Woof!!
My name is Tigger, and like the Tigger in Winnie the Pooh, I have always been very bouncy. I work with READing Paws because I love books and children. If you have already read to me, then you already know that!
I was born on December 22, 2005 in Dawsonville, Georgia. I am a Boston Terrier. I had many brothers and sisters, called “litter mates.” I was the pup that all the other puppies picked on. But Aliza, my Pet Partner, knew I was special because I was always the first puppy to run over to humans every time one came near my puppy pen. I was a people dog right from the start.
Because my partner’s Mom lived at a residence for seniors, I started visiting with older people when I was 8 weeks old. I was just about the size of a guinea pig. My partner would hold me for people to pet. I loved it. When Aliza’s Mom had to go to the hospital, I became a hospital dog. The nurses let Aliza sneak me into the senior wing because they knew playing with me would make people happy.
By the time I was 10 weeks old, I could chase and retrieve a toy, sit when asked, and walk on a leash without pulling. At five months old, I started more training with other dogs in a class. I was the smallest dog in the class. Most of the other dogs were very large. Two of my classmates were Great Danes, one of the largest breeds. I learned faster than any other dog in my class. When I was 7 months old I earned my Canine Good Citizenship award from the American Kennel Club. That meant that I had excellent manners.
Even though my manners are so good, Aliza had to wait until I was one year old to pass a test with her in order to become a Pet Partners team with Delta Society, a therapy animal group. In the meantime, I took more classes with Aliza doing things like obstacle courses and jumping through hoops. Now I am therapy dog working with people who enjoy my company.
I live with Aliza, my sister Zoë who is a 75 pound white Boxer, and my newest sister Pinky. She is a Boston Terrier like me, but she is a lot older than me because she was rescued from a place where she had been kept in a cage for many years by some bad people. If you write to me, I will send you their pictures.
When I am not working, I love to play fetch. I know all my toys by name. My favorite toy is a furry skunk. At night, I sleep in Aliza’s bed under the covers. Every morning when we wake up, Aliza tells me, “A day without Tigger is like a day without sunshine.”
If you e-mail me, I will tell you all about my new classes in agility. I get to play on a see-saw, run through tunnels and jump across gates! There is a lot more to tell, so write to me and I’ll write back.You can email me at Tigger@READingPaws.org