DIANNE’S DOGHOUSE
JUMP FOR JOY
After my little Shih Tzu Mary died, I brought tiny Joy home to help Grace with her sadness in losing her best friend. I am sure Grace’s bed was lonely and empty, but when Joy snuggled in with her and became her new best friend, life was good.
Grace and Joy are sisters, one year apart but with different dads. I began teaching Grace six months before Joy joined my family but had to begin all over again with the new puppy with Grace as the overseer.
First lesson: Only eat what’s in YOUR bowl. This is called food. No eating chair legs or cushions or poop.
Second lesson: After hooking my finger through Grace’s collar, I reminded Grace, with Joy paying attention, “We-do-not-put-our-paws-on-guests-shoulder- and-lick-their faces.”
Third lesson: When we visit nursing homes, “Please don’t nibble on your new friend’s fingers because they smell like cinnamon rolls from breakfast.”
Training was going well…then the world closed for four years!!!. No hugs from Esther or Gertrude or Sylvia, the pup’s three special friends at a local nursing home.
These three ladies looked much younger than their actual ages, which is almost always the case with older folks who retain serenity of spirit, sensitivity, and pure warmth of heart. They loved their puppy visits. Joy became quite shy and withdrawn without her new friends.
Because Grace and Joy had lost their connection to other humans, during the four years I reinstated them back into a life of hugs and touching and love. Esther, Gertrude, and Sylvia passed away, so the pups found new people and new lessons in the homes. We started with a dog training lesson for the residents and the pups to give all of them the confidence and love that had been on hold.
Lesson 1: Class-SIT.
Lesson 2: Humans and dogs make eye contact.
Lesson 3: Humans say the pup’s name.
Lesson 4: Say the pups name again. Offer the pups a treat.
Repeat, repeat, repeat all 4 lessons,
Great! Thank you for teaching the pups such good manners. See you next week for more lessons.
Grace and friends helped Joy function in a world with doors open and her new friends are giving her back the confidence and love that had been on hold for those 4 years. Life has a way of sorting itself out. Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok then it’s not the end!
Blessings,
Dianne Hammontree: Dog Trainer, Dog Sitter, Artist
