dezzyno.1

I came across this article in the paper about a dog attack this morning in Ballarat in which lately there have been many attacks on people.....the media here have great pleasure in calling dogs pitbulls and I am no expert but I do not think this dog is a pitbull....the Council here at the moment are trying to put laws into place regarding dogs being on leashes apart from designated off lead areas.....I think this would be good and we are only one of three Councils that still allow dogs to be off lead in the strets apart from public places like playgrounds....what sort of breed of dog do people think this is I maybe wrong but maybe a bulldog...would be interested to hear of peoples opinions http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2228610/dog-attack-in-wendouree/?cs=62

Fantastic news kelpiecuddles....I know you will love it just as much as Dezzy and I do....it is so rewarding just to see their faces when you walk in the door and with dementia patients they will always remember the dogs name but will forget yours.....well done

signed and shared

so sorry to hear of your loss Kirislin....you made the right decision and a fruit tree is a lovely gesture for your beautfiul furkid....RIP Kibah.....run free

I have a dog who pulls very hard....she is 5 years old and was taught to walk in a harness which led her to pulling and believe me she pulls hard....we usually walk her in a halti so my daughter can control her but she hates it so I brought the gentle leader harness which is the front one and believe me it works and she still does pull a little but she is able to be controlled now and she doesn't have to wear the halti.....it attaches just around their belly behind the front legs and clips on at the front and I find it doesn't rub and she enjoys her walks now without having to wear the halti

have a wonderful time with Bella tomorrow.....so sorry this has happened after everything you guys have been through....run free Bella

I cannot wait until next Sunday as tracking training starts again....no more sleep ins as its an early start having to be there at 7 am until we get out to Haddon the first weekend in May.....my two children are also starting Track and Search training soon as well

what a horrible accident....hope your beautiful girl Feather gets better real soon with some rest

our two dogs Dezzy and Jessie don't watch tv that much but Pink watches TV all the time....when we go out we have to leave the tv on a music channel because I have caught Pink twice in mid air jumping towards the tv to get the cat and a lion which were on a tv show she was watching :laugh:

thanks Westiemum and MelissaS....when we visit Antionette always smiles....she also loves to tell Dezzy to sit and shake paws which he does.....he loves Dezzy's visits very much and I am sure will love seeing his pic with her every day when she wakes up and when she goes to sleep

thanks everyone....the friends also thanked me for doing such a wonderful thing and making Antionette so happy

just an update....we went to our first visit to see Antionette after xmas and New Years and she was out....apparently she has some french friends who take her for a coffee once a week on Thursdays....they came back and she opened her present from Dezzy and gave Dezzy a big hug and kiss and Dezzy gave her a kiss back....she had tears in her eyes and kept blowing him kisses she loved it....I am also going to get a smaller size photo and leave it at the nursing home for the friends to pick it up and they are going to send it over to Antionette's family in France....everyone loved it especially Antionette :)

I have just remembered quite a few years ago before I started tracking there was a basset hound who was blind that did track and gained her Tracking Champion title.....she just used her nose instead of her sight :)

that's great Dougal....hope you and Chelsea are really enjoying your visits.....yes the assessment is a major thing and does really get the dogs used to what they will come across when visiting.....if you go to a disability centre there is also very loud noises that the dogs come across but they do get used to the noises although Dezzy wasn't phased by them at all :)

Oh that is so crappy and very short sighted. I am so sorry that you experienced such breed prejudice. One of the reasons we were accepted was because being a larger breed, the dogs are able to cope with the not so gentle patting from older people with tremors and the unsteady movements of disabled people. I agree with you it is rewarding and hearbreaking. Three days after our coat presentation visit one of Zeph's favourite residents passed away. However, he made friends with two new residents on the next visit. Some residents or their visiting relatives can be scared, others are delighted. Some like a visit one day but not the next. You never take it personally as this is the nature of old age. The unconditional love and acceptance from a dog is priceless to residents. thanks Grumpette....yes it is a bit disappointing that they discriminate against his breed but we have been to many other places that welcome Dezzy with open arms and do not judge him especially when they see how the residents interact with him....we are starting at a new place soon as well so that will be interesting as it is another disability centre but the residents are more active at this one.....luckly Dezzy doesn't mind his tail, ears and lips being pulled :laugh: .... yes there are many especially in the nursing homes that pass on and there is always a new resident to take their place....one lady who just arrived at the nursing home told Dezzy she is losing her mind and she goes off on a tantrum but she is always pleased to see him :D

Dezzy and I have been Delta Pet Therapy for 4 years now and still look forward to our days we visit....we started in a nursing home and was there for about 2 years but had to leave to allow someone else to go on the days they could visit.....we had a couple of nursing homes we went to but was asked to leave after a couple of visits due not to the residents but the staff who had read in the papers about Dezzys breed and didn't want him there and at first I was a bit down but realised soon that they are the ones who are missing out For the last year or so we have been visiting a disability day centre where we have had many many breakthroughs with residents who normally will do nothing will smile, laugh and pat Dezzy as soon as he walks in the door also many residents so happy to see Dezzy, we also visit a dementia nursing home and believe me when Dezzy walks in the door they are all smiles and remember his name but forget mine....I also posted a pic just before xmas with a photo I was giving a resident who has no family in Australia It is such a rewarding thing to do with a lot of good and bad stories but I feel as long as we can make a difference in somebodys lives with just a visit then it is all worthwhile and such a terrific thing we can do just to make someone happy for a day :)

what lovely people they are.....RIP Molly

thank you Agility Dogs....your story reminds me of my nan in a dementia nursing home but at the time I didn't have dogs but I took the kids in every week...she forgot our names but always rememberd the kids and would cry when she saw them and would nurse them and tell them that they were dear little pets.....I am sure your nan appreciated you for bringing CK in the times that you did....thank you for your story and your kind comments and as I stated previously I will let everyone know what Antionette's reaction is to the photo and if I can will get a photo of her and the photo and maybe some of the staff but it looks like I won't see her until after New Year's but may drop in on her before then :)

thanks Michelleva....we have been doing this for 4 years now and have not looked back since the day we started....it is so full of joy and happiness especially when the residents see Dezzy walk through the door :)

thanks Mita....I think the staff also get as much joy seeing Dezzy arrive as what the residents do...I will get a photo of Antionette with her photo and post it up here....have a Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year and stay safe :)

we had a lady going around a few nursing homes portraying her dog to be a therapy dog...this causes lots of problems especially as the dog is not temperment tested....she has disappeared lately because I think the nursing homes realised she was not a part of the therapy dog team

thank you for the beautiful comments....gwp4me the nurses at the home are very good and daily do the residents hair, nails etc to make them feel a bit more human.....we love visiting there and at the disability day centre and you get many interesting stories and of course they all love Dezzy and even when he walks in the door he gets a couple of biscuits from the kitchen staff :laugh: ....I hope everyone has a great Christmas and will let you know when Dezzy presents Antionette with her present and let you know of her reaction as I think the staff will get a lovely surprise as well :)

thanks Mita....we also attend a disability day centre and the residents there just love him as well....we have had many major breakthroughs with residents and they just love Dezzy and look forward to his weekly visits...it is such a rewarding thing to do but it can be heartbreaking as well but the good outweighs the bad :)

that sounds like a fantastic idea kelpiecuddles....I myself have not seen any basset hounds do tracking but we have a large variety of little and big dogs doing tracking....maybe someone else has seen basset hounds tracking....if you have a dog club nearby and they do tracking within their club it might be a good idea to contact them and start training your dogs with them....it would be hard with 2 little kids and you might have to wait until they get a bit older....otherwise there may be someone who trains just in tracking in your state but I would google tracking and see what it brings up for your area....good luck with it all and if you decide to go ahead with tracking please let us know how you go

thanks everyone....I have now put the photo into a frame and will deliver it to Antionette either just before xmas or just after.....I know she will love it and will be so happy waking up of a morning and looking at the photo....Hankdog I hope you do not end up in a place like that but unfortunately I suppose it happens to a lot of elderly people but as long as they have fantastic family its not that bad and they are looked after really well....I will let you all know what Antionette thinks of the present from Dezzy when she receives it and thanks for the lovely comments from everyone