Denver

Denver is a fun-loving, adorable, sweet and playful chocolate lab with a huge heart. She teaches us how to be kind, selfless, loving and reminds us through her actions, to enjoy the little things in life. 

Denver was born on February 24, 2018, and was just 8 weeks old when she joined our family roster, “Team Straus.” She was 9 pounds of puppy love and instantly stole the heart of her mom, dad, sister, and brother. However, her doggie big sister, Coco, thought she was annoying and needed a little convincing before accepting her.

So we taught Coco a trick called, “Hug Denver.” We’d sit them side by side so Coco could wrap her front paws around Denver’s neck. Big treats followed each “hug” and soon, they were inseparable. With her dark chocolate coat and playful spirit, Denver became best buddies with Coco (a milk chocolate-colored lab mix). We lovingly called them The Double Fudges.

Named after our love for the mountains, Denver is always ready for adventures; whether it’s hiking, swimming, jumping waves at the beach, or chasing snowballs. Tell her “On the mark, get set, GO!” and she’ll fly into the water, especially if there’s a tennis ball involved (her favorite toy of all time). When Denver’s not outdoors, she enjoys laying up side down on the couch, snuggling in front of the fireplace and munching on her favorite snacks - berries and cucumbers. A couple of her unique talents include unwrapping gifts and solving her puppy treat puzzles.

Denver’s best buddies are Sophie, Zoe, Kirby, Charlie, Lettie, Katie and Olive. But she is always excited to meet new friends - furry or human.

Goofy, sweet, and super smart, Denver trained hard to become a therapy dog. She learned to stay calm in crowds, ride elevators, tackle stairs, handle loud noises, and most importantly-share her love. During training, we discovered her superpower: her silky-soft ears. They make her the best listener, secret keeper, and smile maker.

Denver splits her time between Florida and Utah and brings joy to schools, hospitals, libraries, and events in both locations. She turns cloudy days into sunny ones and has a special way of melting in your heart.

Denver is tall-wagging ball of love and our wet-nosed angel on earth. We love her endlessly!

Teddy

Teddy was born in Joplin, Missouri. Teddy got his name because when we got him, as a puppy, he was dark brown, and looked like a teddy bear.

Teddy loves to go on walks, hike, car rides, and going through the car wash. He does not realize that he is a small dog. All of his doggy friends are big dogs. After Teddy gets his paws washed, or gets out of the bath, he gets the zoomies. He runs around the house like a crazy boy. Teddy likes to walk on his hind legs and jumping through hoops.

What Teddy likes the most about being a therapy dog is the people: the seniors at the nursing home, the teens at the high school, and the younger kids in the reading programs.

Teddy travels a great deal to Chicago, via airplane. His first flight was at eight weeks old. One of his playmates is the neighbors, Bernese Mountain Dog - Gracie. He also love to play with Dutch, who is also a therapy dog. He loves to play with any dogs that are much, much bigger then he is.

Bennett

Bennett came into our lives just when we needed him most. After the loss of our beloved female Bernese Mountain Dog, our hearts felt empty - until Bennett filled that void with his goofy charm and boundless affection.

We found his ad on KSL: “Free to a great home.” He had grown too large for his petite, elderly owner and struggled with the St. George heat. As soon as we saw his picture, we called the number and jumped in the car. It was love at first sight.

Bennett immediately embraced his new life. He thrived in our spacious backyard, enjoyed daily hikes in the cooler Wasatch Mountains, and adored our horses. Now, at two years old, we’re still discovering the many wonderful qualities of his breed.

On Monday and Friday mornings, Bennett heads to Wasatch High School, where he welcomes students in the commons area. He’s always surrounded by a crowd of smiling teens, soaking up their hugs and attention. But Bennett has a special gift- he seems to sense the student who needs him most. More than once, he has gently pulled me toward someone, refusing to move until he’s by their side. Often, these students don’t even realize they need comfort-but Bennett does. I’ve watched him calm, console, and connect with them, simply by sitting on their feet and staying close.

Bennett also visits Timpanogos Middle School, where he supports students in a Special Needs Classroom. There, he joins them for walks, performs tricks to make them laugh, offers hugs, and is often called upon to ease anxiety during challenging moments.

Though we’re still new to this work, Bennett and I share a passion for helping others. He may be young, but he’s already making a difference- one big, furry hug at a time. We’re proud to be a team, and honored to share the joy of Bennett the Bernese with those who need him most.

Marlie

Marlie is a 9 year old Goldendoodle from Pleasant View, Utah, who’s starting an exciting new chapter as part of Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs. The youngest of her “pack” with four human siblings, Marlie has been bringing joy, laughter, and a little bit of mischief to her family her whole life.

She’s a lover of long walks (especially the shady parts), water play, pool floats, and paddleboarding. If you’ve got cheese, meat, or any kind of treat, she’ll be your new best friend - she somehow hears snack time even from the deepest nap! Marlie has never met a stranger; if you start to pet her, she’ll happily return the love and might just stay by your side.

Whether she’s visiting hospitals, schools, or community events, Marlie is ready to share her gentle snuggles and bring comfort to anyone who needs a little extra love. At home, she follows her people everywhere, and if left alone…well, let’s just say socks, shorts, and the occasional roll of toilet paper don’t stand a chance.

Playful, loving, and endlessly social, Marlie is truly a 12/10best dog ever- and she can’t wait to meet new friends on her therapy dog adventures..

George

George was born in minnesota, but his wagging tail has traveled far beyond state lines- visiting wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, colorado, idaho, wyoming, arizona, & new mexico. He does have a few more states he’d like to visit!

George’s favorite activities include playing fetch (but never returning the ball), going on walks & hikes, being petted & crunching on ice cubes. He’s also famous for his funny side eye-especially if you’re not petting him. He is also good at giving you the “cupboard stare” when he wants a bone or his foavorite toy-looking from you to the cupboarda &back agian, over &over. he likes to jump straight up into the air to land on the couch like a spring-loaded pup. George is snake-avoidance trained, knows an impressive list of tricks- shake, lay down, bark & whisper, catch ice cubes, wave, sit & stay, & roll over- & he loves showing them off for an audience.

As a theraoy dog, george thrives on doing tricks, giving gentle licks, & soaking up extra attention. Meeting other dogs on walks-he sometimes feels the need to protect his person. But with Friends like remy, honey, marty & and a whole crew at the kennel, he’s got plenty of happy playtime too.

George is ready to share his warmth, wagging tail, & silly antics with everyone he meets - making hearts a little lighter & smiles a little brighter.

Kirby

WE rescued Kirby in january 2022 after we were foster fails…but in actuality he rescued us after we lost our dog 6 months earlier. we knew from the beginning kirby would be a perfect therpy dog because he only wants to give his love to others. snuggling is his favorite but he loves a good scratch behind the ears & a good belly rub too! when he’s not giving love his focus is on the fetch… usually sticks but balls will work also. and of course because he’s a border collie he needs to herd his friends, making sure they don’t stray too far from the trail!

Penguin

PEnguin was born in goshen, utah-close to utah lake. we named her penguin because she is black & white, loves the snow & loves to swim. plus we thought it was cute to name a dog the name of another animal.

she loves to hike, trail run, chase us on out mountain bikes, play frisbee, swim for tennis balls, chew sticks, go for car rides & snooze. she goes to work with her person as a trail guide dog. she is very loving & makes the clients feel comfortable and at ease.

Penguin wags her tail on command & burps after she eats (while looking at you). She also doesn’t get up off the couch in the morning until she senses that her person is getting ready to leave. She loves people! she loves to cuddle & lick just about anyone. She get very nervous with firesworks, avalanche bombs, thunder & even a change in barometric pressure.

she loves to reach for the sky, play dead, wave hi, pray & wag her tail on command. she can also crawl, give high fives & spin around in circles. penguin has gone all over utah. she has also been to wyoming, montana, & Oregon. her best friend is another black & white dog names lily. She also plays with a golendoodle name, beija. she likes most dogs but prefers people if she had a choice.

Dusty

My name is dusty! my mom adopted me from salt lake animal shelter when i was 5 months old. I was wondering about the streets of salt lake for who knows how long. at the shelter i was given the nickname “pancake” because i would flop to the floor especially on slippery surfaces. when my mom adopted me she gave me a soft spot to land & show me what it was like to have a warm place to sleep each night. although my mom thought pancake was a cute name she said u needed a name that would make me feel confident. due to my coloring she changed my name to dusty.

I love going on hikes, bossing around my brother mike, patrolling the condo for stray cats, herding my mom to make sure she takes me for my daily walk in the morning (she’s very forgetful before she has a cup of coffee), searching the aisle at lowe’s, curling up with a good book while i rest my head on my human’s leg, or binge watching dog tv from youtube. my favorite days are the ones when mom puts on my bandana & i get to go out into the community to work. the moment i see her grab my work bandana i run to the door, tail up & sit at attention until she puts it on along with my leash. I say “see you later, mike, i’m going to work. you are in charge of the house while i’m away.” my favorite thing about being a therapy dog is curling up with a new friend & taking away all their stress or nerves. I love sitting on their feet while they scratch me & tell me about their day.

When i’m not being a therapy dog, i love to go on hikes or have play dates with my friend karen, rio, & my brother mike. we love exploring the trails around davis & weber county. i love the smell of fresh cut grass & flowers. if I find a nice lawn, i have to roll around in it. in the winter, i love playing in a fresh set of snow & trying to get my brother to chase me.

something that makes me unique would be that i have a food allergy. i’m allergic to proteinm especially chicken. i do love a great snack but what i love more is when people stop to pet me. especially if they scratch me butt just above the trail. i don’t mean to be rude, but if i place my butt by your hand it means i like you a lot.

as a puppy i hated going to new places, especially if they had slippery floors or bridges. now i’ve come over this fear. something that i still struggle wiht is things that are bigger then me. my mom keeps telling me it’s just a statue & it can’t hurt me. there is something about a large “statue” looking down at me that won’t move that i just don’t trust. the other thing i hate is when large buses or cars drive by me fast. i like to give them a stern bark to slow down.

Hank, the Lovable Labradoodle, a.k.a. “Hawaii Hank”

born on halloween along the breezy north shore of hawaii, hank is no ordinary dog - he’s a wave-catching, scent-sniffing, kid-loving superstar wrapped in a fluffy labradoodle coat. know affectionately as “Hawaii hank,” this beach-born pup has a heart as big as the pacific & a nose trained to protect the planet.

From a young age, hank showed a deep love for people - especially children. whether he’s curled up during story time at an elementary school or bringing joy to care centers, hank’s favorite place to be is wherever there are smiles to share. and don’t let his chill surfer vibe fool you - hank’s got skills. at just 7 months old, he began scent-detection training with conservation dogs of hawaii, learning to sniff out invasive plant species. later, he took on the wild west, detecting rattlesnakes form over 20 feet away!

When he’s not saving ecosystems or stealing hearts, you’ll find hank doing what he loves most: swimming in the ocean or lake, cruising in the car, & munching on peanut butter. one of his most iconic quirks is sitting like a human. whether he is a passenger in a car or a commercial airplane seat (yes, really), hank takes his spot like one of the crew - earning chuckles & double-takes from everyone passing by.

A retired service dog, hank has flown across skies, ridden countless miles, & left paw prints on hearts all over. But no matter where he goes, hank’s aloha spirit & gentle soul make him unforgettable.

Finn

Finn was born in spanish fork, utah to amazing goldens. his name is irsh & means fair or white which is fitting for an english cream golden retriever. he loves to play & is always trying to assess the mood of the children or people hs is around & acts accordingly with each one. When Finn wants to play, he will drop his toys at your feet or toss them to you. he will also lay his head on your lap & just look up at you with his sweet face.

Finn loves being a therapy dog because he gets to be with children. he loves all the pets & love.

Finn struggles with fireworks, thunder & going to the veterinarian. his best firends are his sister - sophie, griff & maggie who are therapy dogs as well.

Sophie

Sophie was born in spanish fork, utah to amazing goldens. her name is greek meaning skill, knowledge & wisdom. she loves to play and is very affectionate. She will come & stand by you until you acknowledge & then she will lay down by you & loves to get belly rubs. Sophie warbles (a noise she makes) when she wants something. like when she needs to go outside or she wants to cuddle.

Sophie loves being a therapy dog because of the children. she loves getting the pets and love.

Sophie struggles with fireworks & thunder. her best friends are her brother - finn, Griff & maggie who are therapy dogs as well.

Cooper

We do not know where cooper was born, h was a year old when we got him. He was a covid rehome & was skinny & spending far too much time in a crate. Although he was a bigger dog than I was looking for, my empathy kicked in & my son & i know we could give him a good home. Cooper’s name was coppper but we changed it to cooper. I do wish I would have named him leon, after leon redbone, a blues masician.

cooper loves to eat, likes taking walks, going hiking in summer or winter, & loves to take naps, especially if he is on the bed! he absolutely goes crazy for bubbles as he leaps to catch them, & he loves to chase his ball. he loves running along the beach too. he is not a typical breed for this area, a breed memorialized in where the red fern grows. he has long ears & a beautiful red cota. he is known as a scent hound & has webbed feet which makes him a good swimmer. he makes a lot of noise, especially if i have been gone for a few hours. he is kind of a scaredy cat & will hide behind my legs if nervous.

Cooper enjoys being a therapy dog because he is very social & has always like being around children. my grandson grew up around cooper & literally crawled all over him & cooper was always extremely patient.

Going to the vet is a struggle for him. he is not the most reliable if food is left out. His long, keen nose just gets the best of him. he is not always the best travel dog but that has gotten much better. He loves to pop bubbles , he is generally well behaved, will sit, wait, spin, shake, & sometimes touch. Cooper has traveled to lots of hiking areas, victor, idaho, cooke city, montana, oregon ciast, bear lake, northern california, deserts of utah, & of course to the uintas frequently.

Raven

Raven’s story starts on a native american reservation in utah, where she was rescued from a less-than-ideal situation by her loving family. we named her “Raven” not just for her sleek blakc coat, but because ravens are legendary in native american culture-both powerful & delightfully mischievous. raven certainly lives up to her name both spirit & character.

she’s a long-walk enthusiast & a fetch fanatic-if there’s a tennis ball nearby, you can bet raven’s somewhere plotting her next move. she also loves playing in the snow, bounding through drifts like it’s her own personal playground. when she gets excited, she flashes what we call her “land shark” smile: equal parts adorable & slightly terrifying (don’t worry, she won’t actually bite). She’s a quick learner too - mastering “high five” in just 15 minutes. raven also enjoys downtime as she likes watching tv, often captivated by moving images & sounds, proving she’s not just smart but also quite the cultered companion.

Being a therapy dog suits raven perfectly. It gives her a sense of purpose, a way to connect with people, & of course, endless opportunities to show off her impressive trick repertoire. she’s got sit, stay, down, rollover, paw, high five, & bow down pat - each trick obediently performed on cue, whether by voice or hand signal.

of course, she’s not perfect. pass a dog on a street & her barking can turn into a vocal performance, & she’s easily distracted when the world around her gets too interesting. a fun fact about her is that she enjoys paddleboarding- a true testament to her adventurous spirit.

Oak

Oak is a 6-year-old golden retriever with a heart fill of love & a tail that never stops wagging. born in salt lake city, oak joined our family when he was a year & a half old. he already had the name “oak,” & it suited his grounded, gentle nature so perectly that we couldn’t imagine calling him anything else.

playful & affectionate, oak loves nothing more than a good frisbee session or a swim in a river or pond. at home, he’s a total cuddlebug- his favorite spot is curled up on the sofa during movie night, ideally with a bowl of popcorn to share. he’s sweet, vocal, & always lets us know how excited he is when we return from a trip- his happy howls are impossible to miss.

oak is a people dog through & through. while he’s polite with other animals, he gravitates toward human company & thrives on being part of the action. he’s traveled with us on a texas road trip & visited colorado, yellowstone, the grand tetons, & several stunning national parks around utah.

as a therapy dog, oak loves making people smile. his calm energy & lovable nature bring comfort & joy wherever he goes. he’s not big on flashy tricks, but his greatest talent is the simple gift of connection.

Luna

Luna came to our home when she was about 6 years old. We do not know about her past. she was with her foster family just a week before we adopted her. luna was afrraid of almost everything at first. with a lot of love & training she started building confidence in herself. it took even longer for her to be comfortable around other people but once she figured out she gets treats & positive attention luna gets so excited to be a therapy dog. she spins around & does a dance when her bandana comes out. she does not like car rides but will go on one when her therapy bandana is on.

Luna’s favorite treats are cucumbers & cheese. she loves to spin around & walk on the curb when going for a walk. she lets you know when it is time to get up in the morning for her walk, midday walk & evening walk. She also lets you know when it is time for a snack & every time is belly rub time.