Link’s Story: One Poodle’s Journey to Becoming a Therapy Dog

Volunteers from Fidos For Freedom, an organization that raises service dogs and matches them with people who have disabilities, came to an animal science meeting I was attending around 2010 and spoke about the organization. I was really intrigued and thought I’d like to join them if I get another dog that I can train as a therapy dog.

Then came Link

Link is a large standard poodle that we sometimes call a giant poodle, but he acts like a toy poodle. We bought Link as a puppy in 2011 for my daughter who was going through some difficulties in high school and for some reason my husband thought a puppy would make her happy. She took him to obedience classes, and he was very well behaved.

A few years later at a family gathering there were four little girls running around my house, and Link was playing with them. Their squealing didn’t bother him, and he was so gentle with them. I realized then he would probably be my therapy dog. I had him evaluated in 2015, and he was accepted into the organization.

Therapy Visits

We started to do a variety of different visits to see what he liked. He appeared to be at his best with children and more active visits. He seemed bored at nursing homes because he didn’t get petted as much.

I then proposed to my company, at that time MedImmune, now AstraZeneca, that we be allowed to bring the dogs in once a month to provide some pet therapy and a nice break to all the hardworking employees. As the company was increasing our health and well-being program, they felt adding therapy dogs as part of these employee wellness programs would be a good idea. It was. The dogs were a big hit. 

Once a dog in the Fidos therapy dog program has been in the program for at least one year, they receive a special harness jacket that shows they are actively working as a therapy dog. When we put Link in that harness to go on a visit, he gets so excited.  He knows he is going to get to see lots of people, lots of attention and a few treats as well. (ALSO READ MIA’S REAL PET STORY)

One of my best stories about Link providing therapy was when I took him on a hospital visit. We go to post-surgery rooms and palliative care rooms. One evening there was a man in the bed with his wife visiting; he was delighted to see the therapy dogs. He wasn’t able to move very much and because Link is so tall, I placed him next to his side so that he could easily pet him. We talked for about 10 minutes while he was petting Link, and Link was happy for the attention. As we got ready to say goodbye, the gentleman said to us that he realized for the past 10-15 minutes while we were visiting he hadn’t had any pain. This really demonstrated to me what a simple act can do in helping someone and how much impact a loving pet can have to turn someone’s day around.

I have many other memories of how Link’s therapy dog visits have impacted children and adults. Oftentimes kids who are afraid of dogs will see Link sitting so calmly and eventually get brave enough for a touch. And that touch often leads to a hug and hopefully conquering their fears.

FBR Real Pet Stories™ Fun Facts About Link

• Link hates getting wet in the rain and will often need to be dragged outside when it’s raining.
• He has three barks that signal he’s hungry, thirsty or needs to go out. Otherwise, he almost never barks.
• To prevent him from getting car sick he must sit in the middle of the back seat of the car looking forward. I had to make sure my last car purchase would be comfortable for him in the back seat.

Donna Goldsteen is a retired laboratory animal science professional.

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