From Service Dog to Surfice Dog

[lulusmom]

Oh my gosh, get your kleenex ready cuz this will touch your heart in a huge way. Saskia, I sure hope you see this!!! Ken will appreciate this too...who knows, maybe he's met Richochet...I'd sure like to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

[SasAndYunah]

Hi Glynda,

that's what being a dog is all about, according to me anyway. Doing whatever it is they like doing :) Dogs need something to do, that's what they are made for...it's in their genes to have a "task". Doesn't mean all dogs need to have jobs like Yunah or Ricochet but they should have some sense of fulfilling some sort of task within their pack... :) It reinforces mutual bonds within the pack, it reinforces their status/rank within their pack...both things that dogs thrive on, it provides them with clarity :) You can teach a housedog the names of just 2 or 3 items and have them pick the correct one, that's already very fulfilling for a dog. Or teach your pet to bring you your slippers or newspaper, they simply love it, you'll see :D Doesn't have to be complicated to give the dog a sense of importance and fulfillment... If there's one thing I like to teach people it is that treating a dog good is not only feeding it, giving it medical care when needed and things like that but it also means treating a dog like a dog, so important for their mental wellbeing. Too many dogs are insecure, nervous, anxious, etc. because they are not treated like a dog.

Ohhhh I'll shut up, hahaha...I can go on and on for hours about the subject ;) It was a great video to watch, thanks Glynda :)

Saskia and Yunah :)

[Roxee's Dad]

What a wonderfull story. :)

ETA: and Sas, I think you are right:) although I don't teach alot of service type task. I always feel the need to take the time every day to play with them. If I don't, Rozee is the first to remind me that it's "her" time. She will bring me her favorite toy, drop it at my feet and if I ignore her :( She will start talking and it gets louder and louder and finally she will stamp her little paws until I get on the floor with her to play.:D LittleBit isn't to demanding but I always include her and now has learned to play quite well and because she is young and just full of it, she makes me laugh with her antics. :D

It makes me sad when they just lay around all day:( like I'm not doing my pup parenting job and they just get so happy when I get on the floor with them and instigate an impromtu play period.:)

[littleone1]

It always amazes me how intelligent dogs are and the things that they can do. This is such a wonderful sight to see.

[Harley PoMMom]

Oh Glynda, this was such a touching video to watch, and yes, I did need kleenexes. :) Thanks so much for sharing that with us, and I would love to meet Richochet too.

Love and hugs,
Lori