Pippi

Pippi, a golden retriever and Labrador retriever mix, lives a life of purpose. Her meticulous training is called into action daily by Micah Nash and his parents, Andy and Heather Nash.

On one particular day, Micah dropped to the floor and stared at the ceiling of a small grocery store in Missouri. Heather commanded Pippi to “nudge.” Immediately, Pippi used her nose to remind Micah to stand up and resume his position at her side. Micah laughed as he got up and again grasped his part of Pippi’s leash.

Why is a dog in a grocery store? Pippi is not a pet dog. She is a skilled companion dog, trained by Canine Companions for Independence. Her job is to assist Micah in dealing with his autism. She wears a blue and gold vest proclaiming her status as a service dog whenever she is in public.

People often ask to pet her. Pippi is trained to take the attention in stride, responding promptly to Heather’s commands. Heather answers most questions now, but in the future, Micah will be given more opportunities to interact verbally with the people around him.

One of Pippi’s duties is to accompany Micah to restaurants. She curls into a ball under his table, ready to help Micah focus on the world around him. At the command “visit,” she will lay her head in Micah’s lap. This grounds him in the reality of the present.

During every family outing, Micah will increase his hard-earned verbal skills by giving Pippi commands, such as “sit” and “down.” But Pippi’s job doesn’t end when the family goes home. Over time, Micah will become more responsible for Pippi’s care. This will help him expand his conversation skills with peers and family.

When Pippi is “off duty,” Micah and his brother chase her wildly through the house. And Pippi, released from her duties, behaves like any dog loved by two rambunctious boys.