Boofred's Story as told by Boofred
23/01/2018
Hi Everyone,
It’s Boofred ‘Woofy Boy’ Brown here, and I’d like to tell you the story of my life, so far…
I started life on a farm in southern NSW. It was kind of fun when I was a pup, but then, when I was old enough, I was invited to go and herd the sheep. The other dogs liked it and tried to show me how, they suggested that I have a go but each time I rejected their offer and went to find a comfortable place to sleep instead. I’ve always liked to sleep, I don’t know where the others dogs get all their energy from. One day Farmer Man took me in the car by myself and dropped me off somewhere new. It was in a shed and I went into a cage, they took photos of me and gave me some food and water. The bed was okay but could have been more comfy. I think I heard someone call it the pound. I didn’t know how long I would have to wait for Farmer Man to come back and take me home, so I settled in.
After a couple of weeks someone I’d never met came and took me to a new house, a foster home they called it. I wondered what Farmer Man would think when he came back to get me and I wasn’t there, but I like and trust people and these people seemed nice, so I was okay. My foster sister was a border collie, kind of like me but a little different. I liked her very much. Then one day a nice young couple came to visit, they seemed very interested in me and both gave me lots of pats and cuddles and took photos of me, they also brought another dog with them, she was a border collie too. The man’s name was Tom, the lady was Melissa and the border collie was Pearl. I liked them. They stayed for a while, and before they left Melissa told me she would be back in two weeks to pick me up because they decided that their home could also be my home. I was very excited because I had lived in 3 different places, and I didn’t know if it was normal to move around so much, but Melissa said I wouldn’t have to do that anymore.
As promised, two weeks later, my new family came. They looked very excited, Melissa looked like she was going to maybe explode with excitement when she saw me, luckily she didn’t. I got my own collar and lead, they didn’t have to ask me to jump in the car twice, I just jumped right in. The most amazing thing about my new home was not only that it was mine, but that I was allowed inside!! I had always been an outside dog but at my new home, in Cobram, I got to do both. The first time I saw myself in the mirror was a shock…I didn’t realise I was so handsome and when I saw the TV, it was a bit of a mystery. We all went to the Murray River for a swim, I didn’t know what a river was so I was shocked to find out that it means ‘lots of water’. My aunty Pip (a black Labrador) and Pearl ran into the river and swam to fetch a stick. I’d never gone swimming before so I watched for a second and decided that Pearl and Pip are dogs and I am also a dog, therefore if they can swim, I can swim. I ran and threw myself into the water…I kept my chest upright and let my back legs sink, while my two front paws were held up high trying to paddle. I soon realised that it wasn’t correct swimming form, mum and dad laughed a lot, but I kept practicing and now I’m a really good swimmer…just not as good as Pearl and I don't really care much for fetching sticks.
One day we had a discussion about my name. When mum and dad adopted me, they were told that my name was Boof or Roger. Mum didn’t think Roger suited me at all, she didn’t really think Boof suited me either, she said I was too handsome. So mum and dad talked about it a lot over the next few days. They thought about calling me Toby or Harry, but mum said that because I knew my name so well maybe we shouldn’t change it, but instead make it a little fancier. It was then that I became Boofred. I liked being called Woofy Boy too, so that became my middle name.
I started learning lots of things that I didn’t know, like how it’s not ok to take food from the kitchen bench or to steal a Flathead fillet while dad is cleaning his catch. I also learnt a few manners and that I must come when I am called. But mum always says that I was pretty good already because I’ve always been so calm, relaxed and gentle with people. I learnt a lot from Pearl, she seemed to be a good dog so I copied lots of the things that she did and mum and dad seemed to like that. We did lots of walks along the Murray River, which I really LOVE. We went on lots of camping and fishing adventures and once we all went on the Spirit of Tasmania and we stayed with our Tasmanian family for four weeks. This was the first time I saw an ocean beach, I was so excited I just jumped up and down on the spot until Pearl showed me what to do. We went there because mum and dad were doing that weird thing that humans do where everyone gets dressed up and mum and dad exchanged rings and said some nice things….marriage they call it.
Mum decided that she wanted to be a teacher, so she started studying really hard. I thought this was a good idea because I LOVE little people. She also decided to become a foster carer because she wanted to help dogs like me who go to pounds. She told me once that sometimes no one comes to help those dogs and that it makes her and dad very sad. So over the next few years I met many different dogs and Pearl and I showed them how to be good dogs before sending them off to their new homes.
Once mum became a teacher, she started hearing about and researching Animal-Assisted Interventions where animals help humans, and she was particularly interested in how animals can help students learn. She thought about how much I love children and how gentle I am around them and that’s when she decided that her and I would become an Animal-Assisted Intervention and Therapy Dog team. We did 6 intense days of training with the Lead the Way Psychology and Animal-Assisted Therapy Institute and Alpha Canine Professionals where they assessed us both on our ability to work as a team and work with all types of people in different situations. In one part I had to walk around a room with schmackos all over the floor and not eat them. I also got to visit a children's Karate class and an aged care facility, it was the best time. We both passed the training and got a nice certificate with both of our names on it.
Next, the best thing happened! I started visiting Savernake Public School a few times each week, where I made the best of friends. I listened to the students read books, I cuddled with them when they were upset and I ran to help them if they fell over. I greeted them when they arrived on the bus each morning and I sat with them when they were struggling with their work. They threw me a birthday party, we visited an aged care facility together and they gave me nice brushes. They would sneak me food at recess and lunch when mum wasn’t looking and they always made sure I had water in my bowl and a comfortable place to sit. I helped them not only with reading but also with writing, maths, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and with their confidence and self-esteem. I made the extra small one feel comfortable in his few weeks of orientation before starting school in 2018. I loved them and they loved me.
Mum and I started K9TEACH where we work together to help all sorts of children with their learning in whatever ways they need. We can work in schools, tutor from home or visit workplaces. You can read about this in other sections of the website. We are so excited about this and feel like we can make huge positive changet in the lives of students.
Our family is moving to The King Valley and I really hope that in 2018 I can make many more friends like the ones I did at Savernake and help them learn. Mum says that one persons trash can be another persons treasure, I'm not exactly sure what she means by that but she also says that I wasn’t cut out to be a farm working dog because I was made to do this instead.
I am an Animal-Assisted Intervention and Therapy dog and I LOVE it.
Boofred Brown
It’s Boofred ‘Woofy Boy’ Brown here, and I’d like to tell you the story of my life, so far…
I started life on a farm in southern NSW. It was kind of fun when I was a pup, but then, when I was old enough, I was invited to go and herd the sheep. The other dogs liked it and tried to show me how, they suggested that I have a go but each time I rejected their offer and went to find a comfortable place to sleep instead. I’ve always liked to sleep, I don’t know where the others dogs get all their energy from. One day Farmer Man took me in the car by myself and dropped me off somewhere new. It was in a shed and I went into a cage, they took photos of me and gave me some food and water. The bed was okay but could have been more comfy. I think I heard someone call it the pound. I didn’t know how long I would have to wait for Farmer Man to come back and take me home, so I settled in.
After a couple of weeks someone I’d never met came and took me to a new house, a foster home they called it. I wondered what Farmer Man would think when he came back to get me and I wasn’t there, but I like and trust people and these people seemed nice, so I was okay. My foster sister was a border collie, kind of like me but a little different. I liked her very much. Then one day a nice young couple came to visit, they seemed very interested in me and both gave me lots of pats and cuddles and took photos of me, they also brought another dog with them, she was a border collie too. The man’s name was Tom, the lady was Melissa and the border collie was Pearl. I liked them. They stayed for a while, and before they left Melissa told me she would be back in two weeks to pick me up because they decided that their home could also be my home. I was very excited because I had lived in 3 different places, and I didn’t know if it was normal to move around so much, but Melissa said I wouldn’t have to do that anymore.
As promised, two weeks later, my new family came. They looked very excited, Melissa looked like she was going to maybe explode with excitement when she saw me, luckily she didn’t. I got my own collar and lead, they didn’t have to ask me to jump in the car twice, I just jumped right in. The most amazing thing about my new home was not only that it was mine, but that I was allowed inside!! I had always been an outside dog but at my new home, in Cobram, I got to do both. The first time I saw myself in the mirror was a shock…I didn’t realise I was so handsome and when I saw the TV, it was a bit of a mystery. We all went to the Murray River for a swim, I didn’t know what a river was so I was shocked to find out that it means ‘lots of water’. My aunty Pip (a black Labrador) and Pearl ran into the river and swam to fetch a stick. I’d never gone swimming before so I watched for a second and decided that Pearl and Pip are dogs and I am also a dog, therefore if they can swim, I can swim. I ran and threw myself into the water…I kept my chest upright and let my back legs sink, while my two front paws were held up high trying to paddle. I soon realised that it wasn’t correct swimming form, mum and dad laughed a lot, but I kept practicing and now I’m a really good swimmer…just not as good as Pearl and I don't really care much for fetching sticks.
One day we had a discussion about my name. When mum and dad adopted me, they were told that my name was Boof or Roger. Mum didn’t think Roger suited me at all, she didn’t really think Boof suited me either, she said I was too handsome. So mum and dad talked about it a lot over the next few days. They thought about calling me Toby or Harry, but mum said that because I knew my name so well maybe we shouldn’t change it, but instead make it a little fancier. It was then that I became Boofred. I liked being called Woofy Boy too, so that became my middle name.
I started learning lots of things that I didn’t know, like how it’s not ok to take food from the kitchen bench or to steal a Flathead fillet while dad is cleaning his catch. I also learnt a few manners and that I must come when I am called. But mum always says that I was pretty good already because I’ve always been so calm, relaxed and gentle with people. I learnt a lot from Pearl, she seemed to be a good dog so I copied lots of the things that she did and mum and dad seemed to like that. We did lots of walks along the Murray River, which I really LOVE. We went on lots of camping and fishing adventures and once we all went on the Spirit of Tasmania and we stayed with our Tasmanian family for four weeks. This was the first time I saw an ocean beach, I was so excited I just jumped up and down on the spot until Pearl showed me what to do. We went there because mum and dad were doing that weird thing that humans do where everyone gets dressed up and mum and dad exchanged rings and said some nice things….marriage they call it.
Mum decided that she wanted to be a teacher, so she started studying really hard. I thought this was a good idea because I LOVE little people. She also decided to become a foster carer because she wanted to help dogs like me who go to pounds. She told me once that sometimes no one comes to help those dogs and that it makes her and dad very sad. So over the next few years I met many different dogs and Pearl and I showed them how to be good dogs before sending them off to their new homes.
Once mum became a teacher, she started hearing about and researching Animal-Assisted Interventions where animals help humans, and she was particularly interested in how animals can help students learn. She thought about how much I love children and how gentle I am around them and that’s when she decided that her and I would become an Animal-Assisted Intervention and Therapy Dog team. We did 6 intense days of training with the Lead the Way Psychology and Animal-Assisted Therapy Institute and Alpha Canine Professionals where they assessed us both on our ability to work as a team and work with all types of people in different situations. In one part I had to walk around a room with schmackos all over the floor and not eat them. I also got to visit a children's Karate class and an aged care facility, it was the best time. We both passed the training and got a nice certificate with both of our names on it.
Next, the best thing happened! I started visiting Savernake Public School a few times each week, where I made the best of friends. I listened to the students read books, I cuddled with them when they were upset and I ran to help them if they fell over. I greeted them when they arrived on the bus each morning and I sat with them when they were struggling with their work. They threw me a birthday party, we visited an aged care facility together and they gave me nice brushes. They would sneak me food at recess and lunch when mum wasn’t looking and they always made sure I had water in my bowl and a comfortable place to sit. I helped them not only with reading but also with writing, maths, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and with their confidence and self-esteem. I made the extra small one feel comfortable in his few weeks of orientation before starting school in 2018. I loved them and they loved me.
Mum and I started K9TEACH where we work together to help all sorts of children with their learning in whatever ways they need. We can work in schools, tutor from home or visit workplaces. You can read about this in other sections of the website. We are so excited about this and feel like we can make huge positive changet in the lives of students.
Our family is moving to The King Valley and I really hope that in 2018 I can make many more friends like the ones I did at Savernake and help them learn. Mum says that one persons trash can be another persons treasure, I'm not exactly sure what she means by that but she also says that I wasn’t cut out to be a farm working dog because I was made to do this instead.
I am an Animal-Assisted Intervention and Therapy dog and I LOVE it.
Boofred Brown