Jobs for dogs

Well yet again it's pouring with rain, and I am bored. I've done the puppy club, done the training bit, and I rather thought that with Merlin retiring I had a full time job to look forward to... But no chance!!! Three days off work and he's back again.....that dog just can't keep away. So anyway I have decided to look for a part time job. Been gently browsing thro Dogs for the Disabled...thought about PAT dogs and then found out that great adopted grandad McGyver, (he was a huge great GSD that looked like a bear) great uncle Teague, and even Merlin have all done it before me, so do I want to carry on the tradition or shall I try something else? then I started reading about PAWS... Anybody heard of them? No I thought not... Well Paws are run by Dogs for the Disabled to help families with Autistic children. Did you know that the waiting list for a fully trained Autistic Assistance dog is three and a half years? That's a very long time when you are a child who struggles to communicate, suffers anxiety at the smallest change in their lives... Even things like putting the wrong shoe on first can trigger an anxiety attack. They can't make friends in school, they struggle to learn in a normal school environment and they still have to learn life skills that you and I take for granted. They can't enjoy sharing interests or achievements with other people or understand why somebody is suffering pain or sorrow. Infact as many as 40 percent of people will never speak at all and then as they grow into their teens they are at an increased risk of depression and epilepsy. But the really sad thing is that these children usually have above average intelligence. Now as a Bernese mountain dog I think they need our help. Because there aren't enough assistance dogs to go around, PAWS run training courses for the parents of Autistic children, on how to train their pet dogs to help with the kids. That means that we could help. Simple things like fetching a shoe for a child to put on means that yes it's a change , but the dog is a constant, reducing stress. Walking to and from school every day, or just sitting beside them (wearing your doggy seatbelt I might add) when they go out in the car. Learning to listen for sounds of stress in the child's voice, and going and pushing your nose against their hand, time and time again till they realise you are there for them. To be there if they wake up in the dark and are frightened, they are all things us Berners can do.... Autistic children frequently can't make us understand what they want or need, they become frustrated and difficult to handle, but you and I know that us Berners can cope with most things. When they struggle to keep their physical balance they can lean on us, when they cry because nobody seems to understand them, we could be there for them, we could love them back as only a canine can. We all know that touching and stroking a dog is therapeutic . It relieves stress, emotions anxiety and lowers the blood pressure..... And then there are the parents. We could give them half an hour of our time two or three times a day. Take them out for a walk with us so they can relax too.... Be there for them when life is if you will forgive the pun...Being a Bitch. Us Berners were just made for the job. Loving devoted family orientated and just plain good looking.... We have everything to offer. Sounds like just the job for me. Although I am not a PAT dog, all my family does loads of charity work so we spend a lot of time with children and the physically and mentally dis-advantaged, and they are just so loving. Some even pop in to work to see us in their wheelchairs etc. We have one young man who wears ear protecters all the time, but when he comes through our door , his face lights up and we sit in a row, and he has to decide which dog to stroke first, and to do this he has to say our name.... His carer says its the only time he tries to speak, any other time he will sign, but who cares.... Think about it everybody... Could you do that job, would your owner/breeder help you to help somebody else...... GO FOR IT , Us Berners can do anything if we are taught correctly. If nothing else I hope I have made you think, go on the Internet ( owners permission of course) find out what you can do for others. Do a sponsored cart pull, or a special biscuit and spoon race to raise awareness or sponsorship for the full time assistance dogs at your local dog show. If any dog can , WE CAN. Cool runnings Gryff