Hero Sprites and Dals

04/20/2025

Welcome to Hero Sprites and Dals! As we’ve gotten more interest in our breedings that we’ve done in our Windsprites, I’ve decided that I wanted to switch my training profile over to a page where I can better showcase everything I do with the dogs and give information on future plans. I didn’t want to lose all of my past photos and videos of client work I’ve done, so I’ve decided this makes the most sense.

So hello! I’m Monica Callahan, I currently reside in North Charleston, SC and I have two Dalmatians and two Windsprites. While I have not felt that I am ready to delve into the breeding of Dalmatians, I have had a lot of guidance in the world of Windsprites. We have had two litters of Windsprites, with our current male coming from the first breeding.

Disco is now spayed, but is our first Windsprite (smooth), who was on a breeding contract with her breeders. She loves agility, racing, scent work, and rally! Hip Hop is her son and is one of the best therapy dogs I’ve worked with. He loves racing and has dabbled in rally and scent work. Both are still working on their conformation championship due to being so far from shows and Covid throwing a wrench in our showing plans.

While we don’t currently have a breeding female, who knows what the future holds! We adore raising puppies in our family home and utilize and integrating my own training plans as a certified professional dog trainer. Parents are always health tested before breeding and puppies go home at 9-10 weeks with a good start on potty training and crate training.

A bit more about me, I have been a certified Karen Pryor dog trainer since 2012 after graduating with my Pre-Vet and Biology degrees. I used to be a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. I am now a full time Education and Marketing Manager for . My husband and I have been together since we were 14 and have two beautiful children, 11 and 12.

We hope you enjoy following along and I look forward to finally having a new purpose for this account. 🫶

04/01/2025

The ACVO®/Epicur Service Animal Volunteer Eye Screening is a philanthropic event that provides free, ocular screening eye exams to qualified Service & Working Animals each May. These exams are provided by those members of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists® who choose to participate and volunteer their time and resources. The program benefits formally trained working animals who selflessly care for us all. Registration is open April 1st - 30th annually. Approximately 8,000 eye exams are provided across the United States of America, Canada, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Spain, and the United Kingdom each May.

Registration is now available through April 30th.

https://www.acvoeyeexam.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1MCNxj1_I-LkZqcEWKspUpBqZl09MhRdD7kOJKafRFm1yPpVnCYTDalHQ_aem_3VK2GQkq8WxU0dvojS4u9w

03/18/2025

“We have proudly been serving the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) for more than 20 years. We are very familiar with the ins and outs of your operations and strive to continue to keep up with any changes this organization undertakes. One specific aspect of the insurance that is imperative to keep in mind while moving forward is the ATD Member Handbook. The ATD Member Handbook is how the insurance company laid the groundwork for this policy. The insurance company will continue to insure based on the guidelines in the ATD Member Handbook as long as they are not deviated from. Due to the scope of ATD operations there are very few companies that are willing accept this risk. We could not be more grateful to the Members following these guidelines so closely, and the ATD Staff for enforcing them so diligently.

For example, there was a large sized dog on a certified visit at a senior facility while visiting patients. The dog jumped up on the bed and happened to scratch an elderly individual. While this may seem minor to some, this did have to be turned into the insurance company and started a large claims process. Had the rules been followed the way they are laid out in the ATD Member Handbook, this incident could have been avoided.”

- Will, Insurance Agent

We are thankful for a knowledgeable insurance agent who has taken the time to get to know our organization and supports us and our work. It is important that our Members realize that following all ATD Rules and Regulations will allow our teams to continue their work for many years to come. We are grateful for our Members who stay up to date on our rules and do their best to abide by them at all times as this helps mitigate claims on our insurance. When our teams do their part, it allows us to do ours. ❤️🐾

02/25/2025

🐾 Did you know...

There are two exclusive Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) coloring pages in your ATD Member Portal? You can find these under the ATD Merchandise and Donations button! At the bottom of the page you will find two ATD coloring pages and our QR codes leading to the website or donation page. Coloring pages can be a great low cost giveaway item at your event, booth, or visit!

01/29/2025

My favorite part of my business Instagram is being able to look back at all my beautiful clients and their dogs. It makes me smile and remember so many memories. As you can tell I’ve been a little quiet here. I spent the second half of last year ramping down my training business and focusing more on marketing and content creation. With the start of the new year, I did officially start a full time job. I haven’t necessarily shut my business down, and I am keeping my certification current, but I will not be taking any clients in the foreseeable future. Love your trainers yall, it’s a very hard, tiring job. Burn out is real, exhaustion is real. But I can tell you, I spent those six months not doing much training at all, even with my own dogs. I didn’t find the joy in it. But these past few weeks I’ve been building small sessions with my dogs all on my own. A handful of treats here, a handful here, and it’s beginning to make me smile again. And I think my dogs are enjoying it too. So here’s to finding the love of training again with my own dogs. 🫶

01/10/2025

As you're preparing for another year of therapy dog work, take time to check in with your dog during your visit to make sure they are still feeling comfortable and enjoying themselves. It is perfectly acceptable to end a visit early if you notice any discomfort with your dog. Ending a visit early may prevent an accident from happening and is an important part of advocating for your dog.

01/07/2025

🚨Wanted!🚨

ATD is looking for new Tester/Observers (T/Os) to continue spreading the word about our organization and to help lessen the load on our current T/Os. Have you been looking for another way to spread the joy you receive when on a therapy dog visit with your dog? Have you considered being a role model for other ATD teams? T/Os know and follow all ATD Rules and Regulations and can convey them to new and prospective members. T/Os must have good people skills and can communicate effectively and tactfully with other people.

T/Os are volunteers and get to make their own testing schedule. ATD requires that T/Os respond to all inquiries within 10 days of receipt, and offer to begin the ATD Certification Test within 3 months of the prospective member contacting them. ATD believes this allows for a lot of flexibility for our T/Os. If, at any point, T/Os need to take a leave of absence or are feeling overwhelmed, they can contact the ATD Office for direction.

If you're interested in learning more about becoming a T/O, please contact the ATD Office for more information and to receive an application packet:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 307-432-0272

12/30/2024

🎆Happy New year 🎆

🌟 Out with the old, in with recognizing that handling is a skill that requires continuous learning and refinement

Prioritize staff education, ongoing training, and clear SOPs to elevate handling practices and outcomes. As one of my favorite animal trainers, Ken Ramirez says, advanced training is simply the basics done exceptionally well—this applies to handling too!

🌟Key foundations include
Assess Body Language & Preferences: Understanding body language and adapting techniques to suit each animal’s comfort and needs.

Effective Communication: Collaborate with the team and caregivers

Gentle Handling: Assessing the animal’s body language and being flexible with handling techniques based on the animal’s individual preference. Allow them to maintain their chosen position and vary your touch with their response

Handling Plans: Ensure clear communication of roles and responsibilities, specifying who will perform each task, the order of procedures, etc. Manage stressors, outline procedures, identify the patient’s needs and wants, and implement strategies tailored to the animal’s needs, ensuring safety for all involved.

Always strive to prevent, reduce, or address fear, anxiety, and pain. There are always steps we can take to minimize fear, stress, and pain including creating a comfortable environment that reduces or prevents common stressors for animals

Approaching handling critically and treating it as a skill benefits everyone—it saves time, enhances safety, reduces stress for animals and humans, saves money, and fosters happier, more engaged staff. Let’s keep evolving to create better, safer experiences for all! 🐾

To learn more, follow me! Chirrups and Chatter offers handling lectures and workshops, with additional resources available at chirrupsandchatter.com. You can also check out fearfreepets.com and icatcare.com for more

12/11/2024

When I say you get close to your clients, you get close. I’ve walked the poodle boys weekly for over a year and today mama is saying goodbye to the oldest boy, Gunner. 🫶 You will be missed sweet boy. Your mama will miss you so much.

12/08/2024

Did you know in order to be nominated for the ATD Outstanding Member Award you must be a Member in good standing? There are a few key points that make you a Member in good standing, including paying dues, logging your visits, having a healthy dog, and following the Rules and Regulations set forth by ATD and our insurance company. This applies to Junior Handlers as well.

ATD recommends taking a few minutes to look over the new 2025 ATD Member Handbook for any Rules and Regulations that have changed. Every year, the Board of Directors go over questions and concerns presented to ATD throughout the year and make any necessary changes. Staying up to date on these changes helps you stay a Member in good standing. ATD recently published a webinar on this year's rule changes. You can find this in your recent email blast from the ATD Office or the ATD YouTube channel!

12/03/2024

11/29/2024

This weekend, please keep Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) in mind when you are beginning to donate for the holidays. ATD has been committed to certifying and providing insurance for our therapy dog teams for over 30 years. Our teams work on a volunteer basis, which means the work they do is free of charge and out of the goodness of their heart. ATD currently certifies and insures over 18,000 therapy dog teams in The United States of America, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

You can donate directly through our Harness Giving app here:

https://therapydogs.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amount=50&campaign_id=0

We encourage our Members to consider Facebook fundraisers for their birthdays or during the holidays. ATD now has an endowment fund and we accept donations directly to the ATD Office. For more information on the endowment fund or donations to the ATD Office, please email: [email protected].

Thank you for considering ATD this holiday season! ❄

10/18/2024

Fall is an enjoyable time; the weather cools off and everyone begins looking forward to the many holidays that occur in the last half of the year. Halloween is an especially enjoyable time with therapy dogs because many people love seeing dogs dressed up in cute bandanas and costumes. As volunteers, we should always make sure our dogs are enjoying themselves while on a visit. Check out our recent blog post for four ways to make sure your dog is enjoying their Halloween therapy dog visits! 🎃👻🦇

https://www.therapydogs.com/four-ways-to-make-sure-your-dog-enjoys-halloween/

09/22/2024

Following careful consideration and review of our financial requirements, the Board of Directors has decided to raise the annual membership dues by $5. This change is required to keep up with rising insurance costs and to provide effective resources and support to our membership. Thank you for your understanding and for being a part of Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

January 1, 2025 renewals are eligible to begin the renewal process on October 1, 2024. Renewal forms can be found in your member portal. The increase in membership dues is effective October 1, 2024.

- Single membership - $35 (formerly $30)
- Additional dog(s) - $15 each (formerly $10 each)
- Additional handler(s) - $15 each (formerly $10 each)
- Supporting membership - $20 (no increase)

09/17/2024

Do not forget to keep an open line of communication with your facilities. Make sure you are up to date on what facility procedures are in case of an emergency. This will not only keep you and your dog safe during an emergency, but those you visit as well. Facilities may not remember to share these procedures with you, so you may need to ask.

09/08/2024

Have an adolescent?

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.