It has been a busy summer working with the Great Pyrenees. Maggie (whelped 1/30/02) and Bear (whelped 4/2/02) have grown so rapidly. Since the pups are from separate breeders, it is my hope that by Spring there will be a first litter and our Pet Therapy family will begin expanding.

The primary challenge was containment. This is a breed that instinctively is bred for protecting. As service animals, they are frequently raised by ranchers and farmers with livestock. For Maggie and Bear (McKinley), they were exposed on a daily basis to young children as their primary trainers.

Through endless hours of play throughout the summer, they bonded strongly and quickly to all sorts of children. They've proven to be extremely affectionate and tolerant of infants and children of all ages. I've yet to hear them bark, aside from spotting other dogs.

The containment challenge meant many sections of outdoor kennel wire. They took over a 6 by 12 foot section of the garage that was kenneled and is primary "safety zone". Thus far, they have been raised strictly as outside dogs. In their excitements and enthusiasm, inside one's dwelling, they would inadvertently jump up on the furniture, being very destructive of property. This is in marked contrast to earlier pets that I have raised, such as Great Danes. With the Great Dane breed, they seem extremely aware of their size and are unusually cautious about bumping into other people or furniture.

Once the containment challenge was met, there was no longer that need for endless searches into the woods trying to find the puppies if they had followed their noses and curiously headed off exploring the Northwoods. There were also fewer phone calls from helpful individuals in the region who had found the pups in their own backyards or had seen them along a hiking trail somewhere. I was prepared with electronic transmitters to utilize this training method, but never actually resorted to using them-out of some concern that not only would it be painful, it might subdue their free spirits.

I have used training collars in the past with hunting dogs and found them extremely important to keep the dog from running off into the woods. However; with the gentle disposition of Great Pyrenees, the high-tech equipment was never utilized. The same was true for the "barking collars" They, of course, deliver a "Nick" or more intense shock to a dog's neck, if it begins to bark. I felt this also was excessive and have learned that the dogs will bark now as a warning that there's another animal-usually a stray dog or a deer moving through the yard.

As I began taking the dogs out on leash. . . it became apparent of their instincts pull on the leashes. After researching more about the breed, I was again reminded that they are a service dog and often used to pull a cart or wagon.

By midsummer, a specialized training cart for off-season sled dog training-called the Sacco Cart - was ordered and arrived. The dogs soon acclimated to harnesses instead of collars. Shortly before Labor Day weekend, the two pups were pulling the cart with much enthusiasm.

On hot summer days, they were not expected to run. However; as it cools down, they seem to be in truly enjoying taking their "trainers for a ride" rather than being taken for a walk.

Recently, the first winter dog sled arrived-having been crafted out on the East Coast. This led to numerous new accessories, including the sled blanket, a snow anchor, and headlamps for the musher, and numerous other accessories for the rookie sled dark enthusiast.

During this time, I read several books suggested to me by more experienced recreational sled dog enthusiasts. Perhaps the most entertaining was written by Gary Paulsen-entitled WinterDance. This is said to be the book that later led to the Disney release of the movie SNOW DOGS. For more technical information, I found the book BACK OF THE PACK by Don Bowers extremely useful.

Although I don't dare state it out loud about my hope for an early winter and lots of snow, the challenge of being a recreational rookie musher has a great deal of appeal to me. When we first moved to Northern MN 20 years ago, snowmobiles were the rage and still are. However; the image of traveling along the trail pulled by dog sled seems extremely intriguing. I have noticed increasingly in resorts along the North Shore that provide recreational dog sleds and guidance and set up tours for later in the Spring in Yellowstone National Park. I suspect this trend will continue to grow. The relationship between individual and the dog team is very unique and extremely powerful.

As for my useful young trainers that spent hours with the dogs every day, they each picked a favorite and developed a very powerful bond with the pups. These "trainers" are children only eight years of age. Yet, perhaps like in the computer world, interacting with the dogs almost twice the size appears to be so intuitive for them and the excitement of watching them work with the dogs in and of itself has been extremely rewarding.

These children I think sense that the dogs accept them unconditionally. It is an extremely powerful bond that so many children are unable to develop with their peers or with adults. At present, the "trainers" are healthy, bright, conscientious children. At a later date, the dogs will be introduced to children perhaps with attachment disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. I've already had contact with several children with severe ADHD. They seem to do extremely well with their dog teams and stay focused and committed to their animals even at times when they are not receiving their stimulant medications.

I must say that for me personally, the pets have been an extremely exciting experience. As each day begins to get shorter, I will soon return from work each day in total darkness. Utilizing the headlamps will become a necessity. Instead of fighting off mosquitoes and flies, there will be the cold weather and need to learn appropriate layering of winter clothing, and not only for me, but for the feet of the dogs.

Obviously, I do not know where this "clinical experiment" will lead. I do know that it is exciting and a unique way to interact with the canine world. I would hope to post yet another update by mid-December, before the Christmas holidays. I would certainly welcome any input from other therapists who may have had experiences utilizing "pets" as a therapeutic modality.

Sincerely, David Bransford M.D.

Feedback? Questions? Email me at db@itascapsych.com

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