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!

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!

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.

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.

Jam & Steve in the Sporting Group at Rockland

Jam, with Steve Lane, HiBourne Weimaraners, owner/breeder of Jam's sire Parker, in the Sporting Group at the Rockland County Kennel Club Show on February 27, 2011.  She received Best of Breed with her breeder/owner handling and then we were fortunate to have her other dad come handle her and watch them both shine in the group ring.

Jam will be selectively specialed this year while we continue to pursue her Senior Hunter and advanced agility and obedience titles.

Jam goes Best of Breed

Jam in the Sporting Group

At the Walkill Kennel Club show, Jam won Best of Breed to earn another Grand Champion point and it was fun showing her in the Sporting Group.

Savi posing outside the ring at Saturday's show

Sister Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,NSD,CGC, (Clay x Trixie) shown in the Bred by Exhibitor class (BBE) by me, her breeder/owner, went Winner's Bitch to earn her first conformation point.  She is really starting to get this show thing down and stood for exam and moved nicely around the ring.  Our good friend Lilly came to help us because big sister Jam was also entered in Breed and it is impossible to handle two dogs at once.

As this was a local show, we saw lots of friends and were even able to go home for lunch, let the dogs play and relax a bit before heading back to the show site for groups.  Back for two more days of shows and hopefully more points.  Plus, some of our favorite vendors are at the show so we may be doing a bit of shopping!

Jam awarded Select Bitch at the BASS Show!

Jam with her Grand Champion Select ribbon

We always knew Jam was special but now she is an official "special" in the dog show world.  This means that when a dog completes its AKC Championship title, they continue to compete to win Best of Breed, then compete in the Sporting Group and go for the big prize - Best in Show. They can also compete to achieve the relatively new AKC title of Grand Champion.

Jam's first time out as a special was yesterday at the Big Apple Sporting Society show.  She showed beautifully and was awarded Grand Champion Select, earning her first Grand Champion points!  She beat other very nice specials and I'm thrilled that she was recognized this way, especially being owner/breeder handled.