Sophie May: More than just a dog
Leslie Stewart, career counseling and support services intern, has proven that good things come to those who wait. As a counselor on a quest for the perfect puppy, she told her favorite breeder she was looking to use a dog as her therapy partner. Stewart, an experienced animal trainer, shares, “Dogs are easy to train. Their intuition and trainability is the perfect fit for counseling.” She recalls, “I waited a year and a half for the right pup.” Then, her breeder introduced her to Sophie May.
Sophie, a white plush-coat German shepherd, is of rare form. Stewart explains, “The white coat is recessive for German shepherds.” Sophie is a flat back German shepherd and of a working line breed. Stewart explains that “working line” means Sophie is “a dog with a job.” Stewart remembers when she first met Sophie saying, “When I met Sophie she looked like a baby polar bear. We’ve been inseparable ever since.”
Sophie, who is now four years old, has served as a therapy dog at SCAD Atlanta for three years. This begs the question: how does a dog become therapeutic? Stewart answers, “I didn’t train her to be therapeutic. I trained her to be obedient.” Sophie’s obedient and people-friendly personality is a result of ongoing training and regular socialization exercises. Anyone who doubts Sophie’s credentials should speak with Stewart who says, “Sophie is more than just a good dog. She’s carefully trained. She is a qualified professional in her own right.”
Stewart began her career in counseling after positive experiences with equine-assisted therapy. She explains, “I grew up riding horses competitively. I was certified to teach riding lessons and offered therapeutic riding lessons to children with a wide range of disabilities.” Stewart says that animals and humans have a special relationship, “I believe in the natural ability for humans and animals to bring out the best in each other.”
Sophie brings positive energy to students but in a way that only a dog can. “It’s nice to walk into a room of tired, stressed students and watch them interact with Sophie and each other. It really speaks to a place in someone’s heart that us counselors can’t get to,” says Stewart.
In three years, Stewart has witnessed growth in Sophie’s abilities. She explains, “We’re often called in to respond to triage events. Sophie has gotten a lot better at identifying folks that counselors should pay more attention to and she is always right.” Sophie may be Stewart’s loyal counseling partner with a keen intuition but she is also still a dog.
Like all professionals, Sophie has distinctive “work” and “home” personalities. “Sophie is very professional at work and at home very mischievous,” Stewart reveals. The downside to having an intelligent dog is catching them opening doors, cabinets and sometimes the refrigerator. Stewart admits, “Sophie is a terrible, terrible food thief. One time she ate two pounds of margarine and I had to call animal poison control.”
When Stewart isn’t managing Sophie’s mischief or bringing her to Spring House for Therapy Dog Nights, one can find her at Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in counselor education and practice. Her primary research is in animal-assisted therapy.
Click here to read Leslie Stewart’s article on animal-assisted therapy titled, “Creature Comforts.”
If you’re interested in attending a Dog Therapy Night with Sophie May please send your appointment request to atlcounseling@scad.edu.
