# @canineorg on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFIsBEqNV6D
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/29185244-canineorg-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/814c60bcc4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-22T17:10:15.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Canine Companions (@canineorg) — https://gondola.cc/canineorg

## Caption

Let us introduce you to Topgun, uabmedicine Spain Rehabilitation Center's very first #facilitydog.🐕‍🦺 Since graduating from our program at the Southeast Region Training Center in Orlando, Florida, in May of last year, he's been a crucial member of the hospital team - and a favorite among both patients and employees. 

“Our patients and employees love to see Topgun,” says his handler, Emily Rider, a recreational therapist at uabmedicine. “Everyone just flocks to him naturally and really enjoys working with him. It is really cool to be able to watch him make these special connections with our patients and staff that are just unique to having a facility dog.” 

In his role at UAB, Topgun works with patients who are recovering from stroke, spinal cord or brain injuries achieve their functional goals, such as improving their balance, stamina, ability to walk and overall motivation. 

While Topgun is like a therapy dog in his role of motivating patients who may be going through a difficult time, the biggest difference between a facility dog and therapy dog is the functional aspect of his job. As an official facility dog, Topgun is highly trained with special #skills that help him enhance treatment sessions for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and recreational therapy, using up to 45 tasks he mastered in professional training at Canine Companions.

▶️ Link in bio to watch Topgun in action.
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## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 959
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 7

## Tags

uabmedicine, support, facilitydog, instadog, medicine, skills, facilitydogsofinstagram, birmingham, golden, goldenretrieversofinstagram, dogsofinstagram, dog, workingdogs, dogoftheday, dogstagram, universityofalabama, goldenretrievers, facilitydogsofinsta, facilitydogs, dogs, alabama, goldenretriever, uab, hospital, community

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