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Does Your Dog Have a Self-Appointed “Job?”
Without any training to do so, Bliss is my household’s “Chief Comfort Officer”. She tunes in and shows up for anyone needing a hug or a giggle when available to do so. It’s never been a problem, so I encourage it with praise & pets, or in some cases, uproarious laughter when the recipient thinks it’s funny.
What’s something your dog does, taking it seriously enough that it could be their “job”? Share a photo or video please!
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23 Replies
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Dogs never seize to amaze me.
What an special pup Bliss is to have such an intuitive repsonse to people and offer her “services” to cheer them up.
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Yeah, she’s pretty special. ????
What about your guys! “Bear Patrol Superintendant” and “Chief of Snacks”?
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Titan is definately (innately) bear border patrol!
He has a side hussle of being an environmentalist; landscraping and rock raking!
Perhaps, due to his gentle nature he is checking in on the inhabitants of the soil, offering them room service of some type?
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haha love these side hustles.
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My other pup, Kaiden is a certified couch cuddle coordinator.
This includes making sure the couch is used sparingly, as not to wear it out completely.
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Oh my… does that mean he *ahem* interrupts others from using the couch?
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Perhaps- but he starts off as the cuddle coordinator ????
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I remembered last night a dog I thought was special; like Bliss!
This is my 33 year-old cousin Alex. He has Down Syndrome. (a gentle soul, non-violent on the spectrum).
While visiting relatives in OH we went to a winery. The winery had 5 dogs roaming on site including two, 16 month old Great Pyrenese.
The male GP in these pictures would “do his rounds” with guests ( scavenging scraps on floor) but frequently returned to Alex to solicit attention and stand/sit by him for minutes at a time. He continued this behavior for the 2 hours we were there. The dog did not do this with anyone else.
I was amazed on how intuitive and in tuned this pup was to Alex and how he seemingly knew how “innocent” Alex is. The communication and interactions were “pure”. I have no other words to describe the moments. It also made Alex’s day as he is a huge animal lover.
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Wow. This is really special for all the reasons. Great share, @jenz Beautiful interaction.
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This was so lovely to read, @jenz !
Long ago, I had a small cattle dog named Gem. She accompanied me once to a local nursing home when I went in to briefly meet with someone on staff. It was a place where I did therapy visits with a couple of my other dogs, not Gem. Though she was sweet with people, therapy work wasn’t a natural fit for her.
Anyway, as we passed one room on our way out, a woman was in her bed and she was in quite a bit of distress. Gem seemed interested in visiting and the woman definitely wanted her to come in. I let Gem approach and was astonished by her behavior when she quietly jumped onto the bed to lay her body very close to the woman. She then stayed there for quite a long time and was clearly bringing comfort to the woman. It brought tears to my eyes because it was so purposeful.
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@virginiad Gem sounds like she was a lovely girl who understood the human spirit. Obviously, the woman needed what the rest of the human world doesn’t always deliver: quiet compassion. Thank you for sharing Gem with us! Lovely girl!
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Wow. I love this. What a true Gem. 🙂
I had a similar experience with my first Aussie, a red-tri named Stryker who was a Delta Pet Partner Therapy Dog. We were visiting at a long term care facility and went into a room at the request of staff. The patient was in a coma and had been unresponsive for months. I stood back and let Stryker approach. The woman’s hand was dangling off her bed. Stryker put himself under it and proceeded to walk back and forth, turning under her hand to have her “pet” him. She eventually roused and spoke, muttering a few words.. The nurse in the hallway was astonished and I was too!!
The power of these caring dogs can not be understated.
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OMD, this brought tears to my eyes. What a heart-expanding story. ????
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I need to get back into therapy work. I really miss it.
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Awwww, I am smiling reading this.
I love how @bernerlabreclectus seemingly explained Gem’s behavior “quiet compassion”; it fits, in my opinion.
Dogs (and other animals) recognize the things we are always likely missing or over-looking. They just “get it” with their intuitive ways.
Does anyone remember reading about the resident cat in a nursing home who visited patients before their deaths? I found it both eery and peaceful.
Thanks for sharing all of these heart- string tugging stories. It validates how special dogs (and animals in general in my opinion) really are and, how special the times are we get to share with them.
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I did read about that “angel of death” kitty! The staff found him so reliable that when he’d park on a patient’s bed, the staff would call the family to come say good-bye. Eerie and amazing.
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Shoe redistribution. Caber’s recently taught himself how to open the bifold closet door. That allows him to help himself to all my shoes. We left home for an hour last night, and Caber had opened the closet, shredded some plastic shopping bags, and had strewn 10 of my shoes through the home office and hallway.
Also Official Toy Shredder and Ball Boy.
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Ball Boy Caber
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He’s “Sole-y” an ARTIST! ????
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I do not currently have dogs of my own. However, my yellow Lab, Tara, was the gentlest, sweetest girl. Once, when I was experiencing severe pain from an ovarian cyst, she came into my bedroom and lie down on the floor at my side of the bed for two days, while I was recovering at home. (I had been in the hospital, because I had fainted from the pain out in my kids’ orthodontist’s office!) I did not even know she was there until my boyfriend, who was caring for me, pointed out, “She will not leave your side.” Dogs oftentimes come through where our human family fails us, gentle and silent presence, comforting and meaning no harm.
She and Samson, my Berner, were also highly regarded Door Greeters, yoga pose “props” for stability and mat warmers, and unverified oversized lap dog (Sam).
It’s been 4 years since they passed, but I still them every day!
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Awww… love this, Paula. Such a big hole in your heart & home with these two missing. What lovely dogs and it speaks volumes about your relationship that Tara wouldn’t leave your side.
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Oh, Paula! Another tear-inducing story — what a special dog Tara was. ????
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