Essex High School science teacher Katie Berkelhamer brings her therapy dog around EHS. Cooper, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever, is a certified therapy dog trained to help with comfort, emotional support and mental health challenges.
“Cooper truly loves this work and thrives when he’s interacting with others,” Berkelhamer said. “It’s been really rewarding to share him with the community and see the positive impact he has on so many people.”
Berkelhamer adopted Cooper as an 8-week-old puppy and began training him immediately.
“He was enrolled in several obedience classes with me, where he learned basic commands like sit, stay, lay down, recall, and proper leash walking. After completing those programs, I continued working with him and teaching him new skills.”
Cooper began to learn the specific behaviors needed to become a therapy dog at two and a half years old. He learned to greet people politely, walk calmly, and follow more intricate commands. Berkelhamer’s biggest advice for training a dog is to be patient, consistent, and reward good behavior.
“Keeping training fun makes a huge difference; dogs are more willing to learn when they enjoy it,” she said. “It’s also helpful to take things one step at a time, keep sessions short so your dog doesn’t get overwhelmed, and always pay attention to your dog’s limits.”
Berkelhamer describes Cooper as affectionate, goofy, and easygoing. Cooper plans to come around EHS two more times before spring break. Moving forward, the goal is to see him around the halls once a month for students and staff to spend time with.
