Sunny Day
- Apr 7, 2020
- 2 min read
Today seems like a great day for an update on my goldendoodle puppy, Sunny. Sunny came to live with my family a few weeks ago. He’s going to train to be a therapy dog and visit hospice patients with me as a volunteer.
Photo by Helen Bauer, The Heart of Hospice
Sunny was born on December 29, 2019. He’s a good eater – and already weighs in at just over 20 lbs! He’s all black, a shaggy dog with huge paws and sweet disposition. He loves to be cuddled and have his back scratched.
If Sunny had a social media profile, it would look a little something like this:
“Handsome guy ISO cuddles and connections. Friends wanted to provide tummy rubs and training treats. Likes shoes (for chewing) and dislikes crate time for sleeping. Obedient (mostly) and looking to make friends with everyone. Still working on socially inappropriate behaviors such as gentle biting and jumping. Jumpy around skates and loud noises, but very gentle with children. Curious about butterflies and how bubbles work. Lots of love to share.“
Helen Bauer and Sunny, The Heart of Hospice 2020
With the pandemic and its social restrictions, Sunny’s formal training in puppy classes has been postponed. I’ve been concerned that I’m going to miss those teachable moments that will provide Sunny with the best training to be a wonderful therapy dog. With some guidance from Amanda at Golden Rule Retrievers, we’ve been doing Sunny’s training on our own. His current curriculum includes sitting, staying, crate training, and socializing with people. He’s so smart!
Sunny has already started his job as a therapy dog in a place I least expected it to happen. I’ve realized Sunny has already become a much-needed comfort in my own house. While I enjoy my time spent in introverted activities, I do miss socializing with my kids and out in my community. Sunny has provided diversion and brightened every day since he came to us. I think he’s already bringing some of his special brand of Sunshine to me.
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