Charmaine Hammond

Toby and his Hospital Friends is an adorable picture book about a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who spends his Wednesday’s at the hospital as a therapy service dog. He visits his friends at the hospital weekly where he brightens their day and helps them feel better.

My kids and I love this book! The illustration is cute and colorful. The story is heartwarming and can teach many life lessons such as caring, compassion, kindness, friendship and peer support.

This story is great for kids and families but would also be amazing to be stocked in pediatric wing of hospitals that allow pet therapy. It would also be a perfect handout for kids who are visited by therapy dogs.

I highly recommend reading this book and sharing with others!… (mais)

I never had the pleasure of meeting adorable Toby or infact Toby Junior, but I feel like I know them so well having previously posted about him and Charmaine, the author, some years back. It was great to get to read the new and updated version of this book. Anyone who owns a dog or has dealings with one will love this read and completely sympathise with Toby's owners. The outstanding fact of this true life story is the owners determination to not give up on Toby and find his true nature and calling.

Like our own two dogs, Toby was adopted from a dog rescue centre and again like our two he came with his own ways - some bad, some good!! Toby found a lovely home with author Charmaine and her husband but everytime they left him he left a trail of destruction and heartbreak. The stress that this causes brings the marriage to breaking point. After trying dog training and several dog experts they finally find their answer in getting Toby a purpose and a focus, this comes about when they take Toby to a hospital who look after people with mental illness. Toby's new purpose is becoming a Pet Assisted Therapy Dog and the effect it has on both Toby and the patients is amazing and it turns his life completely around.

It just goes to show that just like humans if you are prepared to invest in something you love and give the time needed the rewards are boundless. A really heart warming read with a good feel factor which will restore your faith in the ones you love. Toby's journey began the inspirational efforts of raising over $10,000 for charities and teachings of character development in children across North Amercia.… (mais)

Toby the therapy dog goes to a classroom to teach children about the proper ways to deal with a bully.
This is a wonderful book which teaches children about bullies and the best way of dealing with them. Since they were very little, I have taught my children thee rules of conduct which have stopped many fights before they ever happened. First, ask the person to stop, then walk away from the situation and finally tell a parent what is happening. This book covers these rules with delightful illustrations and easy to fallow narration. I would recommend this to anyone with small children who are attending school or have siblings.
… (mais)

On Toby's Terms is an uplifting story about a crazy dog, and his owners Charmaine and Christopher Hammond. Toby is a rescue dog that the couple adopted when he was five years old and they quickly learned that he was a very, very special boy. Whether it was the fact that he would tear every item out of their closet, or that he could turn on water faucets. Only they could tell us what clued them in that this Chesapeake Bay retriever would change their world forever.

The couple tries everything to get Toby to change his ways. They find themselves dreading having to leave Toby as even a crate won't hold him. No, literally here folks, Toby ate the latch off of his crate. Baby gates? He sails right over them. Charmaine and Chris are at their wit's end when they meet Maggie Schlegl, a dog behaviorist or as Charmaine calls her, a dog whisperer. She tells the couple that Toby is meant for great things; Toby should become a therapy animal.

Follow along as we learn Toby's story from the start. This book is filled with not only his crazy – I did call him that already, antics, but also how Toby changed the lives of those he touched. Most notably, he changed the lives of his owners who learned the gift of forgiveness, asking for help, and unconditional love.

If you're a fan of books like Chicken Soup for the Soul, or you just absolutely love animal stories please give On Toby's Terms a chance. It was a solid reminder for me of why I love my dogs so much. You see, we have a dog that is very much like Toby, and there have been times we just wanted to throw in the towel. There were endless fights about what we should do about him, but giving up was never really an option our hearts would accept. For us this story reinforced that love we have for our boy Coco, but it also reminded me that we can't give-up easily in other areas of our life either.

I look forward to following Toby's antics, and my children have been loving the children's book companion Toby and his Hospital Friends, so please come back later in the week to read our review. They became ecstatic when they learned they are making a movie too!… (mais)