Yesterday hubby and I went to the doctor for annual checkups. Worthy went with me as my assistance/service dog. He turned 2 years old on April 2nd, and he is maturing nicely. He did well at the doctor's office.
He did a lot of little therapy moments, too, since people wanted to pet him, and he loves everybody. His presence helps me greatly with blood drawing. Until Worthy, I used to get very faint and even at times come close to passing out from a blood draw. Yeah, I'm strange! But with him there, I focus on him while they draw my blood, and I do much better.
The doctor likes Worthy, too. It's terrific how he just relaxes on the floor when there is nothing for him to do. He is not a nervous dog at all. I'm blown away by wonderful Standard Poodle temperament!
We also love the way the groomer did him this time. A bit less topknot and a very clear view of his eyes. I find myself petting him on the top of the head more! And the hair just springs right back up! I need that eye contact for working him, and I've got it! He is such a blessing from God.
I received his Purebred Alternative Listing number from AKC on Monday. I guess they have changed the name of the ILP number, because soon they will have a category specifically for mixed breeds. For either category, the dog must be neutered. That is standard for an assistance/service dog anyway.
Worthy is a purebred, but no papers were available for him. He was donated to A New Leash on Life by his breeder at a few months of age. She was not able to contact the breeder later. But he is definitely a Standard Poodle. I thought about registering him under the mixed breed program, and realized it would be much more appropriate to register him as what he actually is!
I don't know whether my health will permit me to do any AKC performance events with him, but the PAL number does make that possible. I'm kind of interested in Rally Obedience, on the non-jumping level. In that category he would not be exposed to risk of injury, and I would be able to handle him with verbal encouragement as I do when he is assisting me. I don't want to work him in a format that could cause any confusion to his real job in life.
But besides my health, there is the fact that dog events would expose him to germs and even potential injury from another dog. So, we'll think very carefully.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47
Give him a pat on the head for me.