The AKC works with several non-AKC service and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); the North American Flyball Association (NAFA); and now UpDog Challenge disc organization. For more information on how to apply for AKC recognition of these titles, go to: http://www.akc.org/dog_shows_trials/titles/ Read on to meet some of the All-American Dogs who are recent achievers in these sports.
AKC Therapy Dog Title
The AKC Therapy Dog Title program offers titles based on the amount of service that a therapy team has volunteered, giving more dogs the opportunity to earn the honor. Dogs also must be certified by an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization. The titles are:
- AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN). Must have completed 10 visits.
- AKC Therapy Dog (THD). Must have completed 50 visits.
- AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA). Must have completed 100 visits.
- AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX). Must have completed 200 visits.
- AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD). Must have completed 400 visits.
We salute these All-Americans who are recent recipients of the THDD title for 400 or more visits!
Sprecher’s Cappy THDD CGCA owned by Peter J. Sprecher of Saint Clair Shores, MI
Cappy was certified as a therapy dog with Bright and Beautiful in 2014. He visits Children’s Hospital of Michigan, the V.A. Hospital Detroit, Maple Lane Elementary in Sterling Heights, MI, and Rockwell Junior High School in Warren, MI.
“Cappy loves all the attention he receives at each place he visits and at home. He is a very happy boy. The schools’ programs include meet and greet the dogs, dog safety, reading to the dogs and ‘walk a dog’ sessions,” Peter said.
Cappy’s 400th visit was to Maple Lane School on Feb. 22, 2019, during a dog safety program.
My Precious Hit The Jackpott THDD CGC owned by Christine P Wagner of Lake in the Hills, IL,and Maureen Helwink of Elgin, IL
Vegas, now 8 years old, joined the Wagner family when he was 8 weeks old. “We knew he was going to do good things as he was outgoing and loved being with people and other dogs,” Chris said.
Since his AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class, Vegas has taken obedience and rally classes with Chris at Northwest Obedience Club in Crystal Lake, IL. He has obtained rally titles in other venues, but his first love is being a therapy dog.
“Vegas has this charm about him that makes everyone smile when they meet him. He is one of the most requested therapy dogs at Northwestern Hospital in McHenry and Huntley, IL. He not only comforts the patients, but the staff as well.”
While Chris handles the obedience training, her mom, Maureen, and Vegas are the “therapy team.” They work three to five days a week visiting hospitals (including the ICU and ER), libraries, senior living centers, and educational seminars. “He knows when it’s time to go for his visits as he waits eagerly by his travel bag with his collar, vest and towel.” When his therapy visit is over, he waves goodbye and bows to each patient or student.
“Vegas stays in shape by walking twice a day and eating healthy,” Maureen said. “He has many dog friends in the neighborhood, as well as three other ‘fur’ siblings, who also train and compete in obedience and rally.”
Vegas is learning new tricks to achieve his AKC Trick Dog title. “Vegas may be a small dog, but he has a big heart filled with love and kisses for all.”
Lux’ Zoey THDD CGCU owned by Kay Lux of Rio Rancho, NM
Zoey, a 5-year-old Rat Terrier mix, had a very rough start in life and was taken in by Lap Dog Rescue NM. It was there that Kay found her in September 2014. She was then 3 years old, and with Kay’s love and guidance she became an outgoing, tail-wagging dog. “I knew then that she would find joy working as a therapy dog and I would find joy just watching her,” Kay said.
In May 2016, Zoey passed the Alliance of Therapy Dogs test. Then she joined the Tales of Joy R.E.A.D. Program in Rio Rancho, NM. “At that time, our instructor encouraged me to enroll Zoey in the AKC Canine Partners Program, but I was slow to investigate the benefits. Then in 2017, I began researching. WOW! I learned that by being enrolled in the AKC Canine Partners Program, Zoey could earn therapy dog titles and be enrolled in AKC Reunite. I knew then that we had been missing out. Better late than never.”
First graders and preschoolers read to Zoey in the classroom of teacher Kimberly Ulibarri, in both the Rio Rancho and the Bernalillo, NM public schools. Since the COVID-19 limitations, she has done videos that are posted on the teacher’s classroom website, on the Tales of Joy R.E.A.D. website, and for the residents at BeeHive Homes. “She makes weekly window visits to assisted living facilities, tapping her paw on their windows to say, ‘Hello in there!’ Residents smile, reaching their hands up to tap back.”
Zoey’s 400th visit was on Jan. 23, 2020, at BeeHive Homes. “Zoey’s ATD/AKC Canine Partnersfriends were there too; they are our friends and are part of our team,” Kay said. “And as always, once inside the door, the residents called for our dogs by their names. With her tail wagging and her feet prancing, Zoey made her way to each of them, happy to greet her forever friends.”
Maxi Max THDD CGCA TKN owned by Doris and Bill Vogt of Charlton, NY
In March 2016, the Vogts received a call to adopt a Yorkshire Terrier sight unseen. The only information provided was that his owner was unable to care for him.
Maxi Max wasn’t housebroken, had never walked on a leash, nor been allowed outside – he was kept confined. “Training a dog who was so afraid of the outside world would require hours of socialization, love and patience,” Doris said. “Having adopted other Yorkies, we accepted the challenge and brought him home.”
At this same time, a family member was hospitalized and moved to a rehabilitation center .Seeing patients’ reactions to therapy dogs and the dogs’ advanced social and training skills, the Vogts asked questions about how they could transform Maxi Max into a therapy dog. They were referred to the Animal Protective Foundation, where the trainer and family patiently tried eight different collars and harnesses, finally coaxing Maxi Max to walk on a leash.
After months of daily training he earned his CGC and then his CGCA. He completed the requirements of Therapy Dogs International in February 2017 and has been visiting ever since. In December 2019 Maxi Max earned the TDIEVA (Therapy Dogs International Excellent Volunteer Award). He made his 400th visit, earning the THDD, to a rehabilitation hospital in March 2020. Since the COVID-19 layoff for working dogs in New York, Maxi Max has stayed busy earning AKC’s Trick Dog Novice title.
“Maxi Max is a 7-pound full-time working Yorkie who visits five to six days a week, sometimes twice in one day! He gets so excited when asked ‘want to go make people happy?’ that he starts doing circles and sits to get his gear on,” Doris said.
Stoneridge’s Mia Kalua THDD CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Diane and Kenneth Bykowski of Scottsdale, AZ
Stoneridge’s Mia Kalua came to live in Scottsdale on Nov. 12, 2017.Mia – meaning ‘my’ and Kalua – ‘second child’ in Hawaiian seemed to fit her perfectly since Ken and Diane already had another dog, Zoe, also a Distinguished Therapy Dog.
Soon after Ken and Diane got her, Mia became an AKC Star Puppy and on June 19, 2018, at not quite a year old, she received her CGC and passed her evaluation to become a therapy dog with Pets on Wheels of Scottsdale. Next she joined Alliance of Therapy Dogs and by the time she was 18 months old, 5.5-pound Mia was volunteering for Hospice of the Valley, Gabriel’s Angels, Honor Health and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in addition to Pets on Wheels.
In early March of this year, after visits with three children at Desert Cove Elementary School for Gabriel’s Angels and to the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Mia logged her 410th therapy visit. Ironically, Mia’s Distinguished Therapy Dog certificate is dated March 12, 2020, the very day the state of Arizona was shut down due to COVID-19, furloughing every therapy dog team. Just when students, residents, patients, travelers and staff needed the joy and peace a therapy dog offers, the in-person visits stopped. But Mia and Zoe continue their work in new creative ways that include cards, posters, Kudoboard, Zoom, mini-YouTube videos, and even cookies made in their likenesses.
Mia has begun agility classes, which she loves. As soon as classes open up again, she will be working toward her advanced trick dog title and in time, maybe even try an agility competition. You can follow Mia on Facebook where she shares Zoe’s page: www.facebook/zoethetherapydog.com.
“Mia Monday’is her day to offer advice, humor and love to over 53,000 followers,” Diane said.
Nikiah’s Spirit of Rowdy Bear THDD CGCA CGCU TKN owned by Christy Swanton of Waynesville, NC
Kiah found herself in the Yancey County Animal Shelter in Burnsville, NC, as a stray in January 2010. She was estimated to be 16 to 18 months of age.
Christy was mourning the recent loss her 11-year-old Pomeranian. “On a whim, in the wee hours of a Sunday morning, I fired up my computer and began to search Petfinder. The second I came across Delilah’s (as she was called then) listing, I knew. As soon as the shelter opened on Monday morning, I called to find out if she was still there.” She was, so Christy drove for over an hour through a snowstorm to get her.
“I knew from day one that her destiny was therapy work, but I also knew we’d need to work out her youthful vigor before we could make it happen. She obtained her CGC and then we trained for agility and began competing in trials in 2011. We competed sporadically until she was 5. We never obtained a title – not because of her, but because of me. My multiple sclerosis made my balance such that my handling skills were awful. We retired from agility when I fell face-first at a trial. I was getting worse instead of better.”
Kiah passed the Therapy Dogs International test in October 2015. “She was always‘bombproof.’ She never met a stranger and loved everyone, as much as they loved her. She had never been around children, that I was aware of, but she didn’t let me down. She was a huge hit with the kids at the library, whether listening patiently to a child reading, laying with a student doing homework, playing with toddlers during story time – she never missed a beat.”
Kiah is now 12 ½ years old. “It has been an incredible ride,” Christy said. “They say money can’t buy love, but my $85 absolutely adopted it. I couldn’t be prouder of this ‘wonder woman’ of a dog. While the titles are not why we do the work, Kiah totally deserves every recognition she has received. We are so honored to have reached the pinnacle of AKC Therapy Dog success. Kiah obtained her THDD in early January, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library, almost four years to the day after beginning our journey.
“Now we both work training new therapy dogs, and I’ve become an evaluator for Therapy Dogs International.
Miss Sophia the Sassy THDD owned by Elizabeth Gibson of Austin, TX
When Elizabeth saw Miss Sophia for the first time, she said, “What a mess! Let’s get you home!”
Sophia is a rescue and once she was settled in her new home with Elizabeth, she worked hard to regain good health. She then began training as a therapy dog and loves her work; she is certified with Divine Canines. “She is 5 years old this month and has so much to look forward to,” Elizabeth said. They see people in hospitals, children who have been hurt, and best of all, Miss Sophia is the official mascot of the Austin State Supported Living Center Choir that Elizabeth directs. They are looking forward to resuming visits after COVID-19.
In her spare time Sophia sings, dances, plays with jugglers and roller girls, and is learning to skateboard.
“I am so grateful that we made the choice to change our lives that day. We have been trying to change the world (just a little bit) every day since!” Elizabeth said.
Congratulations also to these All-American Dogs who have earned their THDD:
- Linthwaite, Jr’s Max THDD owned by Jack Linthwaite, Jr. of Mt. Gilead, OH
- Ling Ling Hilbourn THDD CGC owned by Karen Hilbourn of St. Loris, SC
- Hogan’s Breaking Badger THDD CGC owned by Tricia and Scott Hogan of Edwardsville, IL
- Minuet FDC OA OAJ ACT2 THDD CGCA TKN owned by Nancy Given of Trumansburg, NY
- Two Socks Adondakis Howard THDD CGC owned by David H Howard of Albuquerque, NM
- Hurley Kesler THDD owned by Elizabeth Kesler of Lutz, FL
- Miss Willow of Old Mill THDD CGC owned by Cindy Gatten of Springfield, OH
Barn Hunt Association
The BHA enables all dogs to participate in the sport of hunting for vermin. Dogs track rats safely enclosed in sturdy tubes that are hidden among hay bales. The titles range from Novice level to Champion to Champion Excellent, and since March, Crazy 8s. Go to www.barnhunt.com for more information.
Congratulations to All-American Dogs who recently received recognition of their BHA titles:
RATCH
- Big Papi SWA RATCH DS CGC owned by Cindi Saylor of Raleigh, NC
RATM
- Freitag’s Duke of Hales Corners CD BN RE MXP AJP CAX SWA RATM CGCA CGCU TKI ATT owned by Nancy Freitag/Mark Freitag of Hales Corners, WI
RATN
- Bradley’s Daisy RATN TKI owned by Alison and Kevin Bradley of Fayetteville, AR
- Starr Miranti SCN SBN RATN CGC owned by Susan and Joseph Miranti of Springfield, MO
- Sawyer of Gard BN RI RATN CGCA TKA owned by Ronda White of Rockford, IL
- Barc’s Round of Applause RATO CGC TKI owned by Maria Schiefer of Zuni, VA
- Barc’s Lioness RATN CGC TKI owned by Keri Noggle of Smithfield, VA
- RACH Turbo-Nadir UD BN GN RM2 RAE5 FDC AX AXJ NF BCAT RATN CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Kimberly Ann Hoeppner of Bogolusa, LA
- RACH Just Candy CD PCD BN RM2 RAE2 FDC DCAT ACT1 RATN CGCA CGCU TKE ATT owned by Pat Holladay of Murfreesboro, TN
- Jack of All Trades RATN owned by Kathy Farrell of Latham, NY
RATO
- Barc’s Round of Applause RATO CGC TKI owned by Maria Schiefer of Zuni, VA
- Eko BCAT RATO DMA DSA owned by Tatum Renee Trivyzas of Syracuse, UT
- Tesa RATO CGC TKI owned by Cathy McClellan of Lamont, FL
RATS
- Ain’t She Mischievous AX AXJ OF RATS owned by Heather Lane of Manlius, NY
- Monster Of The S-Ea Scylla ACT2 RATS TKN owned by Anna Fleischhacker of Hastings, MN
- Luke Killpack CD RE RATS CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Deborah Killpack of Helena, MT
- MACH2 Resq’s Dopamine Rush BN RN MXS MJG PJD MFB TQX T2B2 SWA SCE ONYX RATS CGCA TKN owned by Rosemary Strasser and Miguel Odorica of Omaha, NE
- Keyser’s Lucky Clover RATS owned by Deborah Keyser of Astor, FL
UpDog Challenge Disc
Disc Dog is an exciting, fast-paced sport that all dogs and people can enjoy. UpDog has taken the basic game of fetch with a flying disc and expanded it into 10 fun games. Dogs of any breed, type, size or shape can play and be successful. If your dog can fetch, your dog can play UpDog. Dogs get points in every game and cumulative points earn UpDog Achievements (called “UPs”). Once you have earned an UP in at least three games, you can apply for the AKC Disc Dog titles.
For more information about UpDog and getting involved in your area, visit UpDog Challenge. There you can learn more about events in your area, UpDog games, and more!
Congratulations to this dog for earning the highest title, the Disc Dog Unobtainium (DDU):
Nano-Bot ACT1 DDU owned by Robin Herman of Indianapolis, IN
Nano came from Animal Care and Control. Robin is the president of a rescue organization, so she took him, and after spending some time with him, she decided she had to keep him. “He LOVES catching discs,” Robin said. Besides his DDU title, he has two third place world championships to his name for distance catches. He earned the last leg of his title at Cross Creek Farm Dog Water Sports in New Richmond, Ohio, in July 2019.
North American Diving Dogs
NADD offers titles in both distance dock jumping and air retrieve for all dogs. Dogs receive titles based on how far they jump and only compete in the same division with dogs that jump similar distances. For more information go to www.northamericadivingdogs.com
Congratulations to these All-American Dogs for receiving AKC recognition of their NADD titles:
DJ
- Ocean The Brave DJ owned by HEATHER M LOWE of Ellijay, GA
DM
- Edward Francis Roy DM DJ owned by Sophia Alanna Roy of Greensburg, PA
- Titan Tail DM CGC owned by Susanne A. Sweney of Scottsdale, AZ
- Rice Creeks Blue Jean Night DM DS CGC owned by Derek Lambkin of Columbus, OH
DMA
- Eko BCAT RATO DMA DSA owned by Tatum Renee Trivyzas of Syracuse, UT
DMX
- Rothschild’s Murphy DE DMX AM owned by Paula Rothschild of Roswell, GA
DNA
- Princess Lulu Lemon FDC BCAT DNA CGCA owned by Mikayla Grabski of Sterling Heights, MI
DS
- Big Papi SWA RATCH DS CGC TKI owned by Cindi Saylor of Raleigh, NC
North American Flyball Association
AKC recognizes three titles of NAFA competitors – the Flyball Dog Champion (FDCh) for 500 points; Flyball Master (FM) for 5,000 points; and the Onyx award for 20,000 points. For more information on NAFA and how to get involved go to www.flyball.org
Congratulations to these All-American Dogs for earning the FM:
FM
- PACH Sirius Canines’ Draco MXP8 MXPG MJP8 MJPG PAX2 NFP FM TKA owned by Margaret Boulanger of Houston, TX
- Sc’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun FDC OA OAJ FM TKI owned by Margaret Boulanger of Houston, TX
Search and Rescue
The skills of search and rescue dogs mean the difference between life and death, especially during natural disasters, mass casualty events, and when locating missing people. AKC is proud to honor the invaluable service of these dogs and their owners through our Search and Rescue program.
Title recognition is offered for FEMA certified Urban Search and Rescue dogs, as well as Wilderness Search and Rescue dogs.
Congratulations to this All-American Dog for earning the SAR-W (Wilderness Search and Rescue) title:
Google Search SAR-W CGCA TKN owned by Heather Lum and Shane Halse of Prescott Valley, AZ
Google is a Lab/Border Collie mix (Heather thinks) and was adopted by Heather from the Erie Humane Society in Erie County, PA about eight years ago.
“Since then, he has done some really great things,” she said. “He is a search and rescue dog and has helped with countless searches for lost people. He even has two finds under his belt of people lost in the woods. One was an individual who had been missing for about three days and was severely hypothermic when we located him. The other was someone who got turned around and was stuck out in the wilderness overnight.”
Google is nationally certified through the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) in both live find area search (air scent) as well as land human remains detection. He is also a therapy dog and loves to go to nursing homes and entertain seniors. “Google loves everything he does and is an example of just how awesome shelter dogs can be!”
