Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Jam is now a Delta Therapy Dog!

Last Sunday, Jam and I underwent evaluation for the Delta Society Pet Parners Program.  The test was given at Kathy Santo's Dog Training School.

What is unique about this program is that both the dog and handler are tested on their skills and aptitude as relating to what it takes to being a successful and safe team able to visit various environments.  I was so proud of Jam, who did an awesome job, getting the highest marks in all test categories and we received an overall team qualification to visit in complex environments.

From the Delta Society website:

Pet Partners® program

Delta Society's Pet Partners program trains volunteers and screens volunteers and their pets for visiting animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities.
The Pet Partners program was established in 1990 to ensure that "both ends of the leash," people as well as animals, were well-prepared to participate in animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy programs. Pet Partners is the only national registry that requires volunteer training and screening of animal-handler teams.

Delta Society's national network links volunteers with facilities in their own communities that request visiting pets and helps Pet Partners contact facilities to begin visits in new locations.

Thanks to my good friend, Kellyann for the terrific photos and helping make the entire test day a success!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Jam earns her 2nd CD leg!

At the Monticello Kennel Club today, Jam earned her 2nd Companion Dog (CD) obedience leg. She had a respectable score of 184 and received many compliments on her run, especially from the judge, who said "what a nice working dog she is."  I just love this girl!

Jam is the 2nd of Trixie's pups and the 1st of Parker's to earn CD legs.

One more leg to go and she'll get her CD title!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Jam's Official Best of Breed Photo

Jam, CH Grayhart's Purple Haze,JH,NA,NAJ,NSD,CGC,V, (Parker x Trixie), with owner/breeder/handler, winning her 2nd Best of Breed at the Rockland County Kennel Club show under Judge Col. Joe B. Purkhiser.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Weimaraner Wednesday - Spring Tease

 We were excited to get back to field training, for the first time in almost three months.  It has been a brutal winter with all the ice and snow and this weeks warm temps allowed us to finally get in some training.  Jam impressed us with solid, intense points and held until released.  She's right on track to get back into the Senior Hunt tests.  Next week, we'll work on backing and retrieving.