Quiet action; reaction; reward.

On a recent outing with Sundance, thriving in the chill of our morning walk, I glanced over to Sundance and noticed he was smiling at me. He gave me the "OK" look, that all was going to be gold, no matter what the weather projected onto us. The sky was gray and cloudy, raindrops fell by the gallon, birds were flying desperately to find some shelter, and the neighborhood cat was sprinting home in the hopes of curling up next to his warm owner. Sundance and I did not mind. In fact, we were both reduced to pure satisfaction, knowing that our day had just begun, our lives were heading forward, and all was in balance.

It does not take Sundance long to share his emotions with people.  His mission in life is to serve and do good, evidenced in the sociable and well-mannered dog he was groomed to be. So much of what I see in him is the product of good nurturing by Alexia and me. Alexia and I both wanted a dog that would be calm, and still be engaged in all our activities. Sundance had no idea what he was in for.

The optimistic point I am recognizing from Sundance comes from the smallest things that make him react, triggering an emotion of pleasure and the gratifying response from me. It just so happened to be a droplet of water near his ear that stirred up a shake and the gratifying visual praise I shared back at him.

It is amazing how much we both have learned from each other, and I feel our connection strengthening.

I am also happy we started our training from the very first day we met.

LIVE HAPPY!

Active Solutions

Sundance's Weekly Blog: 

Sundance will explain when and not to go for a walk, how to apply leadership, active solutions for high energy dogs, and why obedience training is important in a dog's world.

Paw Boot Camp with Brave and Sundance in a sit-stay position

James: Hey Sundance, you ready to answer some questions?


Sundance: You bet! 

Sundance demonstrating a pulling dog

James: Let's start with the issue of pulling. Would you like it if I were to pull you down the street in all different directions? How would you diffuse the situation and create a more symbiotic relationship? 


Sundance: I personally would not appreciate being yanked anywhere. It's not fair and would really make me feel like a tool. I just saw some dog owners being pulled down the road by their dogs. They and their small dogs were all walking on their hind legs!


James: How would you remedy such an atrocity?

Pack walk with Opie and Sundance

Sundance: I like to think there are many solutions for one problem. When asserting yourself as a pack leader, you should initiate the walk in a calm manner. Then your pack of dogs, your followers, will reflect your energy. Wait a few seconds before starting off on your journey till everyone one is calm. Sometimes this may take five minutes or even ten. Remember, this is an exercise in self control. As a pack-leader, you may have to conduct this more than once, so that the message is sent clearly. 


James: So when the pack is calm, can I place a leash on their collars?


Sundance: Yes. This is the right moment to do that. Sometimes dogs will begin to get excited with just this small gesture. If this happens, unleash and start over again till the message is sent to your dog that calmness is the behavior you want.


James: You mentioned another approach or solution. Which way is that?


Sundance: Sometimes you will find that some dogs are very excited. It's not their faults. It's a lack of exercise and lack of consistent obedience training. Owners are often impatient and just want to rush through life and this transfers over onto their dogs. I suggest if frantically is how they prefer to approach  situations, they find a dog walker who can offer your dog what it truly needs daily. 

Lulu after a bike ride

The only other option is to vigilantly exercise and take their dog for a run, bike-ride or rollerblading. This allows the dog to burn off all his frustrations from being indoors all day or all week, taking Dog down to Owner's energy level. 


James: You mentioned obedience training. Many dogs are deficient of such instruction. Do you firmly believe this is the solution for all dog owners to follow?


Sundance: Woof! Excuse me, but I needed to assert my nature in the form of performing tasks. I feel bad for my brother and sister dogs who go through life with zero guidance. It's a lot to ask for from us. We do not want to be in charge of every situation, especially if it is not within our job description. I heard many humans complain to friends about how bosses asked them to make coffee, separate recycling,  and "go-for" this and that at work, when their job description was much more sophisticated. You see James, over time when the system fails and ownership does not practice what it is expected to, their will be cracks and implosion will take place. People will become smug, in a sense, and take it upon themselves to direct their own lives. Dogs who have a lack of management will follow suit. This is why it is important to train your dog and grant her a sense of purpose. 


James: In general, pulling on leash can be be solved first with consistent obedience training. Why can't a dog just stay in the back yard and be content with that?

Sundance learning to retrieve

Sundance: The mind of every living thing is meant to be constantly active with the business of life, of staying alive. A badger is constantly working at staying alive: the next things to eat, drink, improve the hovel, to find a mate, to raise the kids. The wild boar is always seeking the same: rooting for food, wallowing to maintain proper body temperature, finding pig-love, raising piglets, staying away from predators, fighting off badguys, and sleeping. Dogs even more so are meant to stay constantly active with not just the business of keeping themselves alive and well, but keeping the pack, the family, you, alive and well. If you want an animal to just "dwell", get a cat, a snake, or a sea anemone. Dogs are active performers, task-oriented, job-doers. If you don't have a job for us (even a façade job like hunting for toys or carrying a backpack full of rice) we'll lose it, maybe slowly over time, maybe quickly. 


James: That's serious. Have I fulfilled your need for structure?


Sundance: Of course! You have me run three miles every day to find my kibble, and you have me search for the tennis ball when you lose it again and again, and you train me to do new jobs all the time. I feel so fulfilled!

Three Happy Reasons

Sundance's Weekly Blog: Sundance and James discuss what makes a dog happy. 

James: So Sundance, I've been doing the answering for some time now. How about changing things up and you begin answering some  questions? You're a big boy now. 


Sundance: Thanks James! I've been waiting for my opportunity. Besides, you and Mama have really done a super job with me these last four years. Answering questions for you would only polish off the great job you've both done with me.


James: Boy, you are good! 


Sundance: Thanks James. Every night before I go to bed, I am so grateful for living out a balanced life. To be honest, I can only think in the now. That's all there ever is. Now. And in the now, I feel happy and tired. 


James: I've come across many dogs in my life and was interested to find out what you think about the sort of stuff that makes a dog happy. I can list a few like exercise, work, and companionship. Do you feel that these ideas help a dog become balanced?

Sundance: You mentioned exercise. I love exercise. Without it what would we be? Just a pile of fat-jello! I like to begin each day with a run or walk. Ideally with you and Mama, and especially with any of the dog guests we have visiting us on any given day. I feel as though without exercise, my life would become too stressful. You and I both know by now being sedentary is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. So you see, exercise is a fundamental part to life and without it a dog would go crazy and become perpetually unhappy, leading to a life of barking, biting, endlessly fixating on moving objects, behavioral obsessions, or even licking and scratching body parts. 


James: So a dog that does not exercise is unhappy, stressed, and prone to behavioral problems? 


Sundance: That sums it up. 


James: What else makes a dog fulfilled?

Sundance: Being able to work and perform duties. You've seen it happen to your human brothers and sisters. When they do not have the window to be part of a working society, they grow frustrated and depressed. Just like humans, work plays a major part in our involvement and the function of a healthy mind. 


James: What kind of work are you talking about?


Sundance: Before we can work, training is critical. This is where you and Mama have fulfilled me and trained my mind to understand rules, boundaries and limitations. You've given me the necessary dog-bones to conceptualize what you mean and how you would like me to behave under all circumstances. This is critical for a new puppy or for a rescue-dog to understand. Imagine had you not taken the time and been consistent with my training, I may have been locked up behind some dog bars hoping to be liberated only on the merits of my golden curls.


James: There are some major advantages to working. Dogs and people are less likely to grow bored. But if you worked all day, wouldn't that make you dull and complacent? 


Sundance: Yes! All work and no play would make Sundance unhappy. This leads me to companionship. Companionship is social time. It is when I get to run on a beach, sleep with my brother, laugh with Mama and even get groomed. The best part about companionship is being rewarded for a job well done. This is what makes me happy! When I am given the chance to exercise, work and given companionship; in that order, I feel fulfilled and am able to rest at night. 

Bad Habits

Sundance: Why do humans battle with portion control? I am beginning to see signs of obesity and allergic reactions in most of my human and dog friends. Do the humans think that by eating a super-sized meal they will find happiness? Or by giving their pets large amounts of treats and food they will find a happier connection with us? 


James: Great questions Sundance! Portion control is obviously a societal dilemma. Everywhere I turn, I find children and adults hoarding themselves with food and consuming meals at such a rapid pace. The need to shovel cookies, hamburgers, fries, and chips down one's esophagus is a bit disgusting. I admit, I have committed such food lust and stuffed myself. I threw portion control out the window many times, sometimes out onto the 101 freeway. 

Sundance: But why would you and anyone do this? 


James: I suppose it lies within human nature to be so greedy and to lust for more. It is one of our greatest failures. That, and manufacturers have been upping the sugar, fat, and salt, and connecting sugar-fat-salt to happiness and to positive emotional states. So now people are learning from a young age that what they put in their mouths is tantamount to love, joy, peace, and a fulfilled life. Also, since the recent generations were raised by parents who were to busy while trying to live up to artificial ideals of parenthood, those poor over-stressed parents resorted to the refrigerator as a source of love and comfort for us children. So of course we grow up and do the same for our children--our dogs. 


Sundance: I've seen some owners get their dogs so excited, stimulating the dog's food drive to the point that not even one kibble was chewed. Instead, it's vacuumed into the black hole only to escape out the other end with urgency. 


James: Yes. I strongly believe that our human problems are migrating over to our canine friends. Our stress levels. Our allergic reactions. Our dairy intolerance. Our gluten indulgences. And our carb overload of sweets and refined grains. It's no surprise!


Sundance: Well you know how I see it? I'm a dog, and I've been bred to work. I love to work. And after I work, I'm hungry. I eat a couple cups of food, take a break, then eat a couple more cups. Then I'm done. I've replaced the calories I needed to replace to refuel me, and no more. Then when people offer me those sugar-fat-salt treats you're talking about, I just think of how good I feel, how happy I feel to be loved, and those sickening treats offer no more appeal. Why can't humans do that?


James: We can. We just think we can't. It's like when we were trying to train that crazy imbalanced dog, everyone said it would be impossible or too much work. But we knew that those old desires for imbalance were just bad habits that could be broken down, just like a tobacco addiction. And so it is with food. We're all just dogs with old bad habits who are accustomed to finding joy in food. But the real joy is found in--


Sundance: PUPPIES!!!

Life, Change, Energy, and Dogs

Welcome to Sundance's Weekly Blog:

After a week of fun it's time to be thankful of our family and friends.

Sundance: I remember that day: Miko and Lulu were out of their minds. Lulu was insistent on climbing and running a trail that Miko was not ready for. Than we came to this marker, "Path of Friends." Suddenly, Lulu slowed down and realized that this path was not about her, but about us and our journey together.

James: Sometimes we forget about who else is on the path with us. And sometimes we start out with so much energy, only to be weighted down by this same kinetic energy on our way back. It takes some practice and discipline to be centered and conscientious.    

Sundance: So if we take a more gentle approach, would there be more harmony and less resistance in the end? I remember how Skuzum was unsure of Vixen. It took him some time, but in the end the two were comfortable sharing personal space. I find that humans are resistant to change and do not allow themselves to grow. Instead they are rooted so deep with a personal record of grief and doubt, they need a prescription from John Deere to bulldoze and shovel their way out.

James: I am certain that our path would be a more balanced and fulfilling endeavor if we allowed change to happen and didn't become fixated on the if factor. Personal growth can only occur when we want that change to come from within. So many of my clients hold onto a belief that their dog will not listen to them, or that they will forget what comes next. The only way to achieve your goals is to be consistent. Obviously, there will be bumps on your path, and the winds will change your course at times, but as long as you are levelheaded you can stay above the waterline.

Sundance: I am slowly seeing the big picture and not stumped by this huge tree. Finding a path and sticking to it takes a bit of discipline. Exercising your mind daily with patience and kindness will help make every step worth taking, and committing yourself to this practice will also encourage and bring out the best in others. 

James: This much is certain Sundance. Life with you has made me a better person, better trainer, better partner, better all around human. This was all made possible by the commitment to change from within. There is a  lot to be thankful for, but the one gratifying thing that stands out the most is the love I share with you, Mama and Skuzum. 

Dogs Don't Drive

Sundance: Why do people treat dogs like humans, feeding their excited dominant mindsets? We dogs don't know how to read books, wear dresses, drive cars, make dinner, or perform surgery. These activities would make us MAD! Yet this past week we were called on to help alleviate dog problem behaviors and I see the same typical symptoms and signs: treating us like we're human. 

James: Some people do not know know how to differentiate from emotion and need. There is a whole generation of humans with unstable minds. Humanizing can come from a nurturing behavior and it's sometimes difficult to break the emotional chains. Dogs live moment-to-moment and are  ten times likelier to change than humans.  Lots of people shut down and create an environment where they do not block negative energy properly. You are my grounding device, Sundance. You have taught me to become a better leader and use my senses, rather than conducting myself with an agenda or following my whims. 

Sundance: I know this! BUT why do humans insist on anthropomorphizing us? We are not the teenage anthropomorphizing ninja turtles.

James: Okay! Here where the problem lies. Humans coddle their dogs TOO MUCH! Humans want what is best for them and if they accomplish this through putting clothes on a dog then treating the dog's mind likewise, then the human feels fulfilled. This is not necessarily what the dog needs. Many of the pictures I take of you are evidence of humans fulfilling their own needs. As if you needed a froggy and ducky doll to nap with and wake up next to.  

Sundance: I have learned through you and Mama that dogs need to remove physical energy before they can remove mental energy. This is done with exercise. Why do some owners feel they can provide exercise with only the use of a backyard or dog-park?

James: The nature of an animal is to walk with his master or with a pack of other dogs. And this particular problem involves a lack of identification with a dog, not over-identification. If the human imagined living life with the physical limits they put on the dog (never leaving the property) the human would realize how frustrating that is. If dogs are not allowed to pack-migrate, they will become frustrated. When a dog is not given substantial daily exercise, problems arise that can be costly. 

Sundance: Costly problems? 

James: Dogs are emotional animals, but not in the way we think of humans as emotional. They read energy and observe mother nature constantly. When they come to us at eight weeks or as adult dogs they still need rules, boundaries, and limitations. The position of your leadership must be greater than the position of a downward dog yoga pose. The greatest problem I see regularly is not the behavior of the dog, but that of the owner. Owners only want what is best, and this is a kind, humane trait. However, the best thing for the psychology of a dog is to give him a solid foundation with daily exercise, discipline and affection. Always in this order. If not, you get a dog who is bashful and covers her face with her paws at picture taking. 

Sundance: There have to be more reasons people humanize us.


James: There are. It can come from mothering-needs, empty-nests, loneliness, imbalance, psychological problems, immaturity, or selfishness. But most of the time it comes from simply not knowing. People don't see where they are breaking Mother Nature's patterns; they do not see when they are denying the dog by providing for themselves. They do not see when they are spoiling a dog to its own detriment and creating a monster. But they want to learn, so you are here to teach them. Thank you Sundance!

Because Dog Loves You.

There's a reason that Dog is the backwards of God: it has everything to do with unconditional love. All the other animals have conditions. Especially cats. But dogs are faithful to a fault. They love the bad masters, the selfish owners, the lazy owners, the immature owners, the ignorant owners. They don't just love them, they adore them. Even when it hurts. 

Dogs are happy with their owners all the time, every day, every moment. If the owner is feeling self-pity, dog still loves. If the owner is mourning, dog still loves. If the owner made a huge mistake, dog is still there wagging and laughing at life. If owner failed miserably, dog says, "let's play!" 

Yet dogs are still sensitive. They respond to tears with love, no matter who is crying or why. 

Dogs know love. Love, that thing that sees imperfections and loves the imperfections. Your dog will tell you when your being an idiot, one way or another, but Dog won't judge you harshly or love you less. Dog never gets angry. All those annoying selfish habits you have that other people just can't stand, Dog sees through them to the real you. That's love.

Dog never says, "Let's take a break." Dog never says, "You're too much. Go away." Even when you are too much, even when you're doing everything wrong. Yes, if you're imbalanced, Dog will be imbalanced, but Dog never loves you less or ceases to love the good parts of you because of the bad parts.

And the silly things you do? The things that don't make sense to other people? The ticks you have, the disorders, the tendencies, the "issues," Dog doesn't let them get in the way of life: Fun, Food, and Sleep. 

See, that's the thing. Dog knows what life is, even when you don't. Life is fun, food, and sleep. It's not parties or drinks or FB friends, it's moving your body the way it was meant to move. It's not the cost of your car, it's where it takes you. It's not your a job or not having a job, it's about living every moment and having fun with whatever the moment brings us. 

And then sleep. There's always sleep. Dog knows that those hours of re-charge are a huge part of life. Humans treat sleep like the enemy, seeing how much they can avoid it, purging and bingeing on sleep. But dogs know that tiredness is a sign: sleep. And that sleep is an ally. All the good things come after sleep: exercise and fun and food. Dogs know that waking up is the other best part of the day! Then the fun begins!

Silliness: People forget that it's okay. They're embarrassed. Partly because everyone has a different definition of silly. But Dog knows that "silly" is whatever you do that doesn't make logical sense. And they embrace it completely. 

Then there's service. Dog is self-sacrificing, but in a way that doesn't feel life sacrifice at all. They don't play the martyr role. When Dog has to do something for you, Dog does it whole heartedly. Dog sees how fun your idea was! Dog is happy and eager to do whatever pointless drudgery you have set out upon. And Dog WANTS to. Because Dog Loves You. 

And that's the beauty of it. That's why humans have to live ten times longer than dogs: it takes us that much longer to learn how to love. We love you, Dogs, thanks for teaching us how to love unconditionally. 

Kids and Canines

Topic: Child-Dog Psychology

In this week's dialogue, James, Alexia, and Sundance will discuss how children relate to dogs.

Ethan & Sundance

Sundance: These small humanoids running around, what are they? Why are some so good at understanding dogs, and some are terrible at relating to dogs?  

Ethan & Skuzum

James: These are children. The puppy version of humans. Some are more in-touch with nature, and others, despite their young age, have already been de-natured: they've been re-programmed to think that animals are quite foreign and unnatural to humans. 

Sundance: That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Humans would be extinct without animals. And it's been a very long time since humans haven't had domesticated animals, well, besides the last few confused decades. So that's why some children approach me without any common creaturely courtesy?

James: Yes. It is sad, and dangerous. 

Sundance: I saw a child putting her hands in a dog's face, and the dog looked very uncomfortable. 

James: I would too! That's as close to slapping a person upside their head, instead of giving a proper handshake. There is an etiquette to everything we do, but unfortunately this has been lost somewhere like a child in the woods.

Sundance: And one time I saw two boys grabbing a dog from behind, and the dog thought they were other dogs mounting, and the dog was so uncomfortable. The boys didn't respond to normal dog-language, so the dog had to growl. How is it that these puppy-humans don't know about polite behavior?

James: It is because their parents don't know about polite behavior. The parents are afraid to preform natural human-child versions of the growl-and-snap; they are afraid of hurting the child. What they don't know is that love still shares consequences. 

Skuzum and Sundance

Sundance: Of course love shares consequences! Who would ever think it doesn't? My dog-mama taught me from as far back as I can remember not to nurse too harshly, and my puppy-siblings yelped terribly loud when I played too rough, so I learned fast. And Skuzum, my cat brother, didn't hesitate to share his boundaries with me. I learned cat-language very quickly: a hiss does not mean play, it means go away. All my dog friends and I have boundaries, and we help teach each other what's out of line through simple communication. 

Lesson learned!

James: But you dogs stay in the moment. You don't hold on to the uncomfortable moment, you let it go. That makes confrontation easier for you. You live in the moment, so there are never hard feelings, grudges, or fear. You move on. Humans on the other hand dwell on the discomfort, nurture it, punish themselves with it, and then what was once simple communication turns into an ordeal and ends up on the internet, where it becomes viral for all to see and comment on.

Next day.

Sundance: I'm so glad I'm a dog. What should people do to make human-puppies that know dog language? 


James: One solution that was brilliantly recommended to me was to conduct puppy-human/puppy classes. A sort of human-kinder-canine course for children. Since parents either weren't taught themselves or are too busy to recognize when a child may be a bit rough with a puppy or adult dog, you and I can offer some assistance and consultation.  

Alexia, Sundance and infant

Oranges or Apples?

Topic: Choices and Decisions: Need and Desire

In this week's dialogue, James, Alexia, and Sundance will discuss how to find the right match for you and your loved ones.

Stewart

Sundance: How do you know when a match between an owner and a pet is the right match? I've noticed many dog owners with concerns about their pet's behavioral patterns.  This seems to be a recurring problem with a lot of first-time owners. Are there some early signs that can offer humans valuable information about which pet not to choose? 

James: I am so glad you asked the previous questions, Sundance. Finding the right match-dog for a household is important. But there's a difference between need and desire. A slower, older owner needs a slower, low-energy dog, to match the dog's needs. A marathoner needs a high-endurance dog (and the dog needs that owner). But when an owner stands before an array of puppy-dog eyes in cages, they forget about needs, and revert to desire.  When you, Sundance, are presented with foods that won't benefit you, you don't choose them. If I offered you a selection of lettuce, oranges, milk, soy, or steak, you would sniff it all and choose the option that would nourish your body for it's individual needs--steak, because you are balanced. Imbalanced dogs (or labs) would eat it all, feeling only desire, urge, and longing. Knowing this about you, I am certain your ability to read what suits your needs is much better than a human's. Your ability to meet your needs far exceeds a human's ability to make a sound choice.


Sundance: So people shouldn't just walk into a shelter and pick what they fancy like it's a candy store?

Shelter Dog

James: Choosing a puppy or adult dog takes a little know-how. The best sign to look for is a dog's energy. Not his size! Not his  cuteness! Not his independent nature! And definitely NOT his pedigree! A new owner must learn to read the spirit-energy as well as the physical energy requirements and output of the dog, and match that with their own needs. And an owner should never select a dog for these reasons:

"I want this dog because he is so big and he can protect me." 

"I want this dog because he is so cute and he hides in the corner and bothers no one."

"I want this dog because I think he will help me loose weight."

"I want this dog because he can fit in my Gucci bag."

"Look at his eyes! He needs me to rescue him!"

You see, Sundance, I want a dog to succeed! I want an owner to succeed! While it's sad to see a dog and know it will be put down, it is more sad to adopt a dog and then have to give it up a month later. I want a dog to be with the right owner. I would never try to squeeze a square block into a triangular hole. Unfortunately, there is a handful of new dog owners who think un-matching dogs is the new cool trend. Like the little old lady with the Rottweiler, or the hipster with the pitbull. If you want contrast and to throw off expectations, get a contrasting vehicle or tattoo. Don't subject another living being to your trend-following. 

Sundance: So humans really need to be ready to fulfill a dog's needs? Not just give every dog the same food, water, bone, and backyard to play in plus a quick walk every few days?


James: Right. Dogs are the animals with the most diverse breeds. Not only do they need different foods, and different amounts of water at different times, but they need different activities.

Kobe

Sundance: So, kind of like humans need variety? But so many humans are so happy to just be in front of the TV.


James: Dogs are not human, and humans need to begin by understanding the psychology of a dog. It takes time, persistence, and a consistent investment to train a dog. 
I have worked with many dog owners who have unfortunately adopted or purchased a dog based on emotion. Oftentimes this approach has ended with the owner spending lots of time and money on training, and then questioning their choice. 


Sundance: But some dogs, like me, are just so cute, it seems like nothing else matters. Anyone would want me, even if they couldn't give me the three to four miles of running I need every day.

Skuzum, James and Sundance

James: Well, a person shouldn't choose a spouse based only on looks. A person shouldn't marry someone to rescue them. A person shouldn't marry, adopt, or move in with someone without checking up on the person's background and traits first. And adopting a dog is like marrying: it's painful to end such a relationship. Our choices matter. 


Sundance: Wow, that's some heavy stuff.


James: Are you referring to what I just said, or the poopie-bag in my hand?

Happy Memorial Day

Topic: Service

In this week's dialogue, James, Alexia, and Sundance will discuss Canine Service and their contributions to society. 

L.A. Sheriff Holiday

Sundance: Just like humans, my fellow brother and sister canines are happy to be of service and work for what is right. They spend many hours providing safety and therapy daily for people who need help and seek assistance. 

Abby the Service Dog

James: That's right! When your mama and I worked at the UCSC pool, we were very fortunate to have met Nugent. Nugent, described by her owner as "Nooge the Scrooge," was a Seeing Eye dog, a.k.a. service dog, for one of the pool's patrons. He would wait patiently on the pool deck as his owner would count the number of strokes from wall to wall. He was of valuable service to his master and worked vigilantly, always making sure he did not lose his focus and maintain dignity, good judgement, honor, courage, and integrity all the time. 

Therapy Dog Sundance & George

Sundance: Is Nugent part of the reason why I have been trained to become a Therapy Dog, and am currently training to become a Search and Rescue dog?

James: That is some of it. Your temperament is ideal and one more reason why your mama and I selected a golden retriever.

Sundance: When you see a dog with a vest on, does that mean it's friendly and you can pet it and I can play with it?

James: Not necessarily. It means you need to stand back and respect what it's doing. We can ask the owner if we may approach, but we have to always assume that the dog is providing a service and must not be distracted. These dogs are trained to follow protocol, and if they deviate from the task they are providing, it can be costly or dangerous for the handler.  

Sundance: What about therapy dogs? Are they service dogs? What's the difference? 

James: Therapy dogs and Service dogs provide a service. This is where they share the same similarities. Both have been trained with specific reasons in mind, but do not share the same hours of training. Seeing Eye, Bomb Detection and Search and Rescue service dogs have been trained to aid handicap people or for safety specifications. Therapy Dogs, just as important to the overall scheme, carry the task of helping children read, bringing joy to the sick and elderly, creating a healthy and stable mind for those fighting post traumatic experiences and severe depression, in addition to simply providing joy to people who otherwise have limited contact with nature and animals.

Sundance and Alexia at Graduation reading

Sundance: So because these Service Dogs do such a great service for the community and nation as a whole, Mama does not have to go to work tomorrow?

James: Yes! In honor of all those Officer Canines who have come before us and continue to lead the way for our safety and health, we honor them with a Memorial Day.