Old Westbury Gardens - Site of Westbury Kennel Association's first major show in 1923
THE WESTBURY KENNEL REVIEW
ANOTHER GREAT DOG STORY FROM YOU!
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Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Wafer, Oatmeal...?
Nope, just a sweet little Cookie.
Meet and Greet Cookie
Cookie isn’t a Show Dog. She is a rescue and a champ in her own right! Though she is a little girl hanging out in a Classic Trophy Cup, she's too big to fit in a tea-cup or a shoe, so she is no Tige -- nor I Buster’s sister Mary-Jane!(1) I’ve been doing rescue for many years, and I foster the dogs I take in, before they go to their forever homes. Cookie has already claimed her forever home with me, since day one!
In addition to belonging to Westbury and other local dog clubs, I belong to The Obedience Club of South Nassau on Long Island. Cookie’s owner and Obedience Club co-member Sue passed in late 2023. I knew Cookie and Cookie knew me. This would result in my “inheriting” her from my late friend. Like me, she too showed and bred Pomeranians.
I am now helping Sue's daughter find wonderful new homes for her other dogs. The world of Show Dogs is peppered with real-life Rescue stories, though little is ever mentioned of that aspect of the business.
Cookie actually picked me when I went to Sue’s to see about a boy dog named Chief. Chief didn’t like me, but Cookie came right up to me and stayed in my lap the whole time I was there. This was the immediate connection, soon leading to a more solid bonding. These days Cookie is my little VELCRO® dog and follows me everywhere.
Cookie will not be my first to be certified Therapy Dog. My Papillion, Gino, is a Certified Registered Pet Therapy Dog and has been working at Cohen’s Children Hospital in the New York Metro Area for the past fifteen years. He officially retired on August 20th, 2023. Once Cookie is cleared she will be taking Gino’s place at the hospital. She is THAT good!
Certified Therapy Dogs must meet specific social standards just as Conformation Show Dogs must meet breed standards as set by AKC. Therapy Dogs can be any breed, or a mix, and they do not need to work in a ring or do agility, rally, or other similar activities. They do need to listen [the main component of obedience] and be able to work with people of all ages and backgrounds. By nature, dogs are not biased the way people can be, but they do have their own ways, likes, and dislikes – remember Chief, the boy I first saw, did not take to me. Therapy work preparation involves lots of time and new experiences as well as trust. Cookie has an innate instinct to work with folks and handle novel situations.
As part of her education into the world of new people and dogs, I brought Cookie to the Westbury shows to see how she would react to a crowd and being held by different people. The photo, you ask? We did that just for fun and it illustrates Cookie’s ability to accept situations that are, to say the least, unusual! The judges loved her, and so will the kids with whom she will work at the Hospital. I do too!
Learn more about Therapy Dogs at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapy_dog
Westbury thanks Cookie's person for sharing this story with us. Our commentary is simple as always:
Whether Rescued Dog or Show Winner, if you believe in your dog, wonderful things will happen, deliberately, or by coincidence. Nice going Cookie - and Gino.
Submit YOUR amazing dog stories and pictures for consideration, to The Review Editor.
