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Teal has been going to work at her State Park for the last 6 years as a Service Dog. She began her journey by working on traditional Obedience and Gun Dog Training. The same training that we use to train our Gun Dogs is the basic training needed for a Service Dog. Service Dogs need to be able to do 2 to 3 tasks for the handler. Teal began alerting me for BP and Stress related health issues when she was very young. Teal will come sit next to me and paw me to alert me that my BP and HR are high. By bringing attention to this it allows me to change my focus and to shorten these times in my day.
Teal is also the Park Stress Puppy and has alerted others who I work with when they experience stress during meetings that we have. Teal goes with me to inspect facilities, trails, boardwalks, piers and most recently after an EF 4 tornado hit our community and State Park. Teal and I took time to speak with other First Responders such as Fire, Search & Rescue, Red Cross, Police and Community Leaders. She spent time with the victims and volunteers who were handing out meals, water, and blankets.
Teal along with other Mississippi River Valley Boykin Club Dogs worked a weekend with children at our 2021 Club Event; Dog Days of Summer; at Reelfoot Lake State Park. Teal has worked with programming with Women in Waterfowl Events, Outdoor Classrooms with school children and Special Events.
Each year our park hosts an Arts and Crafts Festival in October we will have serval medicals each year. Often it can be with the elderly who may have beginning of dementia. Teal has worked to calm visitors and give them something to focus on. She assists with taking any embarrassment and attention off of them as they recover or wait for family member which at times could be awhile.
I am thankful that Teal has been welcomed into the State Park Family and I only advocate for this if the dog is well trained, and you know their limits. There are moments when you should explain that the dog is a working dog and should not be petted. Then there are times when you can let them be social. Never say that a pet is a Service Dog unless you have trained them on task and socialized them. Join your local HRC Clubs, make common friends on social media, join the Boykin Spaniel Society, and enjoy the journey.
