Beyond Business: Mahar, Oakley illustrate pet therapy's paws-itive power
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Media Contact: Hallie Hart | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-1050 | hallie.hart@okstate.edu
Years before Oklahoma State University established Pete’s Pet Posse, Marla Mahar understood the therapeutic power of dogs.
When she worked in OSU’s English Language Institute, she sometimes brought her toy poodle, Renni, to campus. Students gravitated toward the fluffy friend, finding relief from stress and anxiety.
In Renni’s memory, Mahar continues to lift students’ spirits with a canine companion, and the Spears School of Business lecturer is part of a team effort. OSU hosted the first Pete’s Pet Posse Symposium on April 30 in the Student Union Ballroom, presenting research that highlighted the pet therapy program’s impact since former First Cowgirl Ann Hargis created it in 2013.
Oakley, Mahar’s 8-year-old golden retriever who “speaks” in a quiet, low murmur, was one of several dogs greeting guests. A P3 dog, Oakley has Alliance of Therapy Dogs certification and the AKC Canine Good Citizen award. Oakley’s OSU adventures include bonding with Pistol Pete, acting as Snoopy in a Spears Business holiday video, and, with student permission, visiting Mahar’s classes.
What is it like to be a P3 handler? Mahar, business communication lead instructor in the Department of Management, offered insight.
Q: What was the process like to get Oakley certified as a Pete’s Pet Posse dog?
Mahar: We started with the interview with me only, and then the interview with Oakley and me, and then our interview with a trainer. The trainer took us through the Student Union. We stood at the door of the bookstore and greeted students, so she was testing how the dog reacted. Then, we had an interview with a veterinarian at OSU’s vet school. Then, Pete’s Pet Posse had the committee meeting where they discussed who was in. That was all preliminary.
Then, training was about six weeks every Wednesday night. We would go to the Wes Watkins Center, and we had it on the first floor there. We had another training session where we had to go to Edmon Low Library, and then we had to do a Waggin’ Wednesday event as a test. Then, you had to shadow other handlers, which is a great idea.
Our trainer said Oakley is a great dog. Then, the AKC tester said, “Oh, my goodness, she just makes it look easy.” I was shocked, though, because before she was 3, she chewed on everything, jumped on people. And it was like a switch went off in her mind: “I’m no longer a puppy; I’m going to be good now.” I’ve talked to other golden retriever owners, and they said the same thing; that’s how they are.
What are some of the other tasks dogs had to do in training?
We had to do a lot of walking around with other dogs to make sure they’re not going to lunge at the other dog, because a lot of students have their own dogs on campus. And then, also, interacting with people. Somebody would sit in a wheelchair, and the dog would have to come up and be polite, not jump on them. One that was really difficult for some of the dogs was the handlers had to go and hide. The dogs would have to stay there and sit and not make a noise for three whole minutes.
What should an interested faculty or staff member know about joining?
It’s a time commitment, especially the first year, going through the training. Then, you can kind of pick and choose when you do the events.
What are your favorite P3 events?
Probably Waggin’ Wednesday, which is a favorite for a lot of us. We’re on each side of the big staircase on the first floor of the library. There are usually two of us there with dogs. Groups will form a circle around Oakley. She will just lie down and start “talking” as they rub her stomach. It’s comfortable for her, and she gets hot easily, so she loves lying on the tile.
When you bring Oakley to class, what does she do?
I didn’t teach her this, but I usually pass out papers because we do a lot of activities in class. Whenever I pass out a paper, she’s behind me, and she’s greeting people as I pass out the papers. It’s like she knows, “Oh, OK, let’s go see people.”
One time in class, I was talking, and then all of a sudden, she started this loud snoring. Of course, the class thought it was just hysterical.
What does it mean to you to see how students interact with Oakley?
I love it. When we get a bunch of them, I want to engage each one of them individually. They really appreciate that, because I usually ask them, “How is your day going? How has the semester been going? Are you ready for finals?” That also helps, but I know Oakley is the main attraction. I just love it when they tell me, “You’ve made my day” or “You’ve made my week” or “This is so special; thank you.”
What was it like to attend the P3 Symposium and see how the program has grown?
It was a great idea for OSU to have that event, in the first place. Secondly, they picked some great people to speak on the panel. Everybody was well-versed in what’s going on, and hopefully, it will help expand Pete’s Pet Posse.
Do you know a Spears Business faculty or staff member with a Beyond Business story to highlight? Share your ideas with Communications Coordinator Hallie Hart at hallie.hart@okstate.edu.