Camp Courageous introduces new therapy dog

     Camp Courageous recently welcomed a new addition to its staff.

   Skye, half Irish wolf hound and half poodle, 13 weeks old, is Camp’s new therapy dog.

   Skye joined Camp in June. She is owned by Dalton Barrier, Camp’s adventure director.

   Camp’s previous therapy dog, Diamond, left just after the COVID pandemic about a year ago.

   Barrier shared that Camp worked with Superstar Service Dogs, LLC out of Mount Vernon to secure and train Skye.

   Camp noted that Skye is “quickly becoming a favorite with campers.”

   Barrier added, “Word is out that she’s here. They all love her and she loves the attention.”

   Skye’s name was chosen by campers and staff, having had three options to choose from.

   “It’s something simple for campers to remember,” said Barrier.

   As for why Barrier became Skye’s owner, it comes down to the fact that he’s the only Camp employee without a pet at the moment.

   “Running the adventure program, I’m around campers a lot and live at Camp, so it made sense,” he said.

   The poodle breed in Skye is known as the “gentle giant.” Barrier explained they’re trained so that one doesn’t have to bend down to pet the dog. Being around campers of varying disabilities and ages, it’s not always easy for a camper to come down to Skye’s level.

   Skye’s main tasks are to calm a camper’s nervousness and anxiety as they face new challenges while visiting Camp Courageous and taking part in a variety of activities. Therapy dogs also help reduce stress, aid in lessening loneliness, provide comfort, and provide a distraction should a camper be feeling overwhelmed.

   “There is a lot of anxiety for people coming out of COVID,” noted Barrier.

   Skye is still working through the first stage of an 18-month training course. There are four stages involved in her training. In addition, Skye and Barrier will have to take part in ongoing refresher courses following her completion of the therapy dog program.

   Barrier explained some of the training involves taking Skye to specific places such as different areas around Camp, a hospital, an airport, a zoo, etc.

   “We need to get her used to different environments, different noise levels, and a variety of individuals and ability levels,” he said.

   The Camp Courageous Triathlon was canceled due to weather on Aug. 6. If the event hadn’t been canceled, Barrier was planning to have Skye at Lake Todd. Skye will also make an appearance on Aug. 19 at the Camp Courageous Pineapple Gala in Cedar Rapids.

   “Basically, she’ll be at any event I’m at,” he said. “We want to include her in Camp activities.”

   During the winter months, Camp hopes to take Skye to local nursing homes and care centers and introduce her to residents there.

   Barrier, originally from Tennessee, came to Camp in 2017 after seeing a flyer on the wall at a camp he worked at in North Carolina. He was working with individuals with autism at the time.

   “That was just a summer job and I was looking for something full-time,” he said.

   With a background in athletic training, Barrier is a great fit at Camp.

   Having a therapy dog is not cheap. Skye will require ongoing veterinarian costs, as well as food, and other normal supplies one might have owning a pet. The training through Superstar Service Dogs is also expensive. This service comes with an $8,000 to $10,000 price tag.

   You can donate toward Skye’s training and ongoing needs by visiting campcourageous.org/donate-now, and mentioning Skye in the “comments” section.