What better way to celebrate National Beagle Day than with Cheyanne and her Therapy Dogs Mardi and Tiana?
In this bonus episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I celebrate National Beagle Day with Cheyanne and her two therapy beagles, Mardi and Tiana. We chat about their journey, from Mardi’s transformation from rescue dog to therapy dog, to Tiana’s work with HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response.
Cheyanne tells us how she got started in therapy work with her beagles and shares some touching stories about her first beagle, Sophie. (Who made the news for National Beagle Day back in 2019.) We learn about the incredible impact therapy dogs have on at-risk youth through Cheyanne’s work with Gabriel’s Angels and Mardi’s participation in the Animals, Books, and Children (ABC) program.
We also dive into the world of crisis response dog work, as Cheyanne takes us through the process of becoming a HOPE team member, highlighting the assessments and training needed for both dogs and handlers. She shares her wisdom on helping rescue dogs become successful therapy dogs and emphasizes the importance of recognizing a dog’s stress threshold and giving them time to adjust.
Throughout our conversation, we discuss the challenges, rewards, and strong bonds formed through therapy dog work, reminding us how crucial it is for dogs and their handlers to provide comfort and support during difficult times.
After listening to this bonus episode, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the incredible work therapy beagles do and the dedication of their handlers. Join us in celebrating National Beagle Day and don’t forget to tune in for more Therapy Dog Talk!
In this episode, we discuss …
- Mardi’s journey from rescue beagle to therapy dog.
- The importance of patience when training dogs for therapy work.
- What it takes to become a HOPE AACR crisis response dog.
Key moments you won’t want to miss:
Note that the timecodes match the video, not the podcast.
- [00:02:32] Cheyanne introduces herself and her therapy beagles, Mardi and Tiana.
- [00:03:25] Cheyanne shares a National Beagle Day article featuring her first beagle, Sophie, at Sky Harbor Airport.
- [00:04:20] We talk about Mardi’s transformation from a scared rescue dog to a therapy dog.
- [00:10:00] Mardi participates in the Animals, Books, and Children (ABC) program, where kids practice reading to her.
- [00:11:54] Cheyanne explains how Mardi comforts children at Phoenix Children’s Hospital during medical procedures.
- [00:13:22] Cheyanne advises patience and understanding when training rescue dogs to become therapy dogs.
- [00:15:32] Crisis response dogs are trained to provide comfort during crisis events, such as natural disasters, rather than participating in search and rescue.
- [00:21:45] The training also exposes dogs to firefighters in full gear and simulated smoke to help acclimate them to emergency situations.
- [00:23:00] To become a crisis response dog, dogs must have a year of therapy dog experience and be comfortable in high-stress situations.
- [00:28:58] Dogs can form strong bonds with each other during HOPE crisis response training, as Cheyanne shares an example from her class.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a watch or a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs
- Cheyanne and Tiana in Episode 28
- Gabriel’s Angels
- HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response
- Phoenix Children’s
- Sky Harbor Navigator Buddies
- Sophie’s National Beagle Day feature
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Therapy Dog Talk is a podcast where I interview a different team each week via Instagram Live. If you enjoyed this episode please find us over at Apple, Google, or Spotify and give us a follow after you leave a review.
Do you know someone who would make a great guest? Be sure to reach out and let me know.
