Pomeranians have been THERAPY DOGS for years, with no credit given other than in the hearts of those on the receiving end of all that love. AKC has just recently begun to realize that the training and work that goes to make a Th erapy Dog should have o ffi cial recognition. Th ese dogs go into nursing homes and hospitals and schools, not only o ff ering love, but also assisting in many ways. Th ey listen to children read aloud, walk beside some- one using a walker, or respond to someone who is trying to form a command: “Sit.” One Pom would always lick out her tongue when anyone blew into her nostrils, perfect for Speech Th erapy. Can they be Th erapy Dogs? Pomeranians have hearts! Th en there is COURSING ABILITY. While Lure Coursing trials and titles are reserved by AKC for sighthounds, a simi- lar type of trial has recently been opened to all breeds. Pomeranians were not slow to get into this sport. On March 31, 2012, UCH, UAG1, URO1, UCD Rone’s Bjorn to Fly CA, RA, RATN RATI CGC became the first AKC Coursing Ability titled Pomeranian. “Mikko” also has 7 legs out of the required 10 for the Coursing Ability Advanced title. Additionally, Mikko is titled in UKC Agility, Rally and Obedience, as well as in AKC Rally and Barn Hunt. Th is 5 ½ lb. dog is learning to do weight pull, too. And in his spare time, Mikko participates in Conformation, needing just one more major for his breed Championship. Are they able to do Coursing? Pomeranians cut to the chase! One of the newest titles in AKC (we have several lately!) is for BARN HUNT. Most people think of this as a terrier sport, but it is open to all breeds. Th e AKC does not actually sanction Barn Hunts, but it does recognize Barn Hunt titles from the Barn Hunt Association. Th ere are at least 5 Pomeranians working in Barn Hunt tri- als now and they love hunting through and over bales of hay to find the very bored rat waiting in a cage. Can they do Barn Hunt? Pomeranians know critters! In addition to AKC titling sports, Pom- eranians are participating in K9 Nose- work, Flyball, Dock Diving, Weight Pull and Back Packing. In K9 NOSEWORK, the dog performs as a search dog might when looking for drugs, but in a controlled trial situation. Starting with “hides” of specific scents in a box cho- sen from a number of other boxes, the dog progresses to more di ffi cult searches. Pomer- anian PTE MN EC URO1 Second Chance Ted E. Bear BN RE was the 3rd dog over all in the country to attain the UKC Master
Mikko races in a Coursing Ability Test. Photo © Lois Stanfield
Boomer Jumps. Photo © Phyllis Ensley Photography
Kanga gets ball from box. Photo © Walter Wrobel
194 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M ARCH 2015
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