Being away at college means missing many things, such as home-cooked meals, showering without shoes on and, for many, one’s pets. Hobart, one of Lawrence University’s therapy dogs, offers a solution to those missing their furry friends, or simply those seeking a unique method of stress relief. You may have even seen Hobart’s business card floating around campus.
You can spot Hobart every Tuesday at Warch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with his owner, Jane Nolan, who has been a therapy dog handler and evaluator for more than 30 years. Currently, Nolan and Hobart are working with Canine Companions, an organization dedicated to providing service dogs for those in need free of cost. This includes service dogs and therapy dogs, such as Hobart.
“[Hobart] went through 18 months of puppy raising and five out of six months of professional training, but he’s a little distractible, and he pulls on the leash, so he washed out. Only 50% of the puppies make it all the way through to be a service dog, so it’s not unusual. You have to be pretty perfect to be a service dog,” Nolan said.
During her time as a therapy dog handler and evaluator, Nolan has been able to experience the positive impact therapy dogs such as Hobart bring to the lives of others.
“I’ve had various dogs in various cities and states, and I really enjoy what it brings to people and situations,” Nolan said. “I began a relationship with Canine Companions probably about four years ago, and ended up adopting Hobart a year ago, and now we’re here in Wisconsin.”
Hobart, who turned 3 years old in November, is a golden retriever and lab mix. Like Hobart, all of Canine Companions’ dogs are either golden retrievers, labs or a hybrid of the two, as these dog breeds work best as service animals. Although Hobart is the same breed as other therapy dogs Nolan has had in the past, he is unique for several reasons.
“I’ve had a couple [therapy dogs] that were very, very focused. Hobart is very well-trained, but he’s just a little wheels-off. And I like that, because I think his personality speaks to the young people at the university,” Nolan said. “I just think Hobart is very engaging. He can look at you with his big brown eyes, and you just want to tell him your secrets, and he loves using people’s laps for pillows.”
As a therapy dog, Hobart provides emotional comfort and support for those around him. Additionally, at Lawrence, Hobart allows students a chance to interact with a pet again, as many have dogs of their own at home.
“I think [Hobart] is a good relaxing agent. If there’s any stress, he kind of softens the edges. I know a lot of students, if they just see us down the hallway, they’ll just brighten up because they miss dogs that are probably back at their homes, whether it’s a couple hours away or many hours away in another country,” Nolan said.
Even for those without pets of their own, Hobart’s friendliness creates a welcoming space for students to adjust to dogs as well as work through their stress.
“I’ve run into a couple students that have never been around dogs before or don’t feel comfortable with them, and he’s a very well-trained dog, so he helps them get used to and get comfortable with dogs,” Nolan said. “And he’s just a big, cuddly mass of fur, and he’s a good conversation starter, so we might have people just sit down and just start talking about stuff, and Hobart’s a good bridge to begin that process.”