Therapy Dog
Flat-Coated Retrievers for Life
In 2019 we began looking for a therapy dog to partner with Sharmin to serve people in mental health and cancer treatment. Suzie has all the characteristics needed for Therapy.She has clocked over 150 visits and 500 hours of service as a Therapy Dog through Baylor, Scott and White Health System and Therapy Pals of Golden Triangle. Suzie has worked with groups and in individual settings, with fire departments, schools, colleges, and public libraries, rehab facilities, fairs and meet-the-breed events, in-patient mental health, hospitals and cancer treatment centers. Through this work, she has earned the AKC THDA (Therapy Dog Advanced) title. To prepare for her therapy dog and service dog training, Suzie earned her CGC and CGCA (Canine Good Citizen Advanced), and has since earned the CGCU (Urban) and Farm Dog Certification (FDC). She has also worked her way up through the AKC Trick Dog program to TKA (Trick Dog Advanced) level. In addition to her therapy work, Suzie is Sharmin's trained Service Dog.
Practice
Therapy Happens Everywhere
We try to use every opportunity to build therapy dog skills. Suzie enjoys meeting new people on the "Say Hi!" command. She is a great way to get to know the joy and affection of a Flat-Coated Retriever as children of all ages love the "Peter Pan" of the dog world.
Hospital Therapy
Sensing the Stress
...and having a sixth sense about what to do to help. Sometimes a patient needs a head in the lap or a gentle nudge, but sometimes they need to be licked out of the funk and move around, or build their confidence by training tricks. Suzie reads the situation pretty well and knows just what to do to lighten the emotional load and help with healing.
Interacting with Children
A Kiss of Joy
Whether at a school, library, park, community fair, or at a meet the breed event, Suzie bring both calm and a sense of joy to children. Whether it's the introducting a toddler to a puppy for the first time or helping a child be confident while Reading to Rover or calming an overstressed college student, Suzie has it covered.
