March 13, 2008 – Lenore made her first solo Hospice call this week, to Helen and Warren. Helen loves both of these dogs, and loves to sit with them.
  I can only describe this moments as peaceful, spiritual.
  The styles of the two breeds are quite different, I’m learning. Izzy makes eye contact with Helen and the other people he visits, locking in on them, focusing on them head-on. Lenore, a purebred black Lab, has a different approach. She likes to lie next to the patients, or at their feet.
  Gretchen Pinkel, her breeder, e-mailed me that she thinks dogs do teach one another, and I think that is so, from what I see. Lenore benefited from going on several visits with Izzy. Gretchen pointed out that once Lenore learns that the people are not a distraction, but the work, she will focus in on them more and more, as Izzy does, and this is happening. Though her approach – and each of these dogs does choose their approach, I am learning – is different. Lenore loves to lie next to Helen, and be still as Helen talks to her and strokes her back. Izzy’s head would always be pointed the other way, towards Helen. Lenore shows affection by proximity, not eye contact, which is what the dogs do with me. Izzy is always staring into my eyes, Lenore always lying down next to me or at my feet.
   Lenore prefers simple closeness.
   Lenore is changing, almost daily, in this work. Only seven months old, she enters a house, checks it out, sniffs around, then goes to the people, then settles in. Now, she knows to go Helen’s bed and wait to be boosted up, where she lies still for up to 20 minutes. Then she comes off and lies down in a corner, as Izzy does.  Lenore is growing in stature and confidence, all the time. I am letting this develop, doing little or no formal training beyond basic obedience. She is still a pup, playful, curious, enthusiastic. But very grounded, very calm at the center.
   Helen is visibly calmed and comforted by both dogs, and brightens up. I notice she shows a particular kind of affection for the dogs, and seems to especially the fact that she doesn’t have to talk to them, or do anything but show and receive affection. She can rest, and be comforted. This matters.
  The one thing both dogs share is a tendency to be drained after these visits, and to sleep quietly for hours. This puzzles me a bit, unless you view them as working dogs, working. This is a real possibility. But nobody knows what is inside the mind of a dog, least of all me.
  Warren is finally agreeing, with Helen’s approval, to a medical reclining bed, which will help his knees. The living room will have to be reorganized again, as he will only rarely leave Helen’s side.
   Helen jokes to me that getting old is really something for young people, as they have more energy. Now that both dogs know her and the house, we can really help out.

Lenore love