First Time at the Facility

Today, for the first time, Cabana got to go to the Alzheimer's facility where we will be volunteering. It's a VERY nice place, extremely clean and inviting. There are about 80 residents living there--and a staff of almost 80, too! Can't beat that kind of ratio.

Our mentor said that Cabana did a great job. Cabana was quite excited to be there and even more excited about the basset hound that hangs out at the reception desk. She tried to get Honey to play with all her might, but to my relief, Honey was beyond such puppyish shenanigans.

Overall, Cabana was very pull-y on her leash, as I knew she would be, but when people wanted to pet and interact with her, she was very calm and obliging. She never jumped up on anyone or got too squirmy, though she did do a whole lot of sniffing (not anything inappropriate, thank goodness, but still, not everyone wants to be given an olfactory once-over). A couple times, I had Cabana "go to bed" on an ottoman so the residents could pet her more easily, and of course, she was more than happy to do that. Sadly, she accepted a potato chip that one resident proffered her--oops. I saw it happening, but I didn't have the heart to tell the old woman not to give it to her. Oh well, now Cabana knows what a potato chip tastes like.

I think Cabana will be calmer after going a few times, but I knew that keeping a loose leash in the beginning was not going to happen. In preparation, I bought a couple of teal leads that the therapy dog organization was selling for $3 each. Using some hardware and buckles I had, I cut the leads to make Cabana a collar and matching front-clip harness, patterned after our Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness. Here she is modeling them in our living room. When Cabana gets her official therapy dog jacket in a couple weeks, it will also be teal, so everything will be matchy-matchy. I was so glad to have the harness today; otherwise, Cabana would have been pulling even more and choking herself in a very embarrassing display.

Speaking of harnesses, did you know that harnesses are now allowed in the Canine Good Citizen test? Previously, only flat collars were acceptable, but as of this past November, harnesses can also be worn. That's good news for us, since we still want to take the test at some point, even though it isn't a requirement for this facility. NOTE: A commenter told me later that some kinds of harnesses are allowed, but NOT the Easy Walk harnesses with front clip. I don't know why--but it's a huge bummer!!

Now, all that's left to become official is getting Cabana's therapy dog jacket. They will have it embroidered with her name, and it should be mailed to us in the next couple weeks. Hooray!!