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Service Dog Chooses His Own Special Build-A-Bear

By: Molly Weinfurter
Molly Weinfurter is a writer for iHeartDogs, and she’s passionate about helping animals in need. She volunteers for Bailing Out Benji and a local dog rescue.Read more
| May 20, 2020

Mushu is a service dog in training. He has been working on his skills with trainer Kathryn Eland ever since he was 8 weeks old. He’s currently being trained to be an assistance dog, which means he needs to learn to pick up items for his handler. He has been doing such a good job over the past year that Eland thought he deserved a reward.

So, Eland took Mushu to Build-A-Bear so he could pick out a special toy for himself. She recorded the adorable moment and shared it on Mushu’s very own Instagram page.

Image: @service.dog.mushu/Instagram

Mushu’s Visit to Build-A-Bear

Without hesitation, Mushu chose a cream-colored bear, similar to the color of his own coat. He seemed very proud of his decision as he handed it over to the staff members. The staff took the bear and filled it with stuffing, putting the signature Build-A-Bear heart inside during the process.

Mushu looked a bit worried as his bear got stuffed, but he waited patiently for his new friend to be ready. After a few minutes, the staff handed the bear back to him. Then, Mushu gently took the stuffed animal home with him. He looked like the happiest dog ever!

Image: Screenshot, @service.dog.mushu/Instagram

When Mushu went home, he spent plenty of time with his stuffed animal friend. In fact, he loved the bear so much that he cuddled with it all night.

As cute as Mushu’s Build-A-Bear adventure was, it actually helped him train even further. Picking out his own toy is a great way to prepare him to pick up items for his handler. In his forever home, he will need to assist his human with shopping, so this is an important skill for him to have.

Image: Screenshot, @service.dog.mushu/Instagram

The Rise to Fame

Eland made a cute video of Mushu’s visit to Build-A-Bear. She shared it on Instagram and TikTok with the upbeat song, “Have it All” by Jason Mraz. In no time, the video became extremely popular because of how adorable it is. Mushu’s story was soon shared all over social media.

Image: @service.dog.mushu/Instagram

Mushu is nearing the end of his service dog training. He has learned so much during his time with Eland, and he will soon learn even more with his new handler. Once he’s ready to move on to the next stage of his training, Perfect Fit Canines in Pennsylvania will match him with his perfect human.

In the meantime, Eland will continue to share Mushu’s training adventures on his Instagram page. He currently has over 23,000 followers, and that number continues to grow. After all, Mushu is such a smart and adorable pup!

Watch the Build-A-Bear Video Here:

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mushu 🐾 (@service.dog.mushu) on

H/T: metro.co.uk
Featured Image: @service.dog.mushu/Instagram

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