If you happen to arrive early to Jesuit in the morning, you may have the pleasure of seeing Coach Bob Molyet instructing his track and cross country teams with a very special companion by his side.
Chester, a Golden Retriever and the latest addition to Coach Molyet’s three dogs, sits patiently by his side, eagerly waiting to be played with. At first glance, Chester immediately catches the eye with his cute, puppy-like face. But at closer inspection, there is clearly something very special and unique about this pup, his exceptionally friendly and loving behavior.
Video Evidence!
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Upon welcoming Chester into their already dog-friendly home, Coach Molyet and his wife decided to do a little extra to help those in need by training Chester for a therapy dog program. “We wanted to get involved in going to community homes and different places where they get the benefit of having a well-trained dog,” Coach Molyet says.
These therapy programs assist people all around the Dallas community with the enjoyment of interacting with loving dogs who are always willing to play. Coach Molyet explained that the presence of a caring and well behaved dog “tends to put people at ease” during stressful or difficult times.
Currently in the early stages of his training, Chester already acts much more behaved than the average dog. Able to respond to basic commands, he automatically sits when approached by others, a key attribute for a therapy dog.
“The big thing we are trying to train him on is obedience,” says Coach Molyet, who takes around “five extra minutes at a time to train him for basic commands.”
This extra training will eventually teach Chester that “when it is time to work, he needs to pay attention.” This obedience is necessary for him to remain calm while tenderly playing with others during therapy dog sessions, something he already seems to be excelling at.
While watching him interact with Coach Molyet, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Chester can respond to more than just a few basic commands. He can compute basic mathematics!
Dog treats in hand, Coach Molyet said, “Chester, one plus one.” In response, the puppy astoundingly responded with two short barks. Taking it a step further, Coach Molyet asked, “Ten divided by two”? Chester responded with five barks without hesitation.
Clearly an already outstanding dog, Chester will soon be a source of enjoyment and excitement for those in the community who need that extra love that man’s best friend gives.
