Our Therapy Dogs
(Past and Present)
Takoda
Takoda is a Chocolate Labrador Retriever who was born in September 2017 and he loves everything about life. In the Lakota Sioux language Takoda means “friend to everyone.” His biggest enjoyment in life is definitely eating and because of that he is learning that it’s not polite to drool at the table (haha)! A close second to his love for eating is his love of all creatures great and small! He is the definition of “unconditional love” and happily lives all of his days to the fullest. Takoda LOVES to swim, play, go for walks, eat, and have his belly rubbed! His favorite toy is by far his giant lamb chob, Lamby, of which he now has multiple so he can have one wherever he is. Takoda is very smart and loves working as a therapy dog.
Takoda loves to learn and his credentials thus far include:
Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapy Dog
Registered Pet Partner Therapy Dog
American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
AKC Rally Novice
AKC Community Canine (Advanced CGC)
AKC Urban CGC
AKC Trick Dog Novice
Takoda is currently training for Rally Obedience and in the near future hopes to begin Nose Work (AKC Scent Work) and Agility training.
Phineas Dudley (Phinn)
Phineas Dudley, or Phinn to all who know him, is a Yellow Labrador Retriever who was born in November 2018. Phinn, like his big brother Takoda, loves to eat and thus far we have not found a food that he will turn his nose up at! Phinn’s tail never stops wagging and his love of life makes everyone who meets him smile. Phinn is being trained as a therapy dog. His love of being with people and his eagerness to please combined with his innate ability to learn and sound temperament make him a wonderful therapy dog prospect. Phinn absolutely LOVES his big brother Takoda, swimming, going for walks and, in true retriever fashion, playing ball for hours and hours!!!
Phinn loves learning and his credential thus far include:
American Kennel Club (AKC)
Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
AKC Community Canine (Advanced CGC)
Training for Animal Assisted Play Therapy Dog Certification
Shannon
Shannon started it all and she was and will always be the most perfect friend, work partner and guardian angel anyone could ever ask for. Shannon had her 10th birthday in April 2020 and until her passing I assumed Shannon would continue partnering with me at work for a few more years before she would retire and become a couch potato in her golden years. Well as we all know life can be very unpredictable and in 2020, while I was working from home, Shannon became weak and unexpectedly passed away. Losing Shannon has been very difficult for me, but her truly remarkable ability to help others with all of her most beautiful and loving heart inspired me to name my private therapy practice after her and that is how Shannon’s Place Family Counseling came to be.
Both Takoda and Phinn miss their big sister Shannon lots and though Shannon is not physically present as part of the “retriever club” the boys are working hard every day to follow in her footsteps and make her proud.
“DOGS COME INTO OUR LIVES TO TEACH US ABOUT LOVE. THEY DEPART TO TEACH US ABOUT LOSS. A NEW DOG NEVER REPLACES AN OLD DOG, IT MERELY EXPANDS THE HEART.”