The Flyball Dog
Breeze and Skye are
both former AAHI dogs that now are training for flyball.
Flyball is a team sport for
dogs. Each team has 4 dogs. The relay consists of the starting
line, 4 hurdles and a spring loaded box. Each dog jumps the hurdles on
the way to the spring loaded box then pushes the box and a tennis ball
shoots out. The dog catches the ball and takes the hurdles on the
return trip to the starting line. Once the dog crosses the starting
line, the next dog on the team goes. The first team to have all four
dogs across the starting line and back wins the heat. To learn more
about flyball visit flyballdogs.com.
The Agility Dog
Nick is a rescued
Siberian, and is currently training in agility.
Siberians can be agility
dogs, but MUST ALWAYS participate in agility in a properly
fenced in area or indoors. Some people compete in agility with
their rescued Siberians, while others do agility training just for the fun
of it and to build their dog's self-confidence. Agility is not only
fun for the dog, but for the person handling him/her. To learn more
about agility visit the AKC
website, one of many kennel clubs that sanctions agility competitions.
The Sled Dog
The above photo is of
AAHI's former foster boys, Cruise (black and white) and Takoda (gray and
white) running as the swing dogs (in the middle). They were making a
coffee run for their foster dad.
Siberians were bred to sled, and
many of Adopt a Husky's rescued dogs have been adopted to homes that enjoy
sledding. This is just one more activity you and your adopted Siberian
may enjoy doing together.
The Canine Good
Citizen
Aspen, former AAHI
rescue, earned her
CGC certificate on June 2, 2004
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
Program is a certification from the American Kennel Club that rewards dogs
for good manners at home and in the community. All dogs can
participate in this program and can earn the certification after
successfully passing the CGC test. Click here to learn more about the
CGC
Program.
The Therapy Dog
Cedar passed the
Therapy Dogs
International (TDI) test on March 31, 2004. His adopters then
applied for, and were granted, membership in
RAINBOW AAT, a
therapy dog group that has about 55 or so programs going at any
given time in the Chicago area.
Since May 2004, Cedar has done about 19
"visits" to several Institutions, mainly Michael Reese Adolescent Psyc,
and Christ Community's Hope Children's Hospital. Cedar will begin a new
program at SPEED, a Special Needs Vocational school in Chicago Heights.
Don't get Therapy Dog work confused with
Service Dogs. Service dogs are the ones that answer phones and
door bells and are an aide to people. They are much more highly
trained. Therapy work is more physical and psychological therapy.
On their visits, people walk the dogs, pet them, brush them, and the
dogs do some tricks to entertain the patients. For a few minutes
in time, the patients have a dog of their own to love and to love them
back. It's really heart warming to see the reaction when people
hug the dogs and get a "kiss" in return.
