By: Anna Carpenter
Opinion Editor
Once a week, a fluffy brown and white speckled pup follows his owner into Wingate University’s Holbrook Health Center. No, he isn’t sick or simply tagging along with his owner for fun; he has an important job to do.
Briggs belongs to Melinda Frederick, the Director of Counseling Services at Wingate. He accompanies her to work every week as a therapy dog in-training, bringing comfort and happiness to Frederick’s clients going through hard times.
When Frederick adopted Briggs back in May, she already had the intention of working with him to achieve therapy dog status. After the passing of her beloved previous dog, with whom she had considered training in animal therapy, she had her heart set on adopting a dog that could be an asset to her as a counselor at Wingate.
Leading up to his adoption, Frederick spent countless hours researching different breeds that had the best temperaments and characteristics to be a therapy dog. Convinced that she found a potential fit, she headed up to York County’s Humane Society to meet one of their rescues.
Unfortunately, once she got there, she found the pup to be too rambunctious and unpredictable to be therapy dog material. Once she explained to the employees what she was there for, they invited her to meet one of their newest arrivals- Briggs.
Frederick describes her first impression of Briggs as the “perfect therapy dog.” He was “very sweet, friendly and super chill.” He loved people, was not easily upset or overwhelmed, and kept an even temperament.
She recalls the staff telling her how much they adored Briggs and how the vets had a hard time parting with him when he arrived at the shelter. A week later and after a bunch of paperwork, Frederick picked Briggs up and took him to his forever home.
Now, she and Briggs are in the process of training and certification as he begins his therapy dog journey. He passed a set of beginner, intermediate, and advanced behavior classes in preparation for the rigorous Canine Good Citizen exam given through the American Kennel Club (AKC).
According to the AKC, “Canine Good Citizen is a 10-skill test that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners.” He still has some work to do to get ready for it, but he is making great progress.
After passing that exam, he will move onto getting his therapy dog certification.
Frederick says there is not a lot of regulation over the qualifications for certification and that there are many private groups that can evaluate animals for therapy work.
After doing some research, she is strongly considering working with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Briggs will have to take a behavioral exam and once he passes it, he will be a certified therapy dog.
As for what his life as a therapy dog in-training looks like right now, he comes to
Wingate once a week to meet with students who have specifically requested time with him as well as other students who happen to have an appointment that day.
Frederick says that he is very perceptive about what each student needs. She describes students that have come in upset and crying and immediately, Briggs will put his head on their foot, lean up against their leg, or lay his head in their lap if he senses that they need that.
“He is very intuitive,” Frederick remarks, “he seems to kind of know what the student needs.”
For some students, this may mean having him cuddle in their lap while they regulate their emotions and for others, they would rather admire him from afar. When Briggs senses that a student does not need his constant contact, he will curl up in his bed against the wall and lay quietly during the appointment, always ready to provide comfort if needed.
Frederick also describes instances where students are anxious about needing to get shots. The nurse will let Briggs come in upon the students’ request and help them get through it. Frederick speaks very highly of Briggs during these situations.
She says that she is always so impressed with how he knows to go comfort the students instead of staying by her side. Even when the situation may be overwhelming for him, he stays focused on his job, occasionally looking back at Frederick for approval and reassurance.
After his days in the office, Frederick says that Briggs is often exhausted. Having to stay still and quiet while comforting between five and six clients each day takes an emotional toll on him and drains his energy. Frederick describes that at the end of the workday, Briggs will paw at her arm while she types on her computer, signaling to her that he is ready to go home.
After playing with his best friend, a yorkie mix who lives next door, he is ready to rest. He will curl up on Frederick’s lap and let her comfort him like he does for students all day. Briggs goes to bed early, only to wake up rejuvenated and as good as new the next day.
Frederick remains proud of Briggs throughout his journey of becoming a therapy dog. She says that she has seen the traits that he possesses in so many other successful therapy dogs and is excited for him to complete his training and earn his certification.
She loves being able to watch Briggs as he comforts students, advances in his behavioral classes, and develops his cute and quirky personality.
For more information on Wingate’s Counseling Center or to schedule an appointment with Melinda Frederick and Briggs, visit: https://www.wingate.edu/mygate-students/counseling-services
or contact the counseling office at (704) 233-8979 or counseling@wingate.edu.
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