Quote: Barbara Schuler

I bet given the opportunity, she would most likely give that child a second chance...

Absolutely, no question about it.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

I have a friend who has a son who is severely autistic. She has an assistant dog for him; a beautiful Bouvier. At 120lbs her son can be quite physical in a tantrum but his dog leans into him as he pummels her with his fists and then calms himself by unclenching his fist and petting her....the bond between the two of them is something to see.

Kelly, I think Drift is like that, I think she gets it.

I do too. I can see Drift doing what the Bouv does... unconditionally. That's who she is.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

So then you need to ask yourself is the risk worth it? Is the dog good at the job? Does the dog enjoy the job? Can the dog make a difference?

What would happen if you leave her home? She'll be safe, but will she feel fulfilled? From everything I've read she loves her job and does it very well.

She is very good at her job, she enjoys it very much, and she makes a difference every day.

I went back and read some of the Drift Therapy threads. I had forgotten some of the things she has done. As I was reading them, she came over to me and climbed up on the chair behind me. I think she knew that I needed some Drift Therapy...

I know that there is risk in everything we do. But to watch someone hit your dog, and not be able to stop it... it was really hard. I need to come to grips with that.

Thanks for all your wonderful and kind words. I really needed it tonight!!! I will talk with the kids tomorrow, and let you know how it goes.

--Kel and Drifty Dog

 Quote: Kelly

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

I bet given the opportunity, she would most likely give that child a second chance...

Absolutely, no question about it.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

I have a friend who has a son who is severely autistic. She has an assistant dog for him; a beautiful Bouvier. At 120lbs her son can be quite physical in a tantrum but his dog leans into him as he pummels her with his fists and then calms himself by unclenching his fist and petting her....the bond between the two of them is something to see.

Kelly, I think Drift is like that, I think she gets it.

I do too. I can see Drift doing what the Bouv does... unconditionally. That's who she is.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

So then you need to ask yourself is the risk worth it? Is the dog good at the job? Does the dog enjoy the job? Can the dog make a difference?

What would happen if you leave her home? She'll be safe, but will she feel fulfilled? From everything I've read she loves her job and does it very well.

She is very good at her job, she enjoys it very much, and she makes a difference every day.

--Kel and Drifty Dog

Chokes me up. As amazing as I think my own personal dog is.... he's nothing like that. He can handle some rough stuff from kids, and loves strange kids, but I think a strange (not his 'own') child hitting him would flip a not-so-sweet switch.

To have a dog that can live happily with young children on a daily basis is one thing. A dog that enjoys the company of young children is a bit more uniqiue. (I have this). A dog that will take flat out abuse from a kid, not hold a grudge, and go back again is VERY VERY special. And Drift, who has a entire different category, working with the youth that she sees daily. What an amazing animal.

Kelly, I know that you know how special Drift is. You should also take a moment to recognize that you've played a part in the dog she is, by interacting with her daily for so long. (If I remember right you didn't have her as a pup, correct? Ed did? Regardless, does not matter. She's special.)

Just a reminder. More to myself then anyone I guess... there are some dogs that are just one in a million. Once in a lifetime, for many many folk's lifetime. Drifty dog is one of those. All the lives she's touched... what a perfect dog. <3


I'm going to go be a sniffling sap by myself now. Please- give that dog a hug from me!

 Quote:

Just a reminder. More to myself then anyone I guess... there are some dogs that are just one in a million. Once in a lifetime, for many many folk's lifetime. Drifty dog is one of those. All the lives she's touched... what a perfect dog. <3

Kinda says it all......

Yeah. I rambled.

 Quote: Kelly Byrd

Yeah. I rambled.

It's Ok. You're forgiven.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

 Quote: Tammy Moore

Sail on Kelly and Drift! I have been involved in pet therapy for many years, and can tell you that most of us have had situations that have left us feeling as you do now. We can experience unpleasant situations no matter what venue we are involved. We learn from that experience and move forward.

The work that Drift does is very unpredictable, her reaction to the situation shows why she is cut out for the job.

While I don't have any experience with therapy dogs, Tammy's comments above really make sense to me.

I have always loved Drift stories. Drift continues to show just how special she is, even through today's events, she handles herself with amazing grace and patience.

One of the things that came to mind was can you have a discussion with the children and talk about the type of behavior that you need to see from them for Drift to continue?

I know that the children that you are working with have specific issues that they are working through. However, I would still want to address what is needed from them, for Drift to continue on coming.
While there are no guarantees to future physical behaviors, letting them know that hitting or hurting Drift is just not acceptable, and the possibility of her not coming anymore, might just really be the thing that helps them to think about it in a different light.

There is no question that Drift has such a tremendous impact on these kids, but you have to look out for her welfare too.

No matter what your decision is, just know, you have our support Kelly!

Hugs to you and to Drift!

I think you can use this incident to help the children learn what it means to be violent. I'm not sure of the functioning level of the kids you are working with, but clearly Drift means something to all of them. For them to understand what it means to Drift to be hit, and how they need to be able to learn to control that impulse, if Drift is going to trust them. I'm also not sure what the conditions are that the children have come from (abuse?) so they can begin to build empathy with the consequences of THEIR actions, reaching beyond their immediate experience to take into account Drift's experience. It might be a good idea to leave Drift home for a day and process the event with the kids: how they felt about it, how you felt, how you all think Drift felt. After that, as a group, you can come up with some ways to keep Drift (and each other) safe when they feel the pressure build - what can they do to take care of themselves without hurting another living creature?

I'm sorry to hear you had a rough day, and that Drift took the hit. It sounds like some of the kids had a rough day, too, and it might help to process it before bringing Drift back.

Such a shame of an event, Kelly. SOrry that you are going through this.
I think the biggest question to decide the next step should be not how Drift will be, but how YOU will be. No good handler will EVER be comfortable with their dog in danger of being hurt. Your comfort zone was shaken, and so was Drift's. Drift, it seems, recovered pretty quickly - great job, great indication of how amazing the dog is! The tricky thing now, will be "getting back on the horse" so to speak without pushing YOUR comfort zone too much. It's important that you BOTH feel safe for the visits to work. Maybe go back to being on lead - it allows you a little more control of the situation, and don't allow any child to come between you and your dog for now. That way you can still allow the kids to get the benefit while providing a boundary to allow you to figure out where to go from here, and what your new comfort zone is/will be.
But I would say definitely go back WITH Drift!

I never trust anybody near my dog, even one of my family.

It's not the same, but still, herding dogs get kicked and go back to work, and hunting dogs too, it's part of the magic of a solid good dog, a dog with a huge heart to "take a licking and keep on ticking".
Maybe a warning, though, for you to keep an eye out for potentially violent
scenarios.
I've found in my life that these remarkable rock solid temperament dogs
filled with sympathy, forgiveness, patience and "try" are kind of rare, like once in a lifetime, remembered always.
I hope she can continue with supervision. She is probably changing lives.