Tail Waggin' Wednesdays Spring 2015: Choco

The launch of a new Pet Partner’s team began in August, 2012 when an approximately 4 month old chocolate Lab mix puppy, Choco, the dog part of the team, was dumped at the gate of what is now his forever home. Molly, the human part of the team, knew right away Choco was going to make a great Therapy Dog. Choco lived up to that predication by finishing 3 levels of obedience training, passing his AKC Good Citizen test, and becoming a Registered Pet Partner Therapy Animal a month after his first birthday. Just for the fun of it Choco also completed the requirements for Level 1 K9 Nose Work – if you want something sniffed out he’s the dog for the job. Choco started his second year of life by becoming the dog part of a Baylor Health Care System’s Animal Assisted Therapy Team and went right to volunteering weekly by visiting adult patients in their rooms on the Hospice and orthopedic floors and interacting with and motivating adults and children in hospital and outpatient rehab facilities and gyms.

In his spare time Choco plays ever dogs’ favorite game - Bark A Lot - with the other 3 “dumpie” dogs at his home. However, Choco’s paws down favorite pass time is harassing the many squirrels in his yard but because of his gentle nature the one squirrel he did catch squirmed out of Choco’s mouth unhurt. Choco is obviously at least half part Labrador Retriever but Choco does NOT like to retrieve, only goes into water up to his tummy, and has the philosophy of - don’t stand if you can sit, sit if you can lay down or lay down if you can sprawl out flat. Choco’s claim to fame is his array of tricks and his totally accepting, gentle, laid back manner.