Competition/Titles Update
We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles in Agility, Coursing Ability, Rally, Obedience and Tracking. This past quarter delivered an All-American Dog winning a division of the AKC National Agility Championship and the first ever Versatility Companion Dog Level 3 (VCD3)!
AGILITY
AKC National Agility Championship
The 2018 AKC National Agility Championship took place March 23-25 in Reno, Nevada, and some All-American Dogs took home big awards. NAC Quicksilver Cherry on Top MX MXJ OF T2B owned by Angie Benacquisto of Ortonville, MI, won first place in the 12-inch jump height regular, making her a two-time National Agility Champion!
Sundae
Congratulations also to these All-American dogs who performed well in the finals:
4-inch jump height, Preferred, 2nd place:
- PNAC MACH9 PACH3 Logan Lake Hope MXC2 MJG3 MXP8 MXPG MJP8 MJPG PAX3 XF T2B CGC owned by Kimberly Barton of Johnstown, OH
16-inch jump height, Preferred, 7th place:
- MACH Roula MXS MJS MXP MJP2 MJPB MXF T2B2 owned by Ann-Marie Moore of San Francisco, CA
16-inch jump height, Regular, 3rd place:
- MACH T.N.T. MXB MJB owned by Shenna Lemche of Cedar, MN
16-inch jump height, Regular, 9rd place:
- Ontarget’s Born to Be Rebel MX MXJ NF owned by Gosia Skowron of Salt Lake City, UT
Master Agility Championships (MACH)
Multiple Master Agility Champions
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more MACHs:
- MACH2 Kramer The Golden Boy MXS MJG MXF CGCA TKP owned by Lori Napoli of Mechanicsburg, PA
- MACH2 Amarillo MXG MJG MFB T2B2 owned by Belinda Rodriguez of Pearland, TX
- MACH2 Peterson’s Rosie Pickle MXS MJG NF T2B owned by Kathryn Tucker of Fairbanks, AK
- MACH2 Tuckman Of San Francisco MXS PAD MJG PJD MFB TQX T2B4 owned by Larry Rich of San Francisco, CA
- MACH2 Lady Stixalot of Lafayette CDX BN RE MXS MJC CGC owned by Heidi Nelson of Huntley, IL
- MACH2 PACH Paved with Good Intentions MXS MJG MJPB PAX MXF T2B CGC owned by Tamar Fuhrer and Jon Faria of Culver City, CA
- MACH2 Princess Sophie Jo CD BN RE MXC MJB2 OF T2B TKN owned by Debra Tervelt of Loves Park, IL
- MACH2 Shani Of Ingleside CDX BN MXS MJG MXF T2B TKI owned by Valerie Dietz of O’Fallon, IL
- MACH2 Zoe Mia Vogel MXS MJS OF T2B2 owned by Kathleen Rose Vogel of Bay City, MI
- MACH3 Dewey MXG MJC OF T2B2 owned by Elise J Strauss of Salem, OR
- MACH3 Sassy V RAE MXG PAD MJG PJD MFS TQX T2B5 owned by Mette Bryans of Eureka, CA
- MACH3 Sir Tucker MXG MJS2 MFG TQX T2B5 CGC TKN owned by Scott and Denise Beaumont of Granite Falls, WA
- MACH3 Camp David’s On the Verge of Greatness MXG MJC MFB owned by Rachel Billick of Tarentum, PA
- MACH4 Olszewski’s Buffy MXS2 MJS2 NAP NJP NF NFP owned by Sandra Olszewski of Freeland, MD
- MACH4 Theodore Teddy Hill MXC PAD MJC OF owned by Priscilla Hill-Wampler and Jon Wampler of Newark, DE
- MACH5 Jinx Falkenburg McLean MXC MJB2 NF T2B owned by Adrienne McLean of Richardson, TX
- MACH5 Sweet Skylar MXC MJS2 owned by Lynn Van Vleet of Rockford, IL
- MACH6 Carrington MXC2 MJC2 MFS TQX T2B5 owned by Grace F. Swearingen of Colonial Heights, VA
- MACH9 Donaldson’s Daisy MXS3 MJC3 OF owned by Laura J. Donaldson of Elk Grove Village, IL
- MACH10 Lanakila Doin It by Example MXS3 PAD MJG3 PJD MFG TQX T2B8 owned by Caroline A. King of Sanger, TX
- MACH10 Cabonina La Saltadora MXG3 MJG3 owned by Jason D. and Melissa I.B. Meier of Germantown, WI
- MACH11 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE4 MXS3 PDS MJB4 PJS MFS TQX T2B7 CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Jordan Patrick York of Evansville, IN
Congratulations to these new first-time MACHs:
MA27929201 MACH Sadie Rosenberger MXB MJB NF T2B CGC TKN owned by Viveka Rosenberger of Vestavia, AL
Seven-year-old Sadie has been doing agility for three-and-a-half years and has always been very intuitive and willing to please. “Sadie continues to surprise me with her ability to read me on and off the course. She enjoys playing Frisbee and keeping guard on top of the couch during her off time,” Viveka said. “She has three fur brothers and one (soon to be two) human brothers. My Sadie has been the perfect teammate during my adventure into agility, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner on our journey!” They achieved MACH in Franklin, TN, at the Nashville Dog Training Club trial on Jan. 25, 2018.
Sadie
MACH Muttilda MXS MJB NAP OJP OF T2B CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Maria Delaup of Abita Springs, LA
Muttilda was picked up as a stray after being thrown from a vehicle on the highway at about 6 months of age. Maria enrolled her in agility classes five years ago just to build her confidence. “Agility has helped her come out of her shell, and she has been a fantastic first agility dog, teacher and partner,” Maria said. She earned her MACH at the Five Flags Dog Training Club of Pensacola trial on Feb. 17, 2018.
Muttilda
MACH Lady Parker of Riverchase MXB MJB OF T2B owned by Barbara Larcom and Phoebe Fisher of New Braunfels, TX
In the spring of 2012, Barbara and Phoebe were looking to adopt a young mixed-breed dog, a black one, because they had read that black dogs are more difficult to find homes for in the San Antonio area.
After looking for several weeks, they came across” Mischief,” who had been housed in multiple shelters since her birth on the streets. “Those ears just sealed the deal!” Barbara said. “The moniker ‘Mischief’ did not fit her at all so she was given the regal name of Lady Parker. However, her deep-seated issues with trusting people and getting along with other dogs persisted after a course in basic obedience so we thought she might benefit from agility classes.”
Agility training brought out the best in Parker. “At first, she was reluctant to jump, but after a year of training she competed in her first trial and since then has loved every minute of trialing and training. She has developed a strong bond with her handler and loves both her two- and four- legged agility family,” Barbara said.
Parker hates thunderstorms, but the qualifying run for her first MACH came during a horrible one at a trial held by the Alamo Area Toy Dog Club, on Feb. 24. She also successfully competed in her first AKC National Agility Championship in March and is now tackling Premier courses with great enthusiasm.
“Lady Parker has truly come a long way from her humble beginnings as ‘Mischief,’ the long-eared puppy that nobody wanted.”
Parker
MACH Andrea’s Maximum Entropy RE MXB MJB MXF CGC and MACH Andrea’s Little Buddy RE MXS MJB XF CGC owned by Andrea Atkinson of Cutler Bay, FL
Max and Buddy earned their first MACH titles in the last class of the last day of the same trial held by the Miami Obedience Club on March 11, 2018 in Miami, FL. The judge, Barbara Bounds, struggled through cancelled flights, a blizzard, and an injured arm to reach the show.
Max is 7 years old and looks like a Flat-coated Retriever mix whereas Buddy is 8 years old and resembles a Shih-Tzu/Schnauzer mix. Both dogs were adopted from the Miami-Dade Animal Shelter which takes in more than 27,000 animals a year. “These two rescues are very sweet as well as smart, and they’ve taught me a lot about agility and handling dogs of different sizes, speeds, and personalities,” Andrea said. “Max is a sensitive soul who reacts to the slightest frown whereas Buddy is food focused and hates running fast when he’s hot.”
They started training in agility about eight months apart, but while Buddy was recovering from an injury, Max caught up. “It was pure serendipity that Max got his final double Q and Buddy his final 4 MACH points in the same class on the trial’s last day,” she said. “What’s next on the horizon? Conquering Premier Standard and Jumpers with Weaves!”
Buddy & Max
Congratulations also to these first-time MACHs:
- MACH Roscoe Bp CD RN MXB MJB MXF CGCA owned by Kiley Bitner, Renee Bitner, and Michelle Parish of Columbia, MD
- MACH Riley Nico MXB MJB MXF owned by Leslie Ann Holm of Las Vegas, NV
- MACH Vivid MXS MJS owned by Gabriele Lenz of San Bernardino, CA
- MACH Sullivan’s Louie MXB MJB CGC owned Robert E. and Kit T. Sullivan of Richmond, VA
- MACH Thomas’ Lily MXB MJB owned by Hannah Rae Thomas of Bellefonte, PA
- MACH Shirl’s Special Shorthair Maggie May MXB MJB owned by Karen and Matt Dalzell of Midland, MI
- MACH Molly Mae VIII MXB MJB OF owned by Steve M. Brands of Wentzville, MO
- MACH the Rabinator MXB MJB owned by Diane Szczepanski of Sebastopol, CA
- MACH Apollo Of Waterton MXB MJS owned by Lydia Langley of Lynchburg, VA
- MACH Cooper Nathaniel Gorman MXB MJB OF owned by Dale Gorman and Bob Duby of Nashua, NH
Preferred Agility Championships (PACH)
Multiple PACHs
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more PACHs:
- PACH3 Forgotten Friends Maggie Mae MX MXB MXJ MXP16 MXPS2 MJP18 MJPG2 PAX6 OF owned by Susan Demar of Austin, TX
- MACH PACH3 Sollars’ Dreamboat Annie MXB MJB MXP7 MXPS MJP8 MJPG PAX3 XF MFPB TQXP T2BP2 CGC owned by Karen and Lloyd Sollars of Lafayette, IN
- PNAC MACH9 PACH4 Logan Lake Hope MXC2 MJG3 MXP9 MXPG MJP10 MJPC PAX4 XF T2B CGC owned by Kimberly Barton of Johnstown, OH
- PACH8 Harvey’s Casper AX AXJ MXP28 MXPG3 MJP30 MJPC3 PAX10 CGCA owned by Ronda Lauren Harvey of Calabasas, CA
Congratulations to these first-time PACH recipients:
PACH 2fs Fisher Dog MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX T2BP SCN SHDN TKI owned by Julie and Nathan Free of Inola, OK
Fisher came to live with Julie and Nathan in 2014. He was just over 3 months old at the time. “Agility was his thing right away,” Julie said. “Before he developed some semblance of manners and learned not to door-dash, I made my husband leave hay bales in the front yard. When he executed an escape attempt, we would yell ‘table sit!’ when he ran by the hay bales and simply go pick him up when he ‘tabled.’ Fortunately, he outgrew that fairly quickly.”
He also has titles in tricks and scent work. “But his favorite game by far is chasing sticks!” she said.
Fisher earned his PACH on Feb. 10, 2018 at the Denison (TX) Agility Club.
Fisher
Congratulations also to these first-time PACHs:
- PACH Le Lonnie AX AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX owned by Robbin Lee Lembo of West Milford, NJ
- PACH Shortstop FDC MXPB MJPB PAX RATO CGC TKN owned by Bari Delynn Boersma and Scott Boersma of Winchester, CA
- MACH2 PACH Bax To the Future MXS MJG MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX OF CAA owned by Maggie Fan of Athens, GA
- PACH Angela’s Stella Bella CD RN FDC AX AXJ MXP5 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX OF owned by Angela R. Hudson of Lindale, TX
COURSING ABILITY
Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX)
Congratulations to these dogs for earning multiple CAX titles:
- Randy IX CAX2 CGC owned by Tammy Gustafson of Kempner, TX
- PACH Emmy Lue RA MXP12 MXPC MJPB PAX XFP T2BP CAX3 FCAT RATCH CGCA TKA owned by Jennifer Baiocco of Orlando, FL
- Iyong Tapat Kaibigan FDC CAX11 BCAT DN Stephanie Joan Markgraf of Burlington, NC
Fast CAT
Congratulations to these FCAT title earners:
FCAT:
PACH Emmy Lue RA MXP12 MXPC MJPB PAX XFP T2BP CAX3 FCAT RATCH CGCA TKA FCAT owned by Jennifer Baiocco of Orlando, FL
Emmy is a 13-year-old mix who loves coursing and agility, and, despite her age, she is still going strong. She was adopted from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT, in 2008. She tagged along with a younger sibling to agility classes and was hooked. Through dog sports, Emmy found a sense of purpose and thrived, branching out from agility to several other sports. “Emmy fell in love with coursing the moment she first laid eyes on the lure several years ago, and it remains her favorite activity,” Jennifer said. She earned her FCAT on Dec. 1, 2017, at the Winter Wonderland Cluster hosted by the Kennesaw Kennel Club in Perry, GA. She earned her CAX3 on the same day at the cluster’s CAT tests run by GANG Coursing.
Emmy Lue
Congratulations also to this FCAT:
Lauren’s Zoo Rez CA FCAT owned by Lauren Smitherman of Mobile, AL
OBEDIENCE
Utility Dog (UD)
Turbo-Nadir UD BN GN RAE3 AX AXJ NF CGCA TKP owned by Kimberly Ann Hoeppner of Welsh, LA
Turbo earned his Utility Dog title at the Tallahassee Dog Obedience Club on Jan. 13. It was a proud moment for this little mixed breed rescue dog, who had been adopted and returned to the shelter three times. Kim would be his fourth owner, but luckily, his last. She adopted him in 2011 from the Louisiana SPCA while she was in college and seeking a canine roommate.
“Turbo was a pitiful pup at the shelter,” she said. When she met him, he was hiding in a corner at the back of his cage, refusing to look at anybody passing by. “He wasn’t interested in meeting people or excited about toys or food. He seemed frozen to the world around him.
“At first, Turbo was a mess. He was skittish and would bolt to hide behind furniture at any strange or loud noise or sudden movements. He’d scoot away from anybody who tried to say ‘hi’ or offer him food or toys,” Kim said. “He was terrified of men, soap, garbage bags, and uniforms. He would freeze and shake in fear if a leash was taken out. He would chase his tail in circles until he was exhausted. He would sit in corners and stare at the wall for hours. And he was a master at destroying things, including college homework.”
Turbo was Kim’s first dog, and he presented an interesting test for her. Instead of giving up on Turbo, she researched on how to work through his behavioral challenges. She began to train Turbo with an arsenal of Google research, YouTube videos, and books from her school library. Through training, Turbo began to calm down and trust Kim. She was soon able to start taking him out around her college campus and even exploring the city of New Orleans. Turbo’s personality emerged, and he was no longer afraid of leashes.
Upon graduating from college two years later, Kim enrolled Turbo in a pet obedience class. He did great, and the instructor encouraged them to attempt a CGC and to try Rally Obedience. Turbo was soon registered with the Canine Partners program, and the pair began their performance sports journey with earning a CGC and RN in 2014. In 2015, the team met their mentor, Julie Hill, who not only kept encouraging them on their journey but also helped them develop into the versatile performance team they are now.
From a sad beginning to a future of endless possibilities, Turbo and Kim will see where the journey will take them. “We do know one thing, however, and that’s to enjoy every step of the way!” Kim said.
Turbo
Outland’s Brooklyn UD BN CGCA TKN owned by John Outland of Tallahassee, FL
Brooklyn, a hound/Boxer mix, came to John through a circuitous route after spending most of her first two years on the streets.
John retired in 2011 and was considering getting a puppy, but things changed when his daughter brought Brooklyn home. She had learned that Brooklyn’s homeless owner was leaving town and that Brooklyn would need a home.
Brooklyn was shy but very alert to her surroundings. She began to settle down after a few weeks. John was still considering that puppy, assuming Brooklyn was his daughter’s dog. Nevertheless, Brooklyn and John quickly bonded. Then his daughter decided to move out, and Brooklyn became John’s dog.
Sometime later, John was driving near Winthrop Park and saw a group of people with dogs. He stopped to watch and was drawn to how well the dogs worked with their handlers. Then he noticed a friend he used to work with in the group. John called him and asked about the training and if he could join.
The following Saturday Brooklyn and John made an appearance at class. “As soon as I took Brooklyn out of the car, she went ballistic on anyone and anything that was close,” John said. “I was so embarrassed and trying to get Brooklyn to settle down and back in the car.”
The class trainer helped John with her. “I wanted to leave immediately but the trainer told me to join the group. I was still in shock.”
“Over the next year, working each day and with a trainer on Saturdays, I began to learn some things about dogs. By the second year I was helping Brooklyn to become an obedience dog,” John said. “Some of the class participants were Tallahassee Dog Obedience Club members, and they encouraged me to join and take classes. …I started with Basic Handling and Novice classes and then an Open class.”
“I soon learned that dog training is not that easy and consists of many skills. To start, you must have the 3Ps: patience, passion and perseverance. Then you will learn how to read your dog, train consistently, listen and watch, and keep your dog focused by whatever happy means it takes.”
John and Brooklyn earned the Beginning Novice and Novice titles in 2014 and 2015 followed by an Open title in June 2016. “Oh yes, along the way I failed to qualify several times,” he said.
Brooklyn earned the Utility Dog title Jan. 21 at the Marion-Alachua County Training Association trial in Ocala, FL.
Brooklyn
RALLY
Rally Master (RM)
- Chloe Wild Child UDX OM1 BN VER RM RAE THD CGC TKA owned by Nancy C. Nelson of Manorville, NY
- Make Me an Angel UD BN RM RAE NAP NJP TKA owned by Connie Kniseley of Roanoke, VA
- Maxwell Ferguson Mullen Awtrey CD BN RM RAE CGCA TKN owned by Barbara and Robert Awtrey of Ellicott City, MD
Multiple Rally Advanced Excellent (RAEs)
Congratulations to these dogs who have added more RAEs to their names:
- Ally VIII PCD BN RAE3 CGC TKP owned by Viki L. Smartt of Knoxville, TN
- Bossman Sweetater Freighter RAE20 owned by James and Barbara Roberts of Lakeland, FL
Congratulations to these first-time RAE recipients:
Bella Carlson CGCA CD BN RAE TKN TKI owned by Charlie Carlson of New Fairfield, CT
Bella came to the Carlsons five years ago when they rescued her from a shelter where she was surrendered at about age 3. They thought they wanted a puppy, but Bella was so sweet and lovable that they adopted her immediately.
After she settled in, they realized that she already knew some basic commands. So, they decided to try some professional dog training. Since they had never done this before, they selected the praise and reward approach with Canine Training and Behavior Services (CTBS) run by Dr. Margaret Reed in Wilton, CT.
Bella progressed quickly. She earned her CGC in February 2013 and advanced to rally and obedience classes. The following year Charlie’s fellow students and instructors convinced him to enter trials. In September 2014 Bella received her RN and then in December her CGCA.
In 2015, Charlie and Bella started to click, and training was so much fun that they tried a little of everything. That year, Bella received her RA, RX, and BN. They started on some tracking and trailing classes while deciding if they were going to go for the RAE.
Bella received her RAE in Goshen, CT on Sept. 24,2017.
“Bella from day one has been such an outstanding dog; she is a pleasure to take anywhere,” Charlie said. “She is my K9 best friend.”
Bella
Miss Maggie Mutt Mutt CD BN RAE AXP AJP CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Michelle Johnson of Seminole, FL
Maggie, from a litter of “throwaway” puppies, was rescued by Michelle at 4 weeks old. She was a very fearful puppy who spent the first few weeks of puppy training class hiding under a chair. After much socialization, she developed enough confidence to compete in obedience and rally, which she loved. She bonded with Michelle and grew to love training. They have also trained for tricks and agility.
“Maggie has a very important job that she takes very seriously,” Michelle said. “She is a medical alert dog who alerts for seizures, sugar diabetes and migraine headaches. She has helped to save the lives of three people so far.”
“She does have a crazy barking side,” adds Michelle. “A serious side, a very loving side, and has sometimes been called a brat by some of her closest friends. But I love her, and as my mother says, some people’s throwaways are other people’s treasure.”
Maggie earned her RAE on Feb. 25 at the Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club in Clearwater, FL.
Maggie
Gromit’s Grand Day Out RAE owned by Elissah McCann and Corey Palma of Cleveland, TN
Gromit was brought in as a stray to the White County Animal Shelter in Sparta, TN. “He is 50% Great Pyrenees, 25% Border Collie and 25% German Shepherd and demonstrates traits of them all,” Elissah said.
“A gangly 50-pound pup, 6 to 8 months old, he came home with me to test my skills as a dog trainer,” she said. “From dog reactivity to prey drive he was tough to work with when excited.” She did as much as she could on her own and then went to classes. They enjoyed rally classes so much that those are the only classes they have taken. “The people and dogs in the class are like a family,” she said. Elissah and Gromit prepared for a year and a half before their first trial. They proceeded from title to title without hesitation and have always had qualifying scores.
The team earned the RAE with scores of 99 and 100 at the Decatur (AL) Kennel Club’s rally trial on March 3. They made headway toward a Master’s title that afternoon and are halfway there with five Qs.
“Gromit gets new fans at every trial, as people are fascinated and drawn to his sweet, gentle, and comedic nature. He loves to lie down every chance he gets, especially while waiting for ribbons. At trials, his kennel is referred to as his ‘convertible’ because we leave the top open so that he can look around and stay as cool as possible.”
They qualified for the AKC Rally National Championships the past three years, but only attended the 2017 RNC for Excellent, where they placed 16th out of 80 dogs with a score of 197. “Because of his size, his sits are naturally a bit slower, so we simply cannot plan on winning for time. In training, this means we must aim for perfection. Our goal was just to reach Nationals so once there we just had the time of our lives, and treated it like a fun party in the ring,” Elissah said.
“Gromit is my hiking partner and enjoys having a job to do. I’ll do whatever he likes to do. I see scent work, tricks, and snuggles in our future!”
Gromit
Congratulations also to this RAE recipient:
Jay Dee CD RAE NA NAJ CGC owned by Terry Gray and Steven Petto of Las Cruces, NM
TRACKING
Bitpat’s Dear Abby BN TD and Just Jesse TD, both owned by Elizabeth Patton of Lawrence, KS
On March 4, 2018, each of Elizabeth (Bitsey) Patton’s dogs earned a Tracking Dog (TD) title. “It was quite a day,” Bitsey said.
Bitsey adopted Abby from the Lawrence (KS) Humane Society nine years ago and began tracking shortly after.
“Now she has her AKC TD,” said Bitsey, “and we hope to go on for TDX and VST.” Abby has her Beginner Novice obedience title and is also a Pet Partners registered therapy dog. She is about to begin competing in scent work.
“Jesse is young and goofy, but he is all nose. His genial nature attracted me as I was volunteering at Prairie Paws Animal Shelter in Ottawa, KS.” Jesse has tracked for only three seasons, with time out for Bitsey’s hip replacement, but he “shows real talent for the sport. A bit of a comic, he sometimes does the unexpected, just to make me crazy. Laughing all the way, we will pursue TDX and VST,” Bitsey said. “Jesse is actively training for scent work and therapy dog work.”
Abby
Jesse
TDX:
Lassie Spirit of The Canyon TDX TKI owned by Lynn Wilson of San Diego, CA
When rescued, Lassie did not even know how to walk on a leash and today she amazes Lynn with her work ethic. “In fact, the first times I put the leash on her, she froze and would not move,” Lynn said. “I used treats and let her just lead me around while I held the leash. It didn’t take long for her to be ecstatic over it. And her work ethic is to die for! When tracking, she is sometimes so excited to have found an article and move on that she leaves the treats just lying there to get on with her work of finding the glove.”
Lynn added “This little rescue girl is such a gift and I am so glad we found each other. She has no shortage of fans, and we have the most wonderful tracking community here in San Diego that supports this tiny little being! We are so thankful to our tracking coach, Reegan Ray, who immediately saw the potential and has continued to coach and cheer Lassie on to her advanced titles.”
Lassie
Congrats also to this dog for earning her TDX:
Great Gracie BN RE TDX NA NAJ CGC owned by Cyndi England of San Diego, CA
TD:
Boo Boo Jackson RA TD OAP OJP RATCHX TKA owned by Lisa Steller of Advance, NC
Eight-year-old Jackson was adopted when he was almost a year old from the Davie County, NC, Humane Society.
He was meant to be a pet for Lisa’s daughter, who was in high school. But Lisa soon began taking Jackson to training classes herself. The pair has tried many sports, but Jackson’s favorites are Tracking, Scent Work, and Barn Hunt.
Jackson earned his TD on Feb. 18 at a trial in Kinderton, NC, hosted by the Winston-Salem Dog Training Club, of which Lisa is a member.
“Jackson had knee surgery in March but is recovering well, and we hope to be back to tracking and sniffing soon,” said Lisa.
Jackson
Congrats also to these dogs who have earned Tracking Dog titles:
- Rufus Buford TD owned by Jennifer and Chris Barker, Jr. of El Cajon, CA
- Connor Bozeman TD owned by Natascha and Charles Bozeman of Davie, FL
Versatile Companion Dog (VCD) – First VCD3 All-American Dog Crowned!
The VCD (Versatile Companion Dog) title honors dogs who have earned titles in three AKC Companion Events: obedience, agility and tracking. There are four levels of VCD, based on the level of titles earned:
Versatile Companion Dog 1:
Must complete CD, NA, NAJ, [TD or TDU] or CD, NAP, NJP, [TD or TDU].
VCD2 Versatile Companion Dog 2:
Must complete CDX, OA, OAJ, [TD or TDU] or CDX, OAP, OJP, [TD or TDU].
VCD3 Versatile Companion Dog 3:
Must Complete UD, AX, AXJ, TDX or UD, AXP, AJP, TDX.
VCD4 Versatile Companion Dog 4:
Must complete UDX, MX, MXJ, VST or UDX, MXP, MJP, VST.
Congratulations to the first All-American Dog to earn the VCD3:
Rodger RowbinawitzUD GO VER PUD RAE OAP AJP NF OFP CA FDCH TDX VCD3 owned by Sue Kotlarek of Romulus, MI
Twelve-year-old Rodger had reached his top levels in obedience and agility and only needed the TDX title in tracking to earn the VCD3.
“Sometimes the hardest part of earning a tracking title is getting into the event,” Sue said. “We have been in nine TDX tracking tests – so never give up! In most of our previous tries, we completed the first 3/4 of the track, but just could not finish. The most recent test (which Rodger passed) took a total of 38 minutes and 850 yards. We found all the articles and navigated streams, cross tracks, turns and forests.”
Rodger is still happily competing in obedience and agility.
Rodger