breath kisses that he wants to smother you with. Can you give our apologise please to whoever washes your clothes, as they will be covered with hair from him cuddling into you. He loves seeing you each week and has no concept of personal space so he just wants to sit next to you and connect.

When he sits by your feet and gives you his paw, he is speaking for both of us as we thank you for showing up and being here with us for the next hour. As he gazes up at you, he sees the most perfect human ever and will never tire of seeing you. He sees you as a friend and will always be loyal and will never leave your side. As he rubs his head into your lap, he is trying to leave a part of him behind, that will stay with you as you go through your day. As he lays down on your feet, he is telling you that you belong to the same pack of warriors that this world so desperately needs more of.

Life outside this room can be tough, but when you are here with us we really want you to know that life can also be full of love. The words that fall out of the bully’s mouths do not belong to you. You are a totally different person than they make you out to be. We know the real you that your loved ones know and adore. We also know the sheer joy that you bring into people’s lives without even knowing it. As the bully lures you away from the real you, we will always keep you anchored to your true self. Our counselling room door will always be the doorway to healing whenever you are ready.

As my Guide Dog becomes your Pet Therapy pal, he waits to see you transform into the person that you want to be. Loving yourself is easier to do when you surround yourself with people who love you. These are the cheerleaders that you need around to help you through the game of life. You may not have met your tribe of people yet, but they are so excited to meet you so search for them in the unlikeliest of places. By changing your surroundings, you are changing your opportunities.

It is impossible to brainwash a waterproof brain so whatever the bully tries to throw at you, it can never hurt if your self-love seal is intact. Don’t allow people to chip away at the perfect human that you are, as a broken you would not be you. Learn to love the life that you were born to lead and don’t let anyone get in your way. I hope that one day soon you can see yourself as the perfect being that Munch sees you as. You too would fall in love with yourself and know the beautiful difference that you make in the lives of others. Just ask Munch.

Forgiveness

Tags

Animal, Dog, Happiness, Humour, Individuality, Kindness, Labradoodle, Love, Pet Therapy, Pets, Positivity

It took a day and a half before I was let out of the Doghouse. I knew that Angus my cat pouted if he was left with someone when I was away, but I didn’t realize that Munch’s reaction would outdo this in the most theatrical manner. Munch was left with his favourite dog walking, free running, treat giving person in his doggy world who he saw nearly everyday so its not as if I left him abandoned in a Dogs Kennel with other lonely souls. He was left for 2 days with a person who he loved dearly yet by his sulking reaction when I returned, you could swear I had left him for another dog. I went to a concert, so I did not take him with me as it would be too loud, so I took my white cane and a pair of 2-legged Guide Dogs instead. Munch obviously did not get that I was protecting his poor eardrums, so forgiveness was not an easy thing for him but then again it never was.

It wasn’t the first time that he had taken a while to forgive me or someone else. The previous week, he had taken a while for him to grant me acquittal to the sentence of silence, after I selfishly stopped him picking up some food from the floor whilst out walking. I fell in style tripping over fresh air that always seems to be out to get me and landed in a unique position. It was a mixture between a very impressive yoga child’s pose with my nose squished against my knee and my upper body resembling a scene from a game of Twister with my arms somehow crossed over each other stretching out to imaginary coloured spots. I really felt sorry for the poor man who walking behind me with his dog as it can’t have been a nice sight. As Munch sniffed around me and gave me a loving lick, I knew he wanted me to get up quick so that we could go back and retrieve the food that was tempting his ever-ready stomach. He was not impressed as I walked my mud caked clothes in the opposite direction. He remained quiet the rest of the walk. I knew he was secretly cursing me.

This judgemental attitude is not kept for me alone as he is eager to share this with anyone who dares to deviate from treating him like the king he thinks he is. It is the same non-forgiving attitude that he has given the vet ever since his first visit there when he had digestion problems. As soon as he hears the snap of the rubber glove on the vet’s hand, his head bows and he tries to shrink behind me to escape any impending intrusions on his delicate derriere. This has happened only once, yet he has never forgiven the vet for popping his pride. The same look of disdain swept across Munch’s face when a man accidentally stood on his tail on the train a while ago. Despite the poor man feeling so terrible, apologising and stroking him to show his regret, Munch simply got up turned around and showed his back in protest to this apology. This regal sense of entitlement also showed through when on 2 separate occasions a friend of mine ignored Munch when we bumped into her whilst out. As my friend gave her attention to my gorgeous granddaughter and did the rightful thing of ignoring a Guide Dog whilst on duty, Munch tried prancing in front of her to get his usual fuss from his fans. When my friend came over to the house a few weeks later, the Diva totally ignored her which he never does. Forgiveness is not an easy act for Munch to do.

We all have a different relationship with forgiveness. For me, forgiveness is easy. People make mistakes and bad behaviour always has a root cause. Perfection is an ideal not a reality a lot of the time. So why therefore spend time and energy on feeling bitter and hatred towards a person who is carrying on with their lives regardless of how you feel. I would rather address a problem as it arises, sort it out and then move on as life is far too precious to waste on carrying heavy grudges around. I have tried explaining this to Munch but talking to a cold shoulder has made me realize that he just needs time to come around. When he does though, he returns to the most loving soul that is his true self. The cuddles he gives afterwards are certainly worth the wait.

The Unconditional Love of Animals

Tags

Animal, Counseling, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Kindness, Love, Pet Therapy, Santes Dwynwen, Sight Loss, Unconditional Love, Vision Impairment

Happy Santes Dwynwen day.

To all non-Welsh people, today is our equivalent to St Valentine’s day. It is based on a 4^th Century unlucky in love Princess named Dwynwen who finally found love. She also happens to be the patron saint of sick animals. Her name means ‘she who leads a blessed life’. This however is not a history lesson.

In Wales the day is not just celebrated by lovers but also the loved. Children in primary schools across the country take home, hand made cards to their parents to tell them how much they love them. Some children make gifts, there are even parties to exchange cards and gifts but however it is celebrated, it is all about unconditional love. The love that transcends problems, judgments and limits. It is that same love that can be found in our furry friends. There is no better feeling than coming home after a hard day in work to be greeted by your eagerly awaiting cat/dog/parrot. I feel doubly blessed as I get to spend each moment with my unconditional love source by my side whether in work, shopping or at the gym. He is always right by my side.

What is even better is that Munch gives that special unconditional love not only to me but to everyone he meets. I am a school’s counsellor, so Munch comes with me to work which means his loving nature brings a therapeutic quality of its own to the therapy room. Alongside the traditional counselling the children get, they also get pet therapy from this loving soul. With the widely researched benefits of pet therapy known, it is clear to see how his caring nature can aid in healing. He becomes a magnet to an invisible soul connecting communication that occurs when his eyes meet those of another.

Munch loves a good snooze, so spends, most of the day stretched out on his bed whilst in work. As soon as hears the first tear fall from a client’s eye, he shoots up from his sleep to go over to them to comfort them. He will rub his head in their legs, give them his paw and doggy kiss their hands. Many will cuddle him and stay there for a long time in silence as he gives them what they so desperately need in that moment of time. Unconditional love.

Don’t you think it be great, if we were all as free with our unconditional love as animals are? Animals do not care about a person’s past, weaknesses, failures or faults. They only care about the here and now and how they can love and be loved openly. Animals are our best teachers. They do not complicate situations with imagined emotions or analysing things that really are not there. Even animals that have been horrifically abused in the past can find their way back to love which is the only thing in life that really matters.

So, on this Santes Dwynwen’s, take time to share loving moments with loved ones in your life. It is not about the past, faults or failures, it is about the real reasons we love them. You may not want to doggy kiss their hands, but a few meaningful words can be just as warming. You may not want to give them your human equivalent paw, but an equally soothing hug may be as good. You may just want to radiate unconditional love to all you meet. If so be ready for the pats on your head you will receive back, they are priceless.