At just three months old, Otto has a lot to learn. But one thing seems to come naturally to this golden retriever puppy: making people smile.
During a recent training session with Bradenton dog trainer Julie Madison, Otto happily explored the yard, soaked up attention from Julie, his owner Kristin Grayner, and me, and showed off a few of his new skills. He's still very much a puppy, with plenty of energy and a relatively short attention span, but he's already preparing for a very special job.
Otto is the inspiration behind the Ottomatic Joy Foundation, a new Bradenton nonprofit dedicated to providing free therapy dog visits to people who could use a little comfort and companionship.
The foundation was created by Kristin Grayner, whose own experience with serious illness inspired her to find a way to help others. With Julie's guidance and support, Kristin is now preparing Otto to make that vision a reality.
Finding Purpose Through a Difficult Experience
When Kristin and her family moved to Florida in June 2024, she was already struggling with health problems that had begun several years earlier. Doctors had been unable to determine what was wrong, and within two months of arriving in Florida, she found herself in the hospital.
She was eventually diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Complications from her illness and treatment led to multiple surgeries, extended hospital stays, and time in a rehabilitation center, where she had to learn to walk again with a walker.
The physical challenges were enormous, but Kristin says one of the hardest parts was the loneliness.
Her family had only recently moved to the area, and she knew almost no one. Her husband and daughter visited as often as they could, but there were still many hours spent alone in her hospital room.
"I joke that I got new friends every 12 hours because new nurses came in," she recalls.
As time went on, Kristin noticed that many of the older patients around her were experiencing the same thing. Some rarely had visitors, and others seemed to have no one at all.
She often thought about how much she missed her golden retrievers, Henry and Wallace, and how wonderful it would have been to have a friendly dog stop by, even for just 15 minutes.
In November 2024, she was talking with her husband, Rex, about everything she had been through and wondering what she was supposed to do with the experience.
When he suggested getting a therapy dog, something clicked.
"Oh my God, that's it!" Kristin remembers thinking.
The family began brainstorming names, eventually coming up with Otto as a play on the word "auto," inspired by Kristin's autoimmune condition. Their daughter, Livi, suggested he could bring "ottomatic joy."
And just like that, the idea for the Ottomatic Joy Foundation was born.
More medical challenges delayed their plans, but Kristin officially established the foundation in June 2026. Otto was born on July 24 and joined the family in September.
Finding the Right Partner in Julie Madison
Kristin knew Otto would need professional training to prepare for his future work, and she wanted someone who shared her vision.
After seeing recommendations for Julie Madison on Nextdoor and Facebook, she reached out to learn more about her training philosophy.
Julie, owner of Top Tier K9 – Bradenton, has more than 20 years of experience working with dogs. She began volunteering at an animal shelter when she was just 15 and has since worked with everything from family pets and shelter dogs to service dogs for veterans.
She also understands the impact a dog can have on someone's life.
Julie has spoken publicly about how her late dog, Layla, helped her through a difficult time in her own life. She also previously worked with a therapy dog of her own, visiting residents at an assisted living facility.
"I could see how much that influenced them," Julie says of those visits.
When she learned about Kristin's story and her plans for the Ottomatic Joy Foundation, Julie decided she wanted to help. She became the foundation's official training partner, donating Otto's initial training and helping Kristin prepare for the responsibilities of working with a therapy dog.
For Kristin, the support was a tremendous gift.
"She's been awesome to work with," Kristin says. "When people believe in what you do, when you don't even have the dog yet..."
Julie sees the partnership as an opportunity to help build something that could eventually reach far beyond one dog and one handler.
"That's one of the reasons I donated the first round of training, because I want to see what that can do in the community," she explains.
Preparing Otto for His Future Job
Training a therapy dog involves much more than teaching basic obedience. Otto needs to learn how to remain calm and comfortable around unfamiliar people, handle new environments, and respond reliably to Kristin's commands.
And because he's still a puppy, that means starting small.
Julie has been working with Kristin since before Otto came home, teaching her how to reinforce behaviors, communicate with him, and build good habits from the beginning.
Much of their work focuses on teaching Kristin to become a confident handler.
"I mostly train the person," Julie explains, describing how she uses short lessons to give owners the skills they need to continue working with their dogs at home.
It's an approach Kristin appreciates, especially because she wants to be directly involved in Otto's development. While she's owned golden retrievers before, this experience has been different. Otto is a beloved member of the family, but he's also preparing for a working role with the foundation.
Kristin says the training has been good for her, too. It keeps her active as she continues recovering, gives her something positive to focus on, and has brought a new sense of purpose to her life.
"I'm his first patient," she says.
For Kristin, eventually returning to the hospitals and rehabilitation facilities where she spent so much time will be a meaningful part of her own healing process.
Otto won't be ready for official therapy visits until he completes his training and certification, which must wait until he's old enough. In the meantime, Julie and Kristin will continue building his skills and introducing him to new experiences.
A Mission That's Bigger Than One Dog
Kristin's initial goal is to bring Otto into hospitals and rehabilitation centers, where she knows firsthand how much a visit can mean. But she has much bigger plans for the foundation.
She hopes to eventually work with veterans, first responders, schools, hospice organizations, and other groups throughout the Gulf Coast area. All therapy dog visits will be provided free of charge.
The foundation has already gained the support of several local businesses. Along with Julie and Top Tier K9, founding partners include Partners Animal Hospital Lakewood Ranch, Healing Hands Grooming, and DOGPerfect Lakewood Ranch, which are helping with Otto's veterinary care, grooming, and nutrition.
Eventually, Kristin would like the foundation to help support additional therapy dog teams and contribute to other organizations serving people in need.
Julie shares that vision.
"There's a wide variety of what you can do with it, but if you're full-time into it, then it's a very large time commitment," she explains.
Her hope is that the foundation will eventually be able to help more people afford the training and dedicate the time needed to volunteer with their dogs.
Julie has seen the demand for these services firsthand. "There are so many people who want and need it, but there's not a workforce to go out and meet that need," she says.
For now, it all starts with one little golden retriever, a dedicated owner, and a community of people who believe in what they're building.
Kristin knows there's still a long road ahead, but she's excited about what's possible. "This isn't just about me," she says. "This is about him. This is about his community."
And if Otto's enthusiasm for meeting new people is any indication, he's off to a pretty good start.
Follow Otto's Journey and Get Involved
The Ottomatic Joy Foundation is a Bradenton-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations and community partnerships to support its mission.
Visit www.ottodogtherapy.org to learn more about Kristin's story, follow Otto's training progress, make a donation, or join the waiting list for future therapy dog visits.
To learn more about Julie Madison and her dog training services, visit Top Tier K9 – Bradenton. Julie offers puppy training, obedience training, behavior modification, specialized working-dog training, and professional dog trainer education. Call or text her at 203-733-7183 to discuss your dog's training needs.
