OBX Housing’s own Therapy dog has AKC Title Recognition in the Spring 2019 newsletter!

OBX Housing Therapy DogOBX Housing’s own Therapy dog has AKC Title Recognition in the Spring 2019 newsletter!

The AKC works with several non-AKC services and sports organizations to recognize the titles that AKC-registered dogs earn in their programs. This includes the AKC Therapy Dog titling program and the AKC Search & Rescue title program. AKC also recognizes titles of the Barn Hunt Association (BHA); North American Diving Dogs (NADD); and the North American Flyball Association (NAFA). For more information on how to apply for AKC recognition of these titles, Click Here Read on to meet some of the All-American Dogs who are recent achievers in these sports.

AKC Therapy Dog Title

The AKC Therapy Dog Title program offers titles based on the amount of service that a therapy team has volunteered, giving more dogs the opportunity to earn the honor. Dogs also must be certified by an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization. The titles are:

  • AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN). Must have completed 10 visits.
  • AKC Therapy Dog (THD). Must have completed 50 visits.
  • AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA). Must have completed 100 visits.
  • AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX). Must have completed 200 visits.
  • AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD). Must have completed 400 visits.

We salute these All-Americans who are recent recipients of the THDD title for 400 or more visits!

Buddy Tice THDD CGC owned by Tina Tice of Kitty Hawk, NC
Buddy was Tina’s first dog as an adult, and she had no idea how to train him. She reached out for help from a few dog trainers and they noted that Buddy was so mellow and had such a gentle temperament that she should consider working with him to become a therapy dog.

He passed puppy classes and earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen certification and completed some additional training. Ultimately, he was approved through The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs of Morris Plains, NJ. Tina and Buddy reached their goal of earning a Therapy Dog Distinguished title in December 2018. Their 400+ visits were earned making weekly visits with the elderly in the Outer Banks community, specifically at Peak Resources in Nags Head; Spring Arbor of the Outer Banks in Kill Devil Hills; and with The G.E.M. (Gentle Expert Memory care), which they visit with monthly at Kitty Hawk Methodist Church.  Buddy works well with everyone but is especially enjoyed by Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.