Angel on a Leash teaches kids about dogs

Published: November 17, 2005 | 2750th good news item since 2003

With a little help from an Angel, children at Skyline Elementary School learned how to interact with dogs Tuesday morning.

Dog trainer Gayle Slover, along with the help of her 100-pound Rottweiller, Angel, is spending the week at Skyline teaching children not to approach strange dogs and how to correctly pet a familiar dog — scratch under the chin, then work up to the top of the canine’s cranium.

The frosty morning’s chill was canceled out by the buzz of excitement among a group of 20 fifth-graders waiting anxiously for Angel. When Angel strolled in at Slover’s side in perfect step, it was therapy in motion.

Slover, using beef jerky as a reward, went through an array of tricks that Angel can do, including shaking hands and sitting still with a cookie between her paws. [How Smart Is Your Dog? : 30 Fun Science Activities with Your Pet]

When Angel rolled over, indicating she wanted someone to scratch her belly and sneezes violently into the air, the room full of children erupted into laughter.

“She’s (Angel) basically only for petting and lots of loving,” Slover said.

Angel is considered a therapy dog, which means Slover takes Angel to nursing homes, hospitals and schools to let people pet her. Slover said Angel is different from a service dog in that she will keep her and not give her to a disabled person. [My Journey from Companion Dog to Therapy Dog]

“When people pet her, it makes them feel good and makes their day better,” Slover said.

Next January, Slover plans to start taking a portion of the children’s gym class to teach them how to train a dog using Angel.

“It is working very well,” said gym teacher Carrie Hanenberg. “The kids are really taking an interest; it could turn out to be a career for some of them.”

Aside from taking Angel to the school, Slover makes a weekly visit to Skyline Ridge Nursing home so that the residents have an opportunity to pet a dog that can handle being around wheelchairs and walkers.

Slover got Angel when she was eight weeks old from a breeder. Slover trained Angel based on information she read in various books. Today Angel brings joy to young and old alike all over Fremont County.

“I love the kids, and I love the seniors,” Slover said.

Published in Animals and Kids & Teens
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