March 2022 – Me and the Doods.com

Happy Birthday Gus!

For me, the month of March is an emotional milkshake.

ELBEE Is that a thing?

It was in March of my senior year in high school that my dad passed. My brother Stan’s birthday was March third. Although he’s been gone over twenty-five years, his laughter still resonates in my life

Charley, the gentle giant, and my first therapy dog, died suddenly in March of 2017, the morning after working a student event at the Wooden Center. He lives on in countless memories.

For instance, last week, when I was walking Gus and Stanley in the neighborhood, a man stopped his car to share a story. Years ago he’d been at a UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl when Charley and I walked onto the field during half time. He’d been so surprised to see us that he’d never forgotten it.

ELBEE That was the night they directed her to stand on the ten yard line. When she asked where it was the man said “next to the nine yard line.” And hello! My birthday was March eighth and no one who ever met me has forgotten me.

On a purely positive March note, Gus turned eight on the twenty fifth. What better way to celebrate the occasion than doing what he does best…cheering people up. Along with Jen, the manager of PAC, Gus, Stanley and I paid a visit to the internal medicine residents at UCLA Olive View Medical Center.

We met on a shaded, grassy area outside of the hospital. From the moment the first few doctors approached, everyone was positive and welcoming. Residencies can be extremely stressful but you’d never have known it from watching everyone interact with the dogs.

When I announced that it was Gus’s birthday, the atmosphere became even more festive. It was a regular party. With a little encouragement, everyone sang Happy Birthday and applauded as Gus danced. They laughed when I brought out the sunglasses and tiaras.

ELBEE She’s never met an accessory she didn’t like.

Despite all of the fun, there was a serious undertone. I could see how much the visit meant. It reinforced what our therapy dogs can accomplish simply by being present and loving. Since COVID, they have had an even more important role in comforting, not only patients and their families. but hospital staff as well.

A doctor rubbing Stanley’s belly told me how much she needed the time out from the demands of her training. Several simply hugged Gus and Stanley and smiled. My favorite moment was when a doctor, with a big grin on his face said, “This is the greatest day of my whole residency.”

I Hope Something Good Happens to You Today

Walking with the dogs, I saw this sticker on a car window.

ELBEE She got the photo off of the internet so that the people wouldn’t see her skulking around their driveway taking pictures.

It really inspired me. Right now, more than ever, we need to send each other positive messages.

Coincidentally, on the neighborhood page, which at times can be not so neighborly, someone had posted a photo of sidewalk chalk art that read, “thanks for the music.” It was to show appreciation for a neighbor who had to resort to front yard rehearsals during COVID.

The sticker made me think about how fortunate I am that good things happen to me every day when I’m with the dogs. Instead of guilt by association, I get “good” by association. With Gus and Stanley back to work, I feel the same overwhelming gratitude that I have each and every time we’ve returned over the past two years.

At the adult day health center, the man who only smiles when the dogs are there, met me and Gus at the door with the sweetest grin on his face. It’s almost like our little secret. He stayed with us as we made our way through the room and never stopped smiling.

Stanley was visiting the teen neuropsych unit at UCLA when a girl who was sitting on the floor next to me very quietly shared that he reminded her of Charley, my very first therapy dog. She had been a patient several years earlier and said that she’d never forgotten him.

**Stanley & Gus in their official** **Tarzana Hospital bandanas**

At Tarzana Hospital, a nurse told she didn’t know how she’d have made it through the morning without some dog love. A woman outside a patient’s door just wanted to hug Gus. Her aunt was very ill and also had severe dementia so visiting her was extremely stressful. Gus gave her the strength to go back into the room.

Now I’m hopefully going to make something good happen to you by giving you a laugh.

ELBEE That terrible segue made me laugh.

Last week I wrote about the dogs’ quirks, including that Henry sprints across the yard after he poops.

HENRY Why is she bringing that up again?

Hearing the story, a friend told me an even better one. She had a Dachshund with a very strange habit. Every time it pooped, it would run three circles around it!

And how about this photo of Gus, who turns eight this week, playing peekaboo under Henry who is ten months today!

Does Your Dog Have Quirks?

Recently, someone asked me if my dogs had quirks. Without even having to think about it, I said, “absolutely!”

ELBEE If anyone wrote a post about her quirks, it’d go viral.

Gus, for instance, is a clothes thief. When I have the nerve to leave the house without him, he heads into the closet, grabs one of my shirts and drops it in the hallway. Generally, it’s the last one I wore.

GUS I like the smell.

ELBEE He’s over attached.

If Gus wants your attention, he’ll tap you with his paw until you pet him. It doesn’t matter if you’re awake or asleep. And speaking of sleeping, his favorite position is sprawled on his back, often with his paws up the wall.

GUS It’s very relaxing.

Stanley has a habit of grabbing his leash and jumping up and down like a kangaroo when it’s time for a walk, but it’s his fixation with area rugs that’s really unique. Often, when someone comes into the house, he’ll grab a rug from the bathroom and prance around with it. It’s as if he wants us to see him but pretends that he doesn’t.

Henry, who views Stanley as his role model, has picked up the rug behavior. It’s not unusual to see both of them carrying rugs around or playing tug. I probably should stop them but it’s so entertaining.

Stanley and Henry share another quirk. They are both fascinated by my work outs.

ELBEE Sadly, that’s why they’re so cooperative when she wants to bench press them.

They will hang around when I’m using dumbbells or doing crunches on a bench but their favorite is when I sit on the floor to use work out bands. It puts me at their level so it’s easy for them to get involved. They will stay right by my side through every rep. Sometimes Gus will even join them.

The Doods aren’t the only ones who like to be part of an exercise session. My friend Jen sent me this photo of her dog joining her for yoga.

Henry has another quirk that I’ve never seen in any of our dogs or heard of from anyone else. It’s personal and I probably shouldn’t share it, but I can’t help myself. As soon as Henry poops, he sprints across the yard to get away from it.

HENRY Someone is not familiar with the phrase “TMI.”

Spa Day

As has happened way too often over the past few years, when the news is as disturbing at it is now, I hesitate to write something that will seem frivolous. But, thanks to friends who have told me it’s just the time out they need, here I go again.

The good news is that Gus and Stanley went back to work this week. First order of business was getting them bathed. As therapy dogs, who are groomed for work, and also as total divas, they get their hair done more often than I do. The groomer is like their home away from home.

ELBEE I always thought of it as my spa, a place to relax and get pampered.

STANLEY Maybe I shouldn’t say this but Elbee used to bark so much he’d ruin my Zen.

ELBEE I was chanting.

Occasionally someone will ask, “Why don’t you bathe them yourself?” Well, I do for the first few months and then, when I can barely get them into the tub, it’s on to the professionals. Gus would still fit but do you know how long it would take me to dry his hair!

ELBEE Trust me. It would be a disaster.

I’ve been taking the Doods to Shani’s and Four Your Paws Only for so long, it feels like family. When the dogs are still puppies, I bring them over to socialize.

Actually it is a family affair. When Marsha was grooming them, her son Ryan would help get them ready for special events. He painted Gus purple and gold for a visit with the Laker girls.

Jen is now groomer to the Doods, along with an assist from her mom and her husband. She also has a special helper who is a favorite of the Doods, her darling little girl, Anne Marie.

Anne has been around the dogs for as long as I can remember. Even before she was old enough to help out, she had a special relationship with Stanley. He’d look for her as soon as we walked into the shop and she’d give him a great big smile.

At three, she and Gus have become quite the pair. With a little supervision, she takes his leash and walks him into the shop. Then she makes sure he’s okay in the tub.

GUS I think of her as my personal stylist.

Henry has been joining his brothers lately. He doesn’t go as often as they do but when I drop off the three, it’s a lot of dog. I think Henry feels a bit left out when he’s waiting his turn, so Anne Marie has stepped up to give him some love too.