Gus and Red both visited Connie yesterday at the Mansion, she picked Gus up and tucked him into her arm, where he settled in contentedly. I am seeing in Gus – it is early yet – one of the most important traits in an intuitive therapy dog. He senses attention and need, and seems to understand what is expected of him.

Gus in particular, and Boston Terriers in general, are active, but Gust seems to  know to be calm and accepting when dealing with children and people who are old or sick.

Gus can be squirmy, but when he got into Connie’s lap, or Mary’s yesterday, he seemed to sense when to be still. It’s early yet in Gus’s therapy dog training, but he is beginning to understand what he is there for – not to play or eat or sniff around, but to provide comfort and consolation to those in need of it.

That means he sometimes has to do nothing.

We have a lot more training to do, but it is looking good for Gus as a therapy dog.