December 2007  Robbie
Robbie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is intelligent, athletic, easygoing, well-dressed, well-connected and well taken care of. In other words, he’s a lot of dog in a small package. If Robbie’s not at home in Reston, Virginia with his feline siblings Bailey and Darby, he’s most likely “on the go”…

One of Robbie’s favorite pastimes is lure chasing at Performance Dogs Off-Leash Fitness Park (catch Robbie in action on their home page). “Robbie is very focused and disciplined—he doesn’t cut any corners,” says canine fitness expert and Performance Dogs founder, Steve Mace. After a long workout at Performance Dogs, you can understand why Robbie is eager to meet with his “Reiki” masseuse, Ingrid King, from Healing Hands.

Robbie is a day care regular at Seneca Hill Animal Hospital Resort & Spa. His busy social calendar is filled up with activities (like Swim Night), and regular get togethers with the Washington DC Area Cavalier Spaniel Meetup Group, which Robbie and his owner Anne co-founded. This summer, Robbie’s closest friends attended his birthday party, complete with a cake from Organic Doggy Kitchen, and—presents! In the off-season, Robbie runs along the sandy beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, enjoying a much needed vacation. Regardless of where he shows up, Robbie is always sporting a matching harness and leash from his favorite pet store, Wylie Wagg.

All this exercising, socialization and adapting to different environments perfectly prepares Robbie’s temperament for the therapy dog work he’s committed to as a member of the Animal Assisted Care Team at Fairfax Inova Hospital. According to director Leslie Horton, “Robbie is tolerant and versatile. His size enables him to sit in bed with the patient, sometimes in the midst of complex medical equipment.” Well done, Robbie (and Anne)! Your willingness to “give back” makes Robbie an ideal Mr. December!

You can see one more image of Robbie on our website in Gallery 5.

Click here to read about a previous Dog of the Month winner.