What's It All About Alfie?
My name is Sharee Muench, and my dog is ALFIE. He is an eight year old Finnish Lapphund. ALFIE earned his Rally Excellent Obedience Title early 2013, and was all set to start the legs needed for his Rally Advanced Excellent Title next. However, at his first trial for this new level, I also did a Meet the Breed session with him so people could learn more about his breed. It was clear after that “social” interaction, ALFIE made everyone there who met him happy and he in turn was happier than I had ever seen him in the Rally Obedience Ring. I could not ignore that, and was directed to Paws4People.org by so many dog friends. After training and taking several tests, ALFIE and I received our P4P therapy credentials.
ALFIE and I have taken a while to find where he can make the greatest impact to those that meet him. He goes to local colleges such as UNCC and RCCC during exam time to give the students a “break” from the stress of exams. He LOVES the students and they LOVE him!!!! Paws4People.org has been a wonderful support group. We are honored to have been certified with this organization that does so much in providing service dogs to veterans and others in need. Paws4People also certifies, through strict testing, social and education therapy dogs. This is where Alfie and I might make a difference.
My goal for him now is to get him involved with young children who want to read, but who are discouraged by shyness or other factors in their school environment that may cause them to be discouraged by learning to read. Young kids especially love ALFIE and “all that fur” and he loves them because they get down on the floor with him. I have passed the test to become an Intermountain Therapy Dogs R.EA.D. Certified team (the most internationally recognized and successful program for dogs helping children learn to read). Fingers crossed it looks like Alfie and I have a library branch that wants our assistance in 2015!!!