A tiny Chihuahua named Ivy was one of three puppies abandoned in a box and thrown in a dumpster. Luckily, someone found the puppy-filled box before it was too late. This allowed an animal rescue to give them the medical care they needed and prepare them for forever homes. Ivy would eventually become a beloved Chihuahua therapy dog, bringing joy and comfort to many as a chihuahua therapy dog.
Little did anyone know, Ivy would defy all odds and take on unexpected roles for a Chihuahua.
Ivy Comes Home
Jennifer Walker and her husband, Bill, fell in love with Ivy immediately. She reminded them of Charlie, one of their other Chihuahuas. When they visited the rescue, they hadn’t planned on adopting a dog, but they couldn’t say no to Ivy’s sweet little face.
“It was love at first sight when I set eyes on her. She was friendly, curious, and that white stripe that comes down her nose to the right was perfectly imperfect,” Jennifer said.
Ivy’s name at the rescue was Rose, but Jennifer changed it to Ivy to match the names of her other dogs, Charlie and Daisy, which were all inspired by Downton Abbey characters.

The Importance of a Chihuahua Therapy Dog
When Jennifer enrolled Ivy in puppy obedience training, the little dog thrived and caught the instructor’s attention. The instructor, who was also a therapy dog handler, told Jennifer that her new puppy had the ideal qualities for a Chihuahua therapy dog. She was small, friendly, and adored people.
“I took that to heart and continued with her training,” Jennifer said.
The journey of a Chihuahua therapy dog like Ivy inspires others to consider the impact of therapy animals.
Ivy passed the Canine Good Citizen test and earned the AKC Community Canine title. With that, she was ready to become a therapy dog. She visited patients at a local medical center, charming them with her fun-loving and welcoming attitude as a Chihuahua therapy dog.
As a Chihuahua therapy dog, Ivy brought joy and comfort to many patients.
Yet, after three years of therapy dog work, Jennifer saw that her canine companion wasn’t enjoying it as much as she used to. She felt that Ivy would benefit from something new and more engaging. So, it was time for the next adventure.

Moving on to Agility Training
Ivy’s next role was dog sports. Despite being much smaller than most dogs practicing agility, Ivy thrived in the energetic environment. She mastered 50 tricks and ran 18.5 mph in a 100-yard dash. She is the first Chihuahua to earn a Fast CAT title, and she’s the highest-ranked Chihuahua in the sport.
“Thanks to Ivy, we have traveled to a mix of areas to compete in Fast CAT and Agility. I never considered running agility, but I enrolled her in a class to see if that was something she would like. And she did, in a heartbeat!” Jennifer said.
Ivy hasn’t slowed down as she has aged. She runs fast and jumps better than ever. Most importantly, she seems overjoyed to participate. As soon as she sees the agility building, she becomes ecstatic and starts squeaking and whining.
“We are typically the only Chihuahua team competing at most trials. That draws plenty of positive comments from others about how much fun it is to watch her run. They add how smooth a runner she is and how much she seems to enjoy competing,” Jennifer said.

Even as she took on new roles, Ivy’s experience as a Chihuahua therapy dog remained an essential part of her life.
A Dog’s Past Doesn’t Define Them
Ivy’s story as a Chihuahua therapy dog exemplifies the resilience and joy that can come from adopting a dog.
If you saw Ivy, you’d never guess that she was once a frail puppy abandoned in a dumpster. After years of providing therapy and tackling the dog agility world, she’s one of the strongest dogs out there. Even outside of agility and therapy, she goes on so many other adventures with her family.
“I have taken her bike riding, secured in a backpack on my back. She enjoys riding through the woods with the wind in her face. We now have a small bike trailer to use behind our bikes for the dogs to be secured in,” Jennifer said.
The bond between Jennifer and Ivy is part of why the little dog is as strong and adventurous as she is today. She had a rough start to life, but all it took was some love and support to help her thrive. Every day, she defies stereotypes about tiny dogs and shows the world that her past doesn’t define her.
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