A ROTTWEILER owner hopes her pet changes people's opinions on the breed after it qualified as a therapeutic dog.
Three-year-old Peeps passed the Pets as Therapy tests and is now qualified to visit people in hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, as well as special needs schools.
Proud owner Kay Ryder, 52, of Creasen Butt Close, Heybridge said: "I got the idea to submit Peeps' application to Pets as Therapy about a year ago when we were walking in Danbury Park. She was off the lead and I saw a mother with a small toddler approaching so I called Peeps back.
"But the little girl's mother said it was OK because her youngster was used to dogs, so I let Peeps approach them.
"What happened was amazing. Peeps was so soft and gentle with her. The way she approached her was so careful and calm as well."
Peeps flew through the Pets as Therapy evaluation, in which she was taken into an assessor's home and various tests were carried out to see how she would react to different stimulus, such as loud noises and pulling on her ears, in an unknown environment.
Kay, who got her first Rottweiler 18 years ago, said: "I am over the moon with the result because Rottweilers seem to get a lot of bad press.
"There is a saying, 'Judge the deed and not the breed', and sadly, people judge the breed.
"As puppies, Rottweilers are not born vicious. No dog is. That is caused by the environment they are brought up in."
Kay has another Rottweiler named Mollie, who at eight years old, has a Crufts show champion title and prizes in various agility competitions under her belt.
The dog lover also regularly fosters Rottweilers until they are rehomed.
Talking about one "Rotty" she fostered, Kay said: "Dudley was a cross-bred Rottweiler who came into my home, he got on fabulously with Mollie and Peeps and I looked after him for three months before he was rehomed.
If I had not, he would have been put down."
The mother-of-two now hopes to be a part of the Pets as Therapy Read2Dogs scheme, which sees less confident children and those with learning disabilities within schools spend their reading time with a furry friend.
Kay is encouraging schools in the Maldon area to sign up with Pets as Therapy so that she may volunteer locally.
she said: "Peeps is naturally great with kids and it is touching to watch. She is so gentle in all her mannerisms.
"Peeps got her name because when I first had her, she would peep into a room before she walked into it.
"She was very worried about the world and thought everything would hurt her, before her confidence grew."
The canine joins more than 4,500 cats and dogs that are part of the Pets as Therapy programme.
For more information visit: www.petsastherapy.org
