Shelley is one of the Chihuahuas trained and placed as hearing dogs by the British organization Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
In Service to Others
Oh yes, the Chihuahua can be a working dog! Don’t let its small size fool you. Having spent five years of my life training dogs for police and protection work, I can say that the more intimate size of the Chihuahua has its benefits. For example, U.S. Customs agents have been using Beagles in their work as border inspectors. Maneuvering through tight spaces is a breeze for the smaller canines.
Sheriff Dan McClelland of the Geauga County Sheriff ’s Office in Ohio is currently using Midge, a Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix, for marijuana detection. She started her training at three months of age and was certified by the state of Ohio with a perfect score on November 7, 2006, the day after she turned one. Beyond her drug work, Midge has become an ambassador for the county. She was grand marshal of the Memorial Day parade in 2006, sports goggles when riding the sheriff ’s motorcycle, and is just as big a hit when visiting children in their classrooms as when she meets well-behaved prisoners in the sheriff ’s lockup. Midge has just learned to jump onto furniture, something many of us prefer our Chihuahuas do not do, but in Midge’s case this skill adds another aspect to her marijuana-detection abilities. Says Sheriff Dan, “Certainly we are proud of her and astonished by her ability. She is quick to learn and eager to work.” Oh yes, we mustn’t fail to mention Midge has also been certified as the world’s smallest police K-9 by the Guinness Book of Records. Way to go, Midge!
DELTA SOCIETY CHIHUAHUAS
Using dogs in therapy is nothing new, but Chihuahuas certainly shine in this endeavor. After asking the Delta Society for examples, I was inundated with e-mails from the wonderful people who have shared their Chihuahuas with those who need them the most. Delta Society’s Pet Partners Program trains and screens volunteers and their pets for programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, and other facilities. As the Delta Society points out, they train both ends of the leash so their pet partners are well prepared and welcome to participate in animal-assisted therapy programs.
Tiger is a trained hearing dog and a true lifesaver.
What better way to highlight the versatility of the little Chihuahua than with Shannon Paulson and her Chi, Moogie. Moogie has four years of experience in therapy, concentrating in schools. She probably knows a bit more about the healing powers of compassion and giving than most, as she was a rescue Chihuahua. She also has achieved eleven agility titles in five different venues after only two years of competition, done obedience work, and is toying with the idea of rally competitions. At more than ten years old, Mocha Mexican Jumpin’ Bean NA, NAJ has a lot to do and more to give.
Karen Tadsen of Lincoln, Nebraska, shares her Chihuahua, Verdell, with the local rehab hospital and remarks at the intuitive nature of the breed. Verdell is known to run from room to room, seeking out those who need him. A sixteen-year-old coma patient had trained dogs, and when Karen put Verdell on this young man’s bed, the young man responded, putting his hand around the little Chihuahua. Verdell’s special interest is in patients with tracheotomies and others who cannot breathe normally. It was an Aztec belief that the Chihuahua was supposed to rule over the nose—Verdell’s interest makes you wonder if there isn’t something to this belief.
Eight-year-old Sophia’s human companion, owner Sharon Rendall, accompanies her on therapy jobs in Canyon Country, California, but I am sure Sophia turns more heads when traveling around with the Rendalls’ Great Dane, Barkley. Barkley is also certified in pet therapy.
In La Porte, Indiana, there is an award-winning Long Coat Chihuahua therapy dog. Abby is the first Chi to be awarded the AKC Award for Canine Excellence (ACE). Owner Katherine Albrecht and Abby began their work in 2002, enhancing the lives of both patients and staff in their area. Abby is a frequent visitor to local elementary schools, where she helps teach health and safety to children through a program called Lil’ Fish. Abby is also part of a two-animal Pet Partner therapy team with feline Baggins, a humane society rescue adopted by Albrecht.
CHIHUAHUAS AS HEARING DOGS
Oh what big ears you have! The better to hear for you, my dear.
Yes, hear for you, and we are not talking about the Big Bad Wolf. Chihuahuas have excellent hearing and a strong bond with their human partners. This has made a winning combination for many deaf people. Jenny Moir of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, an organization in Great Britain, says they have placed eight Chihuahuas with the deaf. Hearing Dogs for the Deaf related two stories to me that should be shared.
Nine-year-old Tiger may be small in stature, but he has a big heart. Tiger was donated by a breeder to the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People when he was nine months old.
After spending just a few weeks with one of the charity’s volunteer socializers, he embarked on the advanced soundwork training. During this sixteen-week period, he learned to respond to household sounds such as the telephone, doorbell, alarm clock, and smoke alarm.
At the end of his training, he was placed with a deaf person and worked as a hearing dog for several years until, sadly, his partner passed away. Tiger was still young enough to be matched with another deaf person, and in May 2003 he was placed with Carol Hopkins from Merthyr Tydfil. Carol is a wheelchair user, and Tiger has made a huge difference in her life, giving her confidence and independence. This has encouraged her to take part in fundraising activites—something she would not have considered before Tiger arrived. All this is amazing enough for a dog as tiny as Tiger. However, Carol has even more reason to be grateful to her miniature companion.
Carol was asleep one night when, unbeknownst to her, she started choking in her sleep. Tiger heard her and knew that something was wrong. He immediately jumped on the bed and, using his hearing dog training, started scrabbling at her to wake her up. He persisted, pawing at her face and chest until she woke up. It was only then that Carol realized what had prompted him to react, and she knows that if it had not been for Tiger, the situation could have been very serious, if not fatal. Tiger’s actions quite possibly saved Carol’s life and prove that size is no barrier to being a hero.
IF YOU KNEW LULU LIKE I KNOW LULU
Lulu is ten years old and has been a working hearing dog since the beginning of 1998. She and her sister Pam were donated to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People when they were eight months old. Just nine months later, both Lulu and Pam started their new lives as the ears of their deaf owners.
Lulu went to live with Daisy Clark in Windsor, Berkshire, England, and has been her constant companion for more than eight years. They are a familiar sight walking around the royal town, and the local shops make the pair welcome. This friendly attitude to the little Chihuahua and Daisy prompted her to nominate Windsor for the Hearing Dog Friendly Town Award in 2005. This nomination caused a lot of press interest locally, with Daisy and Lulu featuring in photo shoots and attending presentations with the councilors at the Guild Hall in Windsor. Supporting her nomination of the town, Daisy said: “Shopkeepers and bus drivers around the town always make a fuss of Lulu, which is lovely. In the post office I have to lift her up so the cashiers can say hello!”
Carol Hopkins with Tiger, the Chihuahua who has given her assistance and independence.
Lulu is also a big hit with Daisy’s friends at her club. They love her so much that she is given her own chair to sit on at meetings! Daisy also volunteers in a charity shop, and Lulu is looked after by the staff, who makes sure she has her own bean bag on which to relax.
Daisy Clark with Lulu, one of the most loved and recognized citizens of Windsor.
OTHER WAYS TO SERVE
Most Chihuahua breeders will tell you a story or two of Chihuahuas that work with others, perhaps in a less formal way than through the many wonderful organizations that provide dogs for therapy and other service capacities. Many years ago I placed Pinto, a champion Long Coat bitch, with a young man named Kevin. Kevin is wheelchair bound and suffers from cerebral palsy. Kevin was known to be quiet, perhaps a bit shy, and not inclined to participate in class or interact with most people.
Pinto seemed to instinctively know what to do. She learned to make her way up into the wheel-chair and onto Kevin’s lap. Kevin’s delight at Pinto’s attention and love gave him something to be proud of. He began to speak more often. He had something to say and something to brag about. According to his aunt Betsy, an occupational therapist, the way to engage him was to ask about his little dog. This gave Kevin something to talk about and would help him develop relationships. Once he became secure enough to talk to someone, Kevin would open up beyond his little dog. The end result is that Kevin has become more a part of the world around him. When asked what was so special about Pinto, Kevin said that she could go everywhere with him. Her small size made her the one canine accepted at all the family gatherings, and she was easy to hide. Although I do not advocate breaking store rules, Kevin and Pinto went places where canines were not welcome. If the two were caught, they rarely met with disapproval.
Kevin Barry with constant companion Ch. Toltec’s Indian Pony Ruff, “Pinto.”
When her owner, Louise, was in the hospital recovering from a knee replacement, Chihuahua Connie, a 4-pound chocolate Long Coat, and Louise were both bereft. Fortunately, the hospital where Louise was a patient is very good about therapy dogs visiting (even if they are not actually therapy dogs), so best friend Garrett tucked Connie into a soft carrier and took her to visit her mommy, which made both of them very happy.
As Garrett was leaving the facility, she decided to stop and visit a very old friend who was also in the hospital. Ned Cummings was her daughter's former 4-H leader and a lifelong dog man. He was sinking into dementia and usually knew nobody but his wife Betty. Amazingly, he knew Garrett immediately and was thrilled with Connie. He held her and stroked her soft fur, cooing and murmuring, and was happier than anyone had seen him in weeks. Connie snuggled with him, flipped over for belly rubs, and behaved like a perfect lady. The visit was much longer than intended because Ned just could not let Connie leave. When the pair did go, Ned waved goodbye and asked for Connie to come again another day.
When Betty visited Ned the next day, the first thing Ned did was excitedly tell her about Connie's visit, having remembered every detail: the dog’s name, color, and breed, as well as who brought her. These were skills that everyone thought Ned had lost. Ned has left us now, but Betty still talks about Connie's visit, which had meant so much to Ned.
In addition to being a wonderful unofficial therapy dog, Connie stays busy on the show circuit competing with (and snuggling with) junior handler Kiana.
Chihuahuas also act as protectors for one another. Chi owner Robin has two Chihuahuas; Rosie is a retired champion/dam, and Chicklet is a rescue. Chicklet has very limited sight and hearing. When Robin had the pair outside exercising one day, little Chicklet wandered out toward a parking lot and under a parked car. Rosie went after her friend. She used her body to direct Chicklet back to Robin’s side. Perhaps Rosie has some herding instincts.
As different as these stories are, they have one thing in common: they all demonstrate the versatility of the Chihuahua and its ability to serve others, proving that size is not an issue to these little dogs, who gladly take on big challenges and increase the happiness of those whose lives they touch. Chihuahuas are eager and quick to learn. Is there some aspect of your life that can be enhanced by a trained Chihuahua?
