therapy dog

Valentine Special on Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Book Series

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog book series is great for the young and old in your life to give the gift of love, hope, and inspiration.  In honor of the day devoted to love, Valentine’s Day, we are running a special on our book series.

Regularly $14.95, they are now $10.00 each along with shipping reduced to half!  But hurry, this offer will end Feb. 14th, 2011, but the gift of Frankie’s stories will live on in the hearts of your loved ones for a long time to come.

PS:  Even if you don’t give as a Valentine gift, Frankie books make great birthday gifts or for upcoming holidays such as Easter so this is a great time to stock up!  Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House also makes a great gift for the elderly in your lives.

Each copy ordered will be autographed by author Barbara Techel and pawtographed by Frankie!

Order your copies today!

 

A true, inspirational story about a dachshund whose life started out just like any other dog walking on all four paws until a spinal injury leaves her paralyzed. Frankie is custom-fitted for a wheelchair and learns to keep on rolling. Her zest for life will have you cheering and she will give you hope that all things are possible. Frankie will leave an everlasting and loving paw print on your heart. A book for all ages to teach overcoming challenges and also compassion for the physically challenged.


Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog keeps rolling along in her doggie wheelchair. This paralyzed dachshund’ unabashed healing, exuberant spirit, and spunky personality is a blessed gift to everyone she befriends. In this true, inspirational story, Frankie tells how she became a registered therapy dog and shares her visits to Libby’s House, a senior facility where many residents have Alzheimer’s or dementia. Frankie teaches us that patience, listening, and understanding opens our hearts to what matters most-love.

Filling Our Buckets

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’m sure you have heard of a bucket list, right?  Your list of things to do before you kick the bucket.

Well, recently I was contacted by a teacher in Wisconsin and a huge part of what they will be teaching this year is how to fill other people’s buckets in order to fill your own.  When she came across Frankie and me and our lessons we teach, she asked if we would be part of their bucket teachings this year.  We are in the planning stages of having Frankie as the grand finale this spring to drive home the valuable lessons of filling others buckets…. and it is going to be so much fun!!

As a volunteer therapy dog team with Frankie I can’t tell you how often my bucket is filled to the brim every time we visit the hospital, elderly or hospice.  Many times it is beyond words for me to describe because it leaves my heart so full of joy.


Frankie visiting with a sweet, elderly woman.  How can this not fill your bucket?

So today when I ran across this quote, I could not believe how perfect it was!  I immediately sent it off to the teacher in Wisconsin and now share with you:

We all have an invisible bucket
And that is a great way to picture our feelings.
When our bucket is full we are having positive feelings
 …Joyful, happy, …grateful.
When our buckets are empty we might be sad or angry
…Or any of these negative feelings.
We can choose to be a bucket filler or a bucket dipper.
A bucket filler helps make other people feel good
By the things we do and say;
A bucket dipper does just the opposite.
The best way to keep our bucket full,
Is to fill other people’s buckets.
 …We are in charge of our buckets, all the time.

~Stacey Lundgren

So how do you fill your bucket?  I’d love to hear!!

Media Release: Two Canine Celebrities Join Forces to Teach Fire Safety and Help Others with Special Needs

Posted by Barbara Techel

This is going to be so incredibily fun!!  I met Dayna Hilton, volunteer Firefighter, Author and Educator and her dog Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog via Facebook about a year ago.  We have corresponded weekly and our passion of helping children, along with our special dogs, has us coming together to actually finally meet in person… and dog!  Along with Frankie and Sparkles’, Dayna and I will do some very special projects while they are here in Wisconsin (traveling from Arkansas), so I wanted you all to be the first to know!

 

TWO CANINE CELEBRITIES JOIN FORCES TO TEACH FIRE SAFETY AND HELP OTHERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Two Dogs Rollin’: Frankie and Sparkles Big Adventure 2010
Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Shows Local School Children How To Get Low and Go and
Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Encourages School Children to Help those with Special Needs

Friday, April 9th, 2010 10:30am and 1:00pm

WHO: Sparkles, a fire safety savvy Dalmatian resplendent in her red service vest along with her human mom, educator and volunteer firefighter Dayna Hilton.
Frankie, an exuberant disabled dachshund outfitted with special harness to help her walk along with her human mom, author and educator, Barbara Techel.
Elkhart Lake/Glenbeulah Elementary School
Western Canada Elementary School

WHAT: History in the making! After meeting on Facebook and Skype this past year, Sparkles and Dayna travel from Arkansas to meet Barbara and Frankie at their home in Wisconsin. They are coming together for this first time ever event to help children stay safe in case of a fire, and to encourage children to be of service by helping those with special needs. They will first present in person (and dog!) to elementary students at Elkhart Lake/Glenbeulah Elementary School. They will sign books and pose for photos. They will then present via webcam and the technology of Skype from Barbara’s home in Elkhart Lake to Karen Keys, teacher librarian, and students from a elementary school in western Canada.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. and 1:00pm, April 9th, 2010

WHERE: Elkhart Lake/Glenbeulah Elementary School at 10:30am followed by 1:00pm presentation via Skype from Barbara and Frankie’s home in Elkhart Lake.

WHY: As children follow the adventures of Sparkles, they learn valuable fire safety tips enabling them and their families to keep safe. These tips include recognizing the firefighter as a helper and friend, knowing the sound and purpose of a smoke alarm, learning how to crawl low under smoke, and understanding the importance of practicing a home fire drill using an escape map. Also as children follow the adventures of Frankie, they learn how to be positive when faced with any challenge. They learn despite a challenge they can be of service and help out in their communities. Along with Sparkles, Frankie will encourage children to be aware of those with special needs in the event of a fire to help them stay safe as well.

VISUALS: Sparkles, Dayna, Frankie, and Barbara will show:

· How Sparkles teaches children to get low and go in case of a fire
· How to get low and go to your outside meeting place
· Knowing the sound and importance of smoke alarms
· The importance of being of service and helping those with physical challenges stay safe.
· Sparkles and Dayna’s book “Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.”
· Frankie and Barbara’s “Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog” book series.

OTHER: Both dogs love children, educating them on fire safety and being of service and going to work, while both mom’s of these special dogs are grateful for the opportunities their dogs have brought them and are passionate in helping and encouraging children of all ages. For more information please visit their blog http://www.frankieandsparkles.com/