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 program and the AKC Search & Rescue program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); 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: Title Recognition Program
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!
Pearl The Pug THDD CGC owned by Susan Tauber of West Bloomfield, MI
In September 2015, when she was 2, Pearl was rescued by Michigan Pug Rescue along with several other Pugs. Susan fostered Pearl and adopted her in November 2015.
Pearl became a certified therapy dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs in April 2016. She lost her left eye that summer and is blind in her other eye. Blindness didn’t faze her at all. She kept her spirited personality and interacts easily with people on her visits. “She can seek out anyone who needs some therapy dog attention as well as any sighted dog. She’s a squishy, cuddly, snoring love bug – I mean Pug – who wears silly outfits with pizzazz and brings smiles and tears of comfort to others during her therapy visits,” Susan said.
The team belongs to Dr. Paws, a Michigan-based support group for therapy dog teams.
Pearl earned her AKC THDD title after her 400th certified therapy dog visit on April 8, 2021, at Henry Ford Hospital West Bloomfield. Therapy dog teams were invited back inside the hospital in March 2021 after a 12-months absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pearl also returned recently to in-dog visits at Beaumont Farmington Hospital and Brown Center Adult Day Care.
Congratulations also to these dogs who have earned the THDD:
- Ezekiel Anubis Glatfelter THDD CGCA CGCU owned by Pamela and Alexander Glatfelter of Frederick, MD
- Loomans’ Peanut THDD owned by Trena Loomans of Wausau, WI
- Loomans’ Coconut THDD CGC owned by Trena Loomans of Wausau, WI
- C C Durham RN THDD CGCA TKA owned by Matt Durham of Ewa Beach, HI
- Omri Cadenhead THDD CGC TKE owned by Karen Cadenhead of Tomball, TX
Barn Hunt
RATCH (Barn Hunt Champion)
Sierra-Echo Swan Cloud RATCH CGC owned by Rebecca Rice and Jay Brykczynski of Pensacola, FL
Maggie is an 8-year-old Australian Shepherd who loves to herd stock and barn hunt. She began barn hunting in May 2019 and earned the RATCH on Dec. 19, 2020, at G2 Barn Hunt in Morriston, FL; RATCHX on March 6, 2021, at Deep South Dog Sports Barn Hunt in Pensacola, FL; and RATCHX2 on June 13, 2021, at the G2 Barn Hunt in Morriston, FL.
In January 2021 she began the Crazy 8’s class and earned the CZ8B (Crazy 8s Bronze) title on June 12, 2021, at the G2 Barn Hunt.
Maggie was given to Rebecca and Jay when she was 6 years old, by close friends to help fill the void left by the death of their Australian Shepherd, Mischief. She already had herding and rally titles. Her previous owners suggested that they begin Barn Hunt and agility training.
“She loves to swim so much that every time she sees a pond or a swimming pool she wants to jump in and swim like a duck. Even though she herds stock, she has a soft mouth. Two years ago, when we were working in the backyard, Maggie brought us a day-old baby squirrel that had fallen out of its nest. She held it gently in her mouth, brought it to us, and gently laid it on the ground at our feet. The worker at the wildlife rescue complimented us on having a dog with such a soft mouth. However, she went from heroine to naughty girl on the same day when that night she grabbed a piece of cooked chicken off the counter and ate it before I turned around and saw her. Maggie is a beloved pet and faithful companion who brings joy to our lives every day,” Rebecca said.
RATCHX
- Rustling Oaks Strutter OA AXJ AXP XF SWN SIA SEA SHDN RATCHX owned by Jennifer Miller of Pinellas Park, FL
- Santa’s Little Helper DCAT RATCHX CZ8B CGC TKN owned by Leslie and Michael Wilson of Marrero, LA
- Mulcahy’s Hang On Little Tomato FCAT2 RATCHX CZ8S CGC TKN owned by Lisa Miller of Bethesda, MD
CZ8B
- Santa’s Little Helper DCAT RATCHX CZ8B CGC TKN owned by Leslie and Michael Wilson of Marrero, LA
- Jemma Of Wakulla Beach DCAT RATN CZ8B CGC TKN owned by Kathy Greenwood of Crawfordville, FL
- Kipbomb’s Little Miss Violet RE NAP NJP SWN SCA SIA SEA RATM CZ8B CGCA CGCU ATT owned by Jeanne and Roger Lagesse of Hampton, VA
CZ8P
- Rustling Oaks Strutter OA AXJ AXP XF SWN SIA SEA SHDN RATCHX CZ8P CGC TKN owned by Jennifer Miller of Pinellas Park, FL
CZ8S
- Mulcahy’s Hang On Little Tomato FCAT2 RATCHX CZ8S CGC TKN owned by Lisa Miller of Bethesda, MD
RATM
- Luke Killpack CD RE SWN SCA SBA RATM CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Deborah Killpack of Helena, MT
- Kipbomb’s Little Miss Violet RE NAP NJP SWN SCA SIA SEA RATM CZ8B CGCA CGCU ATT owned by Jeanne and Roger Lagesse of Hampton, VA
RATN
- Luna Venkat RA FDC AXP AJP NFP BCAT SWA SCE SIE THDN RATN CGCA CGCU TKE ATT VHMA owned by Heather Venkat of Surprise, AZ
- Pawley Poch Gilroy RATN CGC TKN owned by Andrea Gilroy of Amityville, NY
- Rose’s Fifty Flavors Of Fun RATN TKI owned by Amanda Rose of Joppa, MD
- Charm Princess Jewell Smith RAE CAX BCAT THDA RATN CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Susan Smith of Bordentown, NJ
- Babe Doll RATN owned by Ruth Watson of Birmingham, AL
- Graham’s Sherlock Bones RATN owned by Dale Graham of Rixeyville, VA
- Miss Penny Blossom RN MX MXJ XF RATN CGC TKA owned by Elizabeth Erin Alford of Little Elm, TX
- Braunwood’s Highland Lass NA NAJ NJP RATN owned by Charlene Brown and David Gurican of Eagle River, AK
- Lkc’s Young Scrappy And Hungry CA BCAT SCN SIN SEN RATN TKE VHMA owned by Laura Cole of Austin, TX
- Willow Isle Walkin’ After Midnight RATN CGC TKN owned by Lisa Miller of Bethesda, MD
- Ember Tepool DCAT RATN CGC TKI owned by Anita Tepool of Indianapolis, IN
- A True Token Of Royalty RATN TKA owned by Tiffany Flores of North Las Vegas, NV
RATO
- Anthracite Leo’s Deep Fire RI NAJ ACT1 RATO CGCA TKA owned by Jane Graham of Danville, PA
- Trippett’s Twist Of Fate CD BN RE MX MXJ XF SWA RATO CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Lisa Trippett of Denton, MD
- Dori Of Ponderosa CD PCD BN RA FDC RATO CGC owned by Virginia Austin of Las Vegas, NV
- Captain Morgan Spiced Gold RATO SDPRO CGC TKP owned by Jennifer Bramble of Lincoln Park, MI
- Lady Bug Flyaway Home RATO CGC TKN owned by Kathy Greenwood of Crawfordville, FL
- Miss Molly Wogg RATO owned by Ruth Watson of Birmingham, AL
- Hatfield’s Rocket Man SCN SIN RATO DM CGC owned by Kristi Hatfield of Scottsdale, AZ
- Daisy Mae Clopper RATO TKN owned by Katelyn and Mason Clopper of Denton, MD
RATS
- Hot Shot RATS CGC owned by Bari Boersma of Winchester, CA
- Matzke’s Odin CD BN RM RATS CGC TKA owned by Roger Matzke of Penndel, PA
- Baller Queen Of Tahlequah SWN RATS CGC owned by Susan Szalczynski of Chicago, IL
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):
- Quantum’s There And Back Again NAP NJP NFP CAA ACT1 SIN DN DDU TKA owned by Cheryl Hutchings of Columbia, CT
NADD – 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:
AMA
- Syn BCAT RATN DEA AMA CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Tatum Trivyzas of Syracuse, UT
AS
- Bora Eye Of The Storm DS AS owned by Lauren Dankovich of Flushing, MI
DE
- Juno Deems DE DMA HDN owned by Pam Deems & Aaron Trunk of Scottsdale, AZ
DEA
- Hutson’s Clear The Way DEA owned by Christy Lynne Hutson of Moyock, NC
DJ
- Rip-Roarin’ And Ready To Go BCAT DJ TKA owned by Emily Anderson of Frederick, MD
- LSK’s Beauty Of The Islands CA BCAT DJ TKP owned by Amanda Lackey of Hoover, AL
- Sam’s Honey Pie RN DJ owned by Alisa O’Neal and Lisa O’Neal of Jacksonville, FL
DJX
- Piper Riley DCAT SWN DS DJX CGCA TKN owned by Carla Jenkins of Lawrenceville, GA
DM
- Knapp’s Unleashed Meyhem Aka Riggs CA BCAT DM DJ owned by Megan Mills of Signal Mountain, TN
- Knapp’s Full Of Moxie Aka Roxie DM DN owned by Megan Mills of Signal Mountain, TN
- Hatfield’s Rocket Man SCN SIN RATO DM CGC owned by Kristi Hatfield of Scottsdale, AZ
DMA
- Titan Tail DMA CGC owned by Susanne A. Sweney of Scottsdale, AZ
- Juno Deems DE DMA HDN owned by Pam Deems and Aaron Trunk of Scottsdale, AZ
DN
- Palm Sundays Finest Dinghy SIN DS DN CGC TKI VHMA owned by Sienna Bell of Laurel, MT
- Sargent Tank Of The North DN TKN owned by Nicole E. Johnson of Minot, ND
DS
- Supernova’s Ready For Takeoff BCAT DS DN CGC TKP owned by Emily Anderson of Austin, TX
- MACH Happy Mac MXB MJB XF DM DS owned by Rachel Evers of New Berlin, WI
- Palm Sundays Finest Dinghy SIN DS DN CGC TKI VHMA owned by Sienna Bell of Laurel, MT
DSA
- Paco El Taco Grande DSA DJ HDS owned by McKenzie Rose Harvey of Oakdale, MN
HDN
- Juno Deems DE DMA HDN owned by Pam Deems and Aaron Trunk of Scottsdale, AZ
HDS
- Bernhardt BCAT HDS owned by Alexander Gerding of Johnstown, OH
- Paco El Taco Grande DSA DJ HDS owned by McKenzie Rose Harvey of Oakdale, MN
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-U (Urban Search and Rescue) title:
- Pferal SAR-U1 CGC owned by Bryan Crivelli of Montgomery, TX