Multi-Talented Twins Share Love for Therapy Dog Service & Hunting
Owned by Bonnie & Charles Bird of Bellingham, WA
Jigi and Zuzu are All-American Dog twins, born on Bonnie’s birthday and brought to their forever home on Charles’ birthday.
They are both Grand Champion Barn Hunters and AKC Distinguished Therapy Dogs. Jigi is additionally the second mixed-breed dog to earn the AKC Versatile Companion Dog title in the country, having earned titles in Obedience, Tracking and Agility.
The two dogs got into therapy dog work almost five years ago and have made hundreds of visits to schools, libraries, nursing homes, hospitals, cancer treatment facilities, and adult day care centers.
“They are friendly, intelligent and great entertainers,” Bonnie said. “They work hard and they play hard.”
When they are not making people happy through therapy dog service, Jigi and Zuzu love the sport of Barn Hunt. The sport, organized by the national Barn Hunt Association (BHA), involves dogs hunting for rats, which are safely enclosed in heavy PVC tubes, and then hidden among hay bales.
“Zuzu is very accurate and methodical in his hunts; Jigi is more free-form and engaging,” Bonnie said. “People think Jigi is faster than Zuzu in Barn Hunt, but looks are deceiving. Zuzu’s times are almost inevitably better than his litter mate’s and he accumulates qualifying scores more consistently.”
Both dogs are members of the AKC Canine Partners program for all dogs, including mixed-breeds and rescues.