I was feeling a little bummed after my performance on Saturday's therapy dog evaluation. But Ed "The Chauffeur" has been telling me a one-time exam performance does not always reflect reality. He's been telling me stories of real-world successes without a formal education or diploma.

I already knew about Bill Gates who dropped out of college (Did you expect a dog with a website NOT to know about Bill Gates?). My favorite story was about Jimmy Dean who dropped out of high school but became a very very important person. Thanks to Jimmy Dean's sausage ability dogs all across America wake up to the aroma of sizzling sausage.

Then Ed told me about U.S. Presidents who did not have the best academic pedigrees. There was Andrew Jackson who without a formal education became a famous general at the Battle of New Orleans, taught himself law, became the 7th President, and got his picture on the Twenty-Dollar bill. To illustrate the saying "A students teach B students to work for C Students," Ed reminded me we have had presidents who were only 'C' students. At least one president has been so embarassed about his academic performances he refused to release his college transcripts.

Then I got to thinking about it and realized I AM a good real-world therapy dog. I do have the ability to appropriately interact with humans and other animals based on their respective health, size, and temperament. So what if I didn't know how to react to a make-believe environment?

So what if I got confused by a lady bouncing all over the place carrying a walker and then started to pretend she needed it? I knew she wasn't really mobility challenged. And that punk on crutches.... I knew he wasn't gimpy cause I watched him for a long time carry the crutches around. And the evaluator's grandkid that sat down 5 feet from me and whipped out a cheeseburger and fries... of course I was going to go up to her and beg for a bite (doesn't work on Ed but I only know that because I've tried him already).

Ed reminded me of my proven daily REAL WORLD experience as a therapy dog and showed me several photos from our travels that prove I know how to properly greet others based on their conditions. After remembering the Dallas veteran in a wheelchair, kids in Ohio, Virginia, Washington, D.C., & New York, camels, horses, cicadas, toads, canines all over the country, a full day greeting dogs at Petpalooza, and even the Easter Bunny I regained my confidence about being a good dog. Then Ed reminded me I am also a dog that can be trusted around food as seen in the Mustard Dog photo as well as our Mile High Vienna Dog Stand pictures.

Click each photo for larger view, blog post, or album collection.

Then he said I was very instinctive about knowing when he was stressing too much at the desk and needed to take a work break. So Ed surprised me today and gave me a Real World Therapy Dog Achievement Certificate from the Ed "The Chauffeur" Dog Friend Institute!! And like most parents do for their kids, I placed his "artwork" on the fridge. Now if only he would put some Jimmy Dean Sausage in the fridge we would both be happier.

I am now working on my Border Patrol & Security Dog Certificate for establishing a Cat-Free Zone.

~Prospect