Tourists help Ollie train to be therapy dog

I was convinced our three-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Ollie, would make a wonderful therapy dog. Thirteen pounds of love and confidence, he was sure to bring comfort and a smile to residents of long-term care facilities, patients at hospitals, and stressed young people heading into exams or a challenging athletic event. 

But when I contacted Therapeutic Paws of Canada, an impressive organization that certifies volunteers to provide pet therapy in local communities, I realized their standards were very high. I worked through the form-filling, reference-gathering, vet certification, phone interview and application for a police check. The only remaining hurdle was Ollie’s in-person evaluation. As we were to learn, this was an intensive two-hour examination where every possible stressful and tempting scenario was presented to the dog. To pass, he would have to remain calm and friendly in every situation, and I would have to remain in control.

Ollie hadn’t had any formal training since he was a puppy, and though I was convinced he had the right temperament for the job, I knew he needed help to become his best and calmest self. Enter trainer Julie Clark, and her retired therapy dog Gemma. Julie donated her time and expertise to help train Ollie. Gemma is a German shepherd/border collie mix  — a beautiful, calm, and gracious lady. She would teach Ollie a lot. While Ollie has the new king’s name in his breed, Gemma has the personality of the late queen.

Julie suggested we take the dogs to Queen Street to interact with the tourists, so on two balmy September afternoons, Julie, Gemma, Ollie, and I walked NOTL’s beautiful downtown, asking strangers to help us train Ollie. Julie watched for people who smiled at the dogs, which was almost everyone. She looked for people in wheelchairs, people using walkers or canes, and exuberant people who were happy to follow whatever instructions she gave them. Apart from a couple of young women who were racing to their expired parking meter, everyone we approached said yes. We asked people to pet Ollie, speak loudly to him, run at him from behind, shake their canes at him. We met people from many American states, from Britain, and other Canadian provinces. Everyone told us how they loved our town and how lucky we were to live here.

I remember one elderly couple. The man walked with two canes and appeared very frail. He smiled at the dogs, and we stopped. His worried wife told us her husband loved dogs and was sad they could no longer own one. But she was nervous our dogs might cause him to fall. We could see she was conflicted because her husband so wanted to visit with our pups. In the end, Julie kept Gemma well back, and I lifted Ollie to be petted. I will never forget the expression of pure joy on that man’s face as he stroked Ollie’s long ears and spoke gently to him. Here was the reason Ollie should be a therapy dog. 

The merchants on the street were also amazing. We asked several stores if we could bring the dogs in so Ollie could become accustomed to different surfaces, rooms, and crowded spaces. Again, everyone asked said yes. 

I am so grateful to live in a town where people visit and bring their smiles and good spirits with them. I’m grateful for the merchants who serve them and who support the local community with kindness. The tourists are right. We are lucky to live here. And we are lucky to have the tourists.

Ollie passed his evaluation. Now if only I pass the police check. 

To learn more about Therapeutic Paws of Canada go to http://www.tpoc.ca/