The AKC works with 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); the North American Flyball Association (NAFA); and UpDog Challenge disc organization. For information on how to apply, go to: AKC Title Recognition Program. Read on to meet 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:
- 600 visits to earn the AKC Therapy Dog Supreme (THDS) title.
- 400 visits to earn the AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD) title.
- 200 visits to earn the AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX) title.
- 100 visits to earn the AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA) title.
- 50 visits to earn the AKC Therapy Dog (THD) title.
- 10 visits to earn the AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN) title.
Congratulations to the All American Dogs who are the first to earn the new Therapy Dog Supreme title, having made 600 visits:
- Dragon Run’s Little Lion THDS CGC TKN owned by Beth Peterson of Dover, DE
- Dragon Run’s Cracker Jack THDS CGC owned by Beth Peterson of Dover, DE
- Scamper Dempsey THDS CGC owned by Sharon Dempsey of Anaheim, CA
- Bagel Chen FDC THDS CGCA CGCU TKN owned by Grace Chen of Tustin, CA
- Bella Jessie Rose Wulff THDS CGCA owned by Terry Wulff of Oklahoma City, OK
- Rusty Boy THDS CGC owned by Roz Henwood of Grand Prairie, TX
- Kassie Respecki FDC THDS NSD CGCA CGCU TKP ATT owned by Laura Respecki of Berkley, MI
We salute these All-Americans who are recent recipients of the THDD title for 400 or more visits!
Jessie RN THDD CGCA owned by Leslie Parish of Big Sandy, TX
“Jessie’s ‘gotcha’ day is Jan. 12, 2013; she came from BARC in Houston, TX,” Leslie said. “They determined that she was 1 year and 7 months old.”
Leslie and Jessie began obedience training that February and soon earned both CGC and CGCA.
“We entered tally trials, and she did receive her Rally Novice title, but she was not enjoying the competition; she kept trying to meet with the judges and other human contestants to comfort them. We continued with various other types of training, such as scent work, but kept coming back to the idea of her personality being perfect for therapy dog work.”
Jessie was temperament tested by Caring Critters in September 2015 and began therapy dog visits in November 2015. They volunteer with Canines for Christ.
“Jessie is especially sensitive to people suffering depression and will go to them first, even if it is a family member. She is very gentle with people of any age,” Leslie said. “We have visited assisted living facilities, memory care, the veteran’s home, Lighthouse for the Blind, colleges during finals, foster children, and 911 call centers, sharing her special love and God’s grace. Jessie’s greatest joy is getting to lie on or near someone’s feet after she is petted.”
She earned her THDD title on July 28, 2021, at Watkins-Logan Veteran’s Home in Tyler, TX.
Sunny Masci THDD CGC owned by Matthew E. Masci of Perry, NY
A 4-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, K9 Sunny began his journey as a rescue from Cocoa, FL. In 2021, he was taken in as a recruit for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Paws and Stripes College.
In search of a police therapy dog, Officer Matt Masci of the Perry Police Department in New York joined his new partner where they were certified as a Law Enforcement Investigative Therapy Dog team and a Multi-Discipline Therapy Dog Team by United K9s. It’s here that the pair achieved its first AKC certificate as a Canine Good Citizen.
Masci is the School Resource Officer for the Perry Central School District where Sunny has become an integral part of the framework that makes up each day.
“Look, it’s Sunny!” can be heard echoing through the halls as the pair makes their rounds. He loves his work, taking time to walk past each student to say hello. Superintendent of Schools Daryl McLaughlin was recently quoted as saying “I am amazed how seamlessly he fits into the district’s operations and culture. It was like he was meant to be with us.”
Chief of Police Michael J. Grover added that “It’s bringing us closer to the kids, which brings us closer to the parents.”
Masci added that Sunny’s presence “changes the dynamic of the room.” He is an asset for de-escalation, students with development concerns, counseling, mental health evaluations, or even just as a conversation starter. “The reality is that students don’t always want to speak to authority figures, but often times, they’ll pour their heart out to a dog,” Masci said.
In school, he’s a welcoming face for students and staff from Pre-K to 12th grade, but he also has a large community presence. Outside the walls of school, Sunny often rides with his partner and is a familiar face at community functions or calls where families may be experiencing trauma or grief. In the last 13 months, Sunny has logged almost 300 call-out interactions, earning him the title of Distinguished Therapy Dog by the American Kennel Club, or as he’s known locally, the ‘Top Dog.’ The initiative was financially supported by Pioneer Credit Recovery and exclusive care is provided by Perry Veterinary Clinic. You can follow Sunny’s adventures at Facebook/PerryK9Sunny and Instagram @perryk9sunny. www.perry.k12.ny.us/sunny
Katie Gourlay THDD CGC owned by Scott Gourlay of Santa Clarita, CA
Katie, a Pet Partners Certified Therapy Dog, completed her 400th visit at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, CA, while visiting essential personnel on Christmas Eve 2021. “She made their tiresome day a happy one,” Scott said.
Seven-year-old Katie was born in Alabama. When she got to California, she was eager to do additional training and received her CGC. Her trainers said that she would make a great therapy dog, and her five-year career has proven them right.
Through Pet Partners, Katie is also a member of the Animal Assisted Crisis Response Team. She can be deployed by FEMA to serve as a comfort dog to help people through disaster situations. Katie has visited assisted living facilities, convalescent hospitals, and hospitals. In January, Katie received a Congressional Recognition for her AKC Distinguished Therapy Dog title.
Bruno Malley THDD CGCA owned by Stephanie Ann Malley of Copperas Cove, TX
Stephanie picked up Bruno as a puppy from the back of a truck in a parking lot.
His training began with basic obedience and then he moved on to more advanced training. “After a little over a year of intense training, Bruno was ready to face just about anything that could come his way as a therapy dog,” Stephanie said. She applied to Canines 4 Christ, and the team was accepted into their program.
Bruno’s 400th visit was to Stoney Brook Memory Care on Dec. 6, 2021. “Since his first visit we have visited several nursing homes and hospitals, memory care units, the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, after school care programs where I teach how to approach strange dogs and safety around dogs; Clifton Park Elementary; and the library with the Study Buddy Program. Bruno has also visited children’s departments in different churches where the children are read stories about God’s grace and mercy as seen through the eyes of Zeke and Jake.”
At the hospital and nursing homes, he works with the physical therapist to encourage the patients to do range of motion and strengthening exercises by playing fetch. “The patients are able to exercise longer because they are not thinking about the exercise but about playing with Bruno,” Stephanie said. “Nursing home residents do not miss their rehab times when Bruno comes for the scheduled visit! Bruno has the most fun playing while working as a therapy dog.”
Dublin Of Strathglencoe THDD CGC owned by Kathy Ann Laverty of Middletown, PA
Dublin is a 9-year-old Border Collie mix rescue adopted by Kathy in March 2014. He became a Caring Hearts pet therapy dog in February 2015 and has completed more than 400 visits to locations including nursing homes, hospitals, schools, libraries, summer camps, youth centers, and the Ronald McDonald House.
In 2017, Dublin became a courtroom therapy dog with the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, PA. He visits the courthouse, district magistrate offices and police departments to provide comfort to children and adult victims/witnesses of crime including attending trials.
“Dublin seems to instinctively know when someone needs a hug and has found his mission in life. He went from being a shelter dog to becoming a wonderful therapy dog who shares his compassion for others to those in need. I will always remember what a young girl whispered to Dublin during a visit to a residential youth center,” Kathy said. “I told her that Dublin was dropped off at a shelter by a family who no longer wanted him and that I adopted him. Dublin realized she really needed one of his gentle hugs and he quietly went over to her. While hugging, she whispered ‘Nobody wants me either, and I have not been hugged in a long time.’ Such a precious, intimate moment between a young girl and a dog.
“The positive impact Dublin, and all therapy dogs, can have on those they visit is what pet therapy is all about. When Dublin is not doing his therapy work, he enjoys life on a small horse farm, running in the fields, watching the horses, goats, alpaca, and chickens. He loves the outdoors and enjoys going on camping trips and spending lots of time in streams and lakes. As a way to recognize Dublin for all his wonderful therapy work, I applied for the AKC Distinguished Therapy Dog title and he received his on Jan. 12, 2022.”
Abigail Inscho THDD CGC owned by Marge Inscho of Sicklerville, NJ
Abigail’s journey as a therapy dog began during March 2018. Fast forward four years and she has completed more than 550 local visits and five national deployments.
Abigail was adopted by Bruce and Marge Inscho from Animal Adoption Center in Lindenwold, NJ, in 2015. Sadly, Marge would be widowed a short five months later. With Abigail by her side during this difficult time, Marge, a retired school psychologist, decided it was time to volunteer, but she did not want to leave Abigail home alone. Volunteering with Abigail as a therapy dog seemed to be the perfect solution.
Although the original idea was to have children read to Abigail, once Team Marge/Abigail joined Tri-State Canine Response Team, a whole new world opened up to them. “Abigail is a wonderful therapy dog. Time and again on visits she has picked out the people who needed her the most. During a recent visit with a second-grade class, she insisted on spending extra time with a child who is undergoing cancer treatment as well as with a homeless child. As is often the case, I had no idea why Abigail insisted on staying with these students until a staff member shared what was going on,” Marge said. “Abigail also has a special bond with children with autism and adults with PTSD. She is a frequent visitor at many facilities including schools and COVID vaccine centers.”
Marge and Abigail are part of Tri-State Canine Response Team’s Crisis Response Team and have deployed five times: to a fatal school bus crash in Paramus NJ; mass shootings in State College, PA; El Paso, TX; and Indianapolis, IN ;and the aftermath of a series of devastating weather events in Lake Charles, LA. In addition, they are members of the Traumatic Loss Coalition and respond to local schools after tragic events.
“I am forever grateful for this wonderful girl coming into my life at the exact moment I needed her. Angels really are here on earth; one of their forms is therapy dogs.”
Guinness Of Highland Point THDD owned by Foster and Dorothy Arnett of Knoxville, TN
Guinness was rescued from the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, by Adopt A Golden Knoxville on March 8, 2017. Foster and Dorothy think he was 2 at the time. Foster worked with a trainer in Knoxville, and they have volunteered almost 1,000 hours and made more than 600 visits since Sept. 16, 2017. Currently they visit nine different places each week, including:
- University of Tennessee Medical Center: Trauma Floor, PICU, COVID ICU, Trauma Surgery
- Cancer Institute
- Hospice
- Fountain City Elementary – 4th Grade Ruff Reader
- Knox County 911 Center
They work through the HABIT (Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee) program from the UT School of Veterinarian Medicine. “Guinness is a rock star and our BFF! He is sweet, kind, caring, giving and handsome beyond belief. He was awarded the THDD on Dec. 2, 2021. We are so proud of him!” Foster said.
Congratulations also to these dogs who have earned the THDD:
- Sally Sandvigen THDD CGCA owned by Earl Sandvigen of Laguna Beach, CA
- Piper Kearns THDD CGCA owned by Sherrill Kearns of Phoenixville, PA
- Sunny Loar THDD owned by Karen A Loar of Springfield, OH
BARN HUNT
RATCH (Barn Hunt Champion)
Millie Freiermuth CD BN RA DCAT SWN SCA SIA RATCH CGC TKI owned by Jill Freiermuth of Whitewater, WI
Jill adopted Millie, a terrier mix, when she was 6 months old from her local humane society. She immediately noticed Millie’s vigorous prey drive, and Barn Hunt was recommended. So, she visited the Barn Hunt website and read up on the rules. “Millie and I signed up for barn hunt classes to train her skills (ratting) and train my ability to read her body language when she’s ‘on a rat’ vs ‘on litter.’ She passed her Instinct test in March 2019. We were both hooked. Millie earned her Novice title in one weekend. She grew in personality and her confidence bloomed with each trial, as did our teamwork skills,” Jill said.
Millie earned her RATCH on Oct. 2, 2021, at Happy Feet in Oak Creek, WI. “In Trial 1, Millie had five rats. She did not indicate on even one in 4.5 minutes! She did her tunnel and climb like a pro and then ‘cataloged’ the rats. Cataloging means Millie knew where each one was but didn’t tell me. The judge shared this with me, and the rat wranglers who were in the ring with us. I was stunned; we had NQ’d in other trials, but this ‘cataloging’ was a new hurdle. I wondered if we should go home. Is she feeling okay? But we had entered two trials; we would run in two trials – deep breath.”
“In Trial 2, Millie found one rat (big party), then two rats (BIG PARTY). She did her tunnel, her climb, and indicated on the third rat (BIG PARTY!). She was having fun and I was having fun, but I knew that our allotted time was almost up. I needed to decide if she was clear. Millie began wandering without showing searching energy, so I called ‘CLEAR!’”
“Our judge confirmed: we were clear! Everyone clapped and celebrated with us. I am so glad we stayed, regrouped, and finished on a high note. We will continue our journey in Barn Hunt and having fun together,” Jill said.
RATM (Master Barn Hunt)
- Silly Lilly Star OA OAJ NF DCAT SIN THD RATM CGC TKA owned by Amanda Haynes of League City, TX
- Sallie O Mallie RATM CGCA CGCU TKN owned by Bonnie Cook of Corrales, NM
RATN (Novice Barn Hunt)
- Augen Cartwright Brock II OA OAJ NF SCN RATN owned by Jane Brock of Santa Fe, NM
- Little Miss Memphis-Belle SWNE SWA SCAE SIAE SCE RATN ATT owned by Judy & Tony Artessa of Hamilton, NY
- Middle West’s Most Precious RATN owned by Andromeda Veach of Madison, WI
- Edmund The Ediot RATN DSA CGC owned by Madi Hart of Taylorsville, UT
- Primcess Primrose RATN CGCA TKN VHMA owned by Casey Farrand of Los Gatos, CA
RATO (Open Barn Hunt)
- It’s All About The Lincolns Baby RATO TKI owned by Liz Alford of Little Elm, TX
- Sasha Belle Winsett FCAT2 SWM RATO CGCA TKA owned by Kim Winsett of Alabaster, AL
- Milo Linares RATO 08/29/2021 10/05/2021 Bolivar Linares of Deerfield Beach, FL
- Armstrong’s Lucy FCAT RATO DN CGCA CGCU TKN owned by Cassandra Armstrong of Longwood, FL
- Toby Fast Paws RN FDC ACT1 THDN RATO CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Pamela Sisler of Barnesville, OH
- Maycomb’s Mockingbird NAJ CAA BCAT RATO owned by Chelsea Burroughs of Seattle, WA
- My Buddy Moto FDC OAP OJP SWN SHDN RATO CGCA CGCU TKI ATT owned by Kelly & Patty Crosby of Plano, TX
- MACH PACH4 Logan’s Flash Of An Angel Trixie MXB MJB MXP12 MXPC PDSP MJP13 MJPB2 PJDP PAX4 XF MFPS TQXP T2B T2BP3 BCAT RATO CGC TKA ATT owned by Mrs. Antje L Logan of Denham Springs, LA
RATS (Senior)
- Silly Lilly Star OA OAJ NF DCAT SIN THD RATM CGC TKA owned by Amanda Haynes of League City, TX
- Whirley Whirlwind Wind Of Dorian CDX BN GO RE AX AXJ XF RATS TKI owned by Sue Kotlarek of Romulus, MI
UPDOG DISC
DDUE (Disc Dog Unobtainium Elite)
Quantum’s There And Back Again FDC NAP NJP NFP CAA BCAT ACT1 SWN DN DDUE CGC TKP owned by Cheryl Hutchings of Columbia, CT
“I cannot say enough good things about the sport of canine disc,” Cheryl said. “The community of people who built this sport have made it welcoming and strive to keep it open, honest and friendly. There is plenty of competition, but it has levels that allow everyone to play.”
Kirra, an Australian Koolie, is Cheryl’s first disc dog. “We started with Trick Dog and trained for agility, but someone suggested that I try disc with Kirra. ‘It’s fun,’ they said, ‘and there are agility games, so why not try it?’ I hadn’t thrown a Frisbee since I was a kid and that was a long time ago. Intrigue set in so in 2017 we played our first rounds of UpDog and never looked back. Kirra lives for a disc, and she has excelled at the sport.”
On Dec. 31, 2021, they achieved the Disc Dog Unobtanium Elite at Charter Oak Disc Dogs event in Brooklyn, CT. Kirra has that achievement in seven of the games: 4 Way Play, Spaced Out, Frizgility, Time Warp, Throw N Go, 7 Up and FunKey. “Her favorite game is, of course, Frizgility because it combines her love of jumps and tunnels with a disc.”
“We attended a lot of events this year so that we could gain points in order to qualify for the UpDog International Finals being held in Cadiz, KY, this April. Kirra is currently the top dog in 2021 for 4 Way Play, third in Frizgility and Spaced Out, and fifth in Time Warp, Throw N Go and 7 Up, amongst all the teams worldwide. Kirra and I love the aspect of this being so much a team sport. There are plenty of days when we don’t click and one of us is off, but we still have fun being out on the field together. I encourage anyone whose dog loves to play with toys and chase or retrieve to give this sport a chance.”
North America Diving Dogs
AM – Air Master
- Mecklenburg’s Jake ACT2 SWA SBE RATO DM AM DDG DDBE CGC TKP owned by Roberta Mecklenburg of Elk Grove Village, IL
AS – Air Senior
- Matzke’s Kronk RM AX AXJ XF ACT2 RATO DSA AS AJ HDJ CGC TKA owned by Roger Matzke of Penndel, PA
- Tenzington The Oaf DSA AS owned by Madi Hart of Taylorsville, UT
DEA – Dock Elite Advanced
- Juno Deems DEA DMX HDN owned by Pam Deems & Aaron Trunk of Scottsdale, AZ
DJ – Dock Junior
- Honey Badger Don’T Care RN FDC NAP NJP NFP CAX DCAT ACT2 ACT2J DJ CGCA CGCU TKA ATT VHMA VSWB owned by Kimberly Dickson & Jesse Blanchard of Stanfordville, NY
- AGCH MACH15 PACH7 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE5 MXB4 PDG MJC4 PJG MXP16 MXPS2 MJP18 MJPG2 PAX7 MFC TQX T2B9 DJ CGCA CGCU TKA owned by JORDAN PATRICK YORK of Evansville, IN
- Rebel Without A Cause NAP NFP DJ owned by Michelle Berge of Crystal, MN
- Emma Cooper CD BN RE FDC NJP BCAT DJ CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Lily & Brian Cooper of Newnan, GA
DM – Dock Master
- Mecklenburg’s Jake ACT2 SWA SBE RATO DM AM DDG DDBE CGC owned by Roberta Mecklenburg of Elk Grove Village, IL
- 3-Gen Terrific Trio’s In Sync DM TKI owned by Roberta Mecklenburg of Elk Grove Village, IL
- Penton’s Vegas RI DM owned by Kim Penton of Columbia, MO
- Rudolph III RN DM DSA CGCA TKI owned by Denise & Randy Stevens of Minden, LA
- Princess Riley Sassy Pants DM DS VHMA owned by Shannon Quinn of Waxahachie, TX
- Micken Nugget RN DM CGC TKE VSWB owned by Allison Weaver of Rockwood, TN
- Thriller DM DSA owned by Alisha Cole of Saint Louis, MO
- Gunner Jack DM DS owned by Hannah Sage of Webster, NY
DMX – Dock Master Excellent
- Flying Dogs Res Q Buddy NA NAJ NF DMX owned by Mark Farrell of Omaha, NE
- Juno Deems DEA DMX HDN owned by Pam Deems & Aaron Trunk of Scottsdale, AZ
DN – Dock Novice
- Just Yoda BCAT DN TKN owned by Theresa Dydalewicz of Dripping Springs, TX
- Armstrong’s Lucy FCAT RATO DN CGCA CGCU TKN owned by Cassandra Armstrong of Longwood, FL
- Marshall’s Dakota CD RAE OA OAJ XF DN CGC TKN owned by Michele Marshall of Las Cruces, NM
DNA – Dock Novice Advanced
- Bradley’s Daisy RI FDC NAP OJP NFP CAX FCAT SCA SIN SBN SHDN RATO CZ8B DJ DNA HDN CGCA CGCU TKI ATT VHMA owned by Alison & Kevin Bradley of Fayetteville, AR
DP – Dock Premier
- Archie Hamilton Summers DP CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Shannon Summers of Kingman, AZ
DS – Dock Senior
- Macie White DS owned by Travis White & Patricia Allen of Cibolo, TX
- Llanelli Lady In Black BCAT DS DJ owned by NanciEllyn Lazarowitz of Fremont, MI
- Groves Turbo RN FDC ACT1 THDN DS DJ CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Pam Sisler & Tom Groves of Barnesville, OH
- Isabelle The Sparkle Princess NAP NJP DS DJ owned by Emily Maness of Conway, AR
- Gunner Jack DM DS owned by Hannah Sage of Webster, NY
- Murphy McSweeney DS owned by Brian McSweeney & Katie Robinson of Dracut, MA
DSA – Dock Senior Advanced
- Edmund The Ediot RATN DSA CGC owned by Madi Hart of Taylorsville, UT
- Tenzington The Oaf DSA AS owned by Madi Hart of Taylorsville, UT
- Rudolph III RN DM DSA CGCA TKI owned by Denise & Randy Stevens of Minden, LA
DSX – Dock Senior Excellent
- Jumping Jeter RN BCAT RATN DM DSX DDG CGCA CGCU TKA owned by P. Filomena Diaz Johnson of Rockville, UT
HDN – Hydro Dash Novice
- Bradley’s Daisy RI FDC NAP OJP NFP CAX FCAT SCA SIN SBN SHDN RATO CZ8B DJ DNA HDN CGCA CGCU TKI ATT VHMA owned by Alison & Kevin Bradley of Fayetteville, AR
HDS – Hydro Dash Senior
- Carbon Arsyn Van Legaten CD BN RI FDC CA BCAT DSA AS HDS CGCA CGCU TKN ATT owned by Frank Wisneski of West Covina, CA