The Dog Called Henry

19/03/2022

Sticks think they can hide from me, but they are wrong. I can locate any stick, any time, anywhere.

16/03/2022

Beach day! I kept my people safe from bears, cougars, hikers, and many very dangerous mud puddles. You might think that mud puddle safety involves going around mud puddles, but no. To be thorough, one must inspect every inch of the mud puddle depths. You never know what might be hiding in there!

15/03/2022

Today’s test: the Costco Concession stand. My people bought hot dogs. I really wanted to go jump up and steal the hot dogs. But I didn’t, because I was doing my job. And when my person was trying to carry all of the food to my family, I wanted to just do one quick tug on the handle, have her spill the precariously balanced food, and the hot dogs in all their tasty glory would have been mine. But I didn’t. Sigh - I am such a good, good dog.

07/03/2022

That is a bunny. And dogs like me are Very Good At Chasing Bunnies. But dogs like me are even better at listening to my person, and my person needs me to walk beside them and keep them safe; my person does not need me chasing bunnies.

So I did not chase that bunny. I just sat like a good dog and watching the bunny. I did not chase it…But OH I WANTED TO!

23/02/2022

Mama? Why does the car smell like rotten lagoon?

Because Henry jumped into the lagoon. And then I had to drive Henry home. And then to the dog store to have a bath.

But that was so many days ago. And your car still is stinky.

Well, Henry got really muddy, I guess?

Next time I think you need to put perfume on Henry, ok. Because This is an intolerable smell, Mama. I don’t think even Henry likes this smelly car and Henry likes to roll in dead animals.

26/12/2021

Moving day! I’m stuck in a car and it’s very cold but my people won’t let me leave the car to go explore the ferry because of Omicron. This is pretty boring. And squishy. I know one of these boxes has dog treats in it…but I can’t concentrate to find the right box because of all these car alarms going off. TURN OFF Your car alarms when you are on people. My amazing doggy ears are sensitive.

26/12/2021

Happy snow day!

30/11/2021

I know I’m a pretty cute dog, because not just any dog could pull off wearing muddy buddies and rain boots as well as I can. My people say I have to wear this because they are tired of giving me two baths a day. I don’t mind, because when I pounce and attack a mud puddle wearing these rain boots, I slide and skid, and spray mud everywhere. It’s a pretty awesome new trick.

27/11/2021

As a service dog, where my person goes, I go.
The thing is, my person likes to do strange things. She said this is a carousel. It’s just a big metal thing that goes in circles with horses that don’t smell like horses, and my person went around and around, up and down. And then the music stops and we get off and go on again. I just sat here behind her horse and watched her: up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Sometimes I just don’t understand my person…why would they do this when they could be throwing sticks for me?

23/11/2021

When I really feel that I deserve long walks, but my people are at school and working, I find a successful strategy is the sit-and-stare approach.

22/11/2021

Some days you just need to dance.

24/10/2021

Yes, I AM winking at you. I think it makes me look slightly debonair and charming, don’t you?

26/09/2021

I did it! I found the pumpkin. You might want to know the secret to picking the perfect pumpkin, but I can’t give the secret away. Just trust me, this one was the right one.

10/08/2021

Have you ever seen a dog as good as I am at thoroughly getting those sticks? I didn’t think so. I will probably get a medal. Or a parade. Or maybe some dog treats.

09/08/2021

The thing that probably makes me the most effective dog when I pounce on unsuspecting sticks? It’s my ears. Their floppiness makes me extra stealthy.

21/07/2021

“Henry! Stop barking now. It’s not time to bark.”.
“But…it’s a bear.”
“No, Henry, it’s not a real bear.”
“Yes it looks like a bear and it stands like a bear and we are in the forest so it must be a bear. I’m a good service dog and I will keep you safe from bears.”
“Henry. This is not real. A real bear would have a mouse in its mouth and be running around on all four paws like you. This is a picture, like when I draw you pictures.”
“No, it’s too big to be a picture. It’s ok, I am a service dog and I will take care of you. You don’t have to worry. See, I barked so very much that this bear is frozen in fear of me. I’m such a good dog.”

11/07/2021

“Henry? Can you be my heavy blanket?” What a silly question. Of COURSE I can be my persons heavy blanket. I’m the best heavy blanket. I’m warm, I’m fluffy, I’m heavy, and I smell like dog treats.

14/06/2021

My person draws the best pictures. Sometimes she worries that I won’t like them but that is an impossible thing because I love all the gifts she makes me. And when I’m lucky, she tells me the story or sings me the song about the picture.

04/06/2021

I am learning to catch a frisbee. I am such a good dog. I am the best dog. But I am not the best dog at catching the frisbee. But I am a Service Dog In Training and my Service Person says I can learn to do everything, except climb trees. So just wait and see. I WILL catch this frisbee. Just not today.

26/05/2021

My Service Person likes to brush my fur. I think that my beautiful fur is just fine as it is, but when we play hairdresser, all I have to do Is lay still and then she feeds me handfuls of treats. And I do look really good in all the hair ribbons she clips to my fur!

08/05/2021

My person goes inside this building. And I wait. And I wait. And then my person comes to the window and she’s in a bathing suit and towel! AND I can’t get to her!! How am I supposed to keep my person safe when I can’t get to her? I don’t think she understands how this works. I’m her dog and she’s my person. And also, I really like warm baths and it looks like there is a very big bathtub inside...

30/04/2021

This is what I have to deal with all night. A foot in my face, sometimes knees or even elbows. And if I even try to crawl up to share the pillow and avoid the feet, my person sends me back to the foot of the bed. It’s so hard, being a service-dog-in-training, don’t you think? (And also? My person is totally worth it.)

26/04/2021

What wizardry is this?? I found this dog when I was public access training today. They are a strange dog. They don’t smell right and even though I stared and stared and then snuck up close and then smelled their butt...they didn’t move...But they look just like me. Very confusing. I didn’t like this experience very much. I hope that dog isn’t there next time.

23/04/2021

This mindful@moment is brought to you by Henry The Service Dog (in training).

22/04/2021

Henry, I have to get my kindergarten shots today and I’m scared.

What’s a shot kaity?

It’s when I go to the doctor to get medicine in a needle in my arm.

What’s a needle kaity? Can I eat it?

No Henry. It’s sharp and you don’t eat it.

Is it sharp like a stick? I eat sticks.

No, Henry. It’s doctor stuff, like when you go to the vet.

Oh no kaity! Are you getting a cone?

Henry I’m a person and people don’t need cones.

I think you should get a treat instead of a needle. That’s better.

Well, Henry, papa will take me to get an American girl doll beach accessories for joss when we are done.

Can you tell papa to get me bones instead?

No Henry. But let’s go downstairs and I will do training with you for treats.

22/04/2021

After her AZ covid vaccine, my grown up person isn’t feeling so great. I’m trying to be understanding but there is a raccoon who keeps walking by outside and a squirrel in the tree that I reeeeallly need to chase away. So I am going to sit here and stare at her until she takes me for my evening run. I’m waiting. Still waiting. Still waiting....still waiting....
Waiting.....

20/04/2021

A service dog (in training)’s work is never done. And I am just so good at my job! Helping get COVID vaccines for my family...I deserve treats after this!

17/04/2021

When you run all over the place during off leash walks, you get VERY thirsty in this sunny weather! My people now have to carry water for me on our walks, but I love places where water bowls are available!

17/04/2021

I was such a cute little puppy. Oh, let’s be honest. I’m such a cute dog.

15/04/2021

I made a new friend today! Making friends is the best and I hope I get lots of play dates soon.

15/04/2021

I have a place! I have a mat and when my people say "Henry, Go Mat" then I go there. And I get treats.

https://thebark.com/content/teaching-your-dog-place

“Go to your place” is a common cue, one type of what trainers call “stationing,” which is asking a dog to sit or stand still in a specific spot. The spot can be a mat, a dog bed or a platform, and you can send a dog there with the cue “Go to your place.” The specific spot you want your d...

15/04/2021

This is my stick. I can see you, wanting to take my stick. Oh, no, don’t go get a different stick! That’s my stick too. All these sticks in the forest are mine. All. Of. Them.

14/04/2021

I am my service-persons-sleep buddy. And Baby-stuffy-Henry is my sleep buddy.

14/04/2021

It’s a bird...it’s a plane...nah, just kidding guys. It’s me, Super Henry The Service Dog (in training).

08/04/2021

Apparently a clicker doesn't exist just to make a fun noise that reminds my people to give me treats! Well, now you know.

https://thebark.com/content/guide-dogs-blind

In the dog-training world, “crossing over” refers to switching from using old-school traditional training methods (catching the dog making a mistake and correcting that mistake) to modern positive- reinforcement methods (catching the dog doing something right and rewarding those good choices).

02/04/2021

Just practicing my very best “smize” for today’s socials photo. Did I nail it? Yup, I think I did.

31/03/2021

Look at me in my pretty new harness for our morning walk. Hmmm....I wonder what I’m going to discover today?

29/03/2021

This is my Service Dog Henry. Her ears are down and floppy like pony tails in this drawing. I can draw her ears down and I can draw them up in the air standing up like a fox. Do you like Henry this way best, Mama?

28/03/2021

Henry the Dog Statement of Truth: If I hide behind my paws, you can’t see me!

27/03/2021

My 9 year old person loves me so much that she’s planning to open a dog treat business. I think all the dog treats should not be for selling and should only be for me to eat, don’t you? She said I couldn’t eat all of them and had to share with my sister dog, Leia. She also said today’s treats are not for selling but are for tasting to see if a dog like me, with my discerning taste buds, would like them. So I tasted one. And then another. And then a few more...but then, my 15 year old person came into the kitchen, just as I was enjoying the lovely dog treats, and he took one right off the cookie sheet and ate it. I was very polite and didn’t tell him to take his paws off of my dog treats, but I was thinking it!