Jackie practices self-care when volunteering as a first responder therapy dog team with her Labradoodle Mango.
In this 10th episode of Therapy Dog Talk, I chat with Jackie Bryla and her amazing Labradoodle therapy dogs, Mango and Savanna. We dive into their unique experiences in therapy dog work in Northern California and their recent certification with First Responder Therapy Dogs.
Jackie tells me how she discovered therapy dog work after her mother-in-law passed away, which led her to certify Savanna through Alliance Therapy Dogs. Mango soon followed in Savanna’s footsteps, getting certified a few months later. Both dogs have their own special roles in therapy work, with Savanna excelling in memory care and skilled nursing facilities, and Mango shining in more interactive settings.
We discuss how Mango helps patients in occupational therapy, supporting their recovery from strokes or accidents. Jackie also shares the work she, Mango, and Savanna do with fire, police, and dispatch personnel as First Responder Therapy Dogs.
As we talk, Jackie emphasizes the importance of self-care for both herself and her therapy dogs when dealing with challenging situations. She shares her insights on knowing when to stop a session to ensure everyone’s well-being. We also touch on her involvement with Capital Therapy Dogs, a local Sacramento area program, and how group therapy dog sessions impact each dog’s energy and experience.
By the end of this episode, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication and love that goes into therapy dog work, as well as the incredible impact these furry friends can have on those they help.
In this episode, we discuss …
- Jackie’s personal experience that led her to registering Savanna as a Therapy Dog.
- How Mango and Savanna went through different journeys to Therapy Dog and differ in their roles and preferences.
- The importance of helping your dogs to practice self-care by managing what they can handle on a visit.
Key moments you won’t want to miss:
- [00:43] Jackie Bryla introduces herself, her therapy dogs Mango and Savanna, and shares that they live in Roseville, California.
- [01:14] Savanna became a therapy dog through Alliance Therapy Dogs in March 2019, while Mango got certified in July 2019.
- [02:41] Jackie talks about deciding to get Savanna certified as a therapy dog after her mother-in-law passed away.
- [03:53] Savanna has a natural ability to be a therapy dog, passing the Alliance test without a lot of training.
- [04:12] Jackie shares that she wanted Mango to be a therapy dog too after seeing Savanna’s success.
- [05:03] Savanna and Mango have different roles in therapy work, helping different people and working in various places.
- [06:21] Mango is more animated and interactive, making him great for working with hospital staff and rehab programs.
- [07:13] Mango helps patients in occupational therapy, like those recovering from strokes or accidents.
- [08:02] Jackie and Mango, are certified as a First Responder Therapy Dogs team, supporting fire, police, and dispatch personnel.
- [09:59] Jackie talks about the importance of taking care of herself and her therapy dogs when they’re in tough situations.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do. Give it a watch or a listen and then let me know in the community which part you found the most helpful!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs
- Capital Therapy Dogs
- First Responder Therapy Dogs
- SOUL Pet Therapy Program at Dignity Health
- Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU)
Rate, Review, and Follow the Podcast
Therapy Dog Talk is a podcast where I interview a different team each week via Instagram Live. If you enjoyed this episode please find us over at Apple, Google, or Spotify and give us a follow after you leave a review.
Do you know someone who would make a great guest? Be sure to reach out and let me know.