Piper is a little Franklin dog with a great big job! And as her owner, I’m glad to be teaming up with her! She was seemingly custom made to curl up in the lap of a child and lovingly listen as they read to her and play with her long silky ears.

A 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Piper is a Registered Delta Therapy Dog (Go to a Page, See Blogroll: Therapy ARC) and a Reading Education Assistance Dog (Go to a Page, See Blogroll: READ).

The mission of the READ program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors. Piper and I make up one of many READ teams in the Middle Tennessee area.

If you would like an opportunity to meet and READ to Piper or some of her buddies, join them at the Williamson County Library on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Several teams are available for individual 15-minute appointments with a child. Advanced reservation is required, so please call 595-1244 for your appointment.

We are proud of the good work Piper and her READing Dog friends are doing in our community!

Heather Pass

Becoming a READ team

Here’s the process Piper and I went through to become a team. It took about six months.

1. To become a READing dog, you must first become a Delta Registered Pet Partner Therapy Team. The process is detailed here: http://www.therapyarc.org/Pet_Partner_Process.htm. Because of scheduling conflict with the classes, we choose to order the workbook from the Delta website and self train for the evaluation. We spent about six weeks doing this.

2. We scheduled our evaluation through the local Delta chapter: Therapy ARC http://www.therapyarc.org/. Contact Ken Bell at kensk9comcast.net. Evaluations are scheduled about four times a year. They fill up quickly.

3. After passing the evaluation, we sent in our completed registration packet and became an official therapy team.

Then, we decided to focus our Therapy by becoming a READ team.

1. First, we had to fill out the initial application online: http://readingpaws.org/Application%20for%20Training%20FormFL.htm.

2. Then we attended the one-day class to become READ certified. This class is offered a few times a year (contact Helen Wahl at Helen@READingPaws.org).

3. We began by working with the Williamson County Library once a month, and then requested a placement in a local elementary school. We are now serving at Crockett Elementary once a week.

If you have a question concerning any type of therapy work with your Franklin Dog, email it to therapy@franklindog.com.

Core Value 3: OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS HERITAGE

We believe that as dogs can enhance the lives of families and individuals, they can also connect us on an individual and community level. We look for ways to use dogs to build bridges between members of our community. We recognize accomplishments of Franklin dogs, especially in the area of service to the community, and also work with owners interested in using their dogs to reach out to others. The Franklin Dog brand embraces our community’s history and its pride as a significant Civil War battleground.

Helping owners fully enjoy their dogs is a goal of Franklin dog. As her Belgian Tervuren would tell you (if he could), Sarah Karafa has found so many different ways to do just that.

With obedience training, rally, agility, conformation ring work and just playing, Sarah keeps Wyatt — and herself — busy with a slate of activities.

Wyatt and Sarah didn’t meet up by accident.

“When I decided I wanted to get a dog, I did a great deal of homework first. I started my research on the AKC website (www.akc.org),” she explains.

“I read everything I could about finding the right dog for me and then developed a ’short list’ of dogs that I was interested in.”

Sarah then went to see breeds firsthand at conformation shows and talked to handlers and owners.

“Once I saw the Belgian Tervuren in person and considered ALL of the breed characteristics and temperament, well, as they say, that was it — I was hooked!”

Because the breed thrives on activity, Sarah says the rest was a ‘given.’

As the primary trainer, caretaker and playmate, it’s also Sarah’s responsibility to get everyone in the household responding to good and bad behavior in a consistent manner.

“I ran into a gentleman recently who had stopped to talk to me about dogs. He told me he had three children who had begged him for a dog. Part of his agreement with them, which they accomplished, was that he had all three children take the dog to training classes. Now THAT’S responsible dog ownership!” says Sarah.

If you were to run into Sarah and Wyatt walking in the Grassland area,  you’d think they’ve been at this for years. But this young dog started classes only last July, when he was a mere 12 weeks old.  “Even if you don’t end up doing competitive dog sports, basic obedience and responsible dog ownership classes set the groundwork for a well-mannered, happy companion that you’ll have a partnership and loving relationship with for years to come,” Sarah feels.

And being properly mastered is what it means to be a true Franklin dog!

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Earning a reputation as a reputable dog breeder comes only after years of experience and proven expertise. Heather Pass is one of a number of Franklin residents whose dogs take high honors at events held by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Heather and one of her “girls,” Madison, recently appeared at the National Specialty Show of the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club April 27-30 in Cape Cod, Mass. Unlike all-breed shows, specialty shows focus on a particular breed and attract the best of the best…especially a National Specialty show.

One look at these event pictures and you’ll agree…..Madison is one cute Franklin Dog. Our girl got a “shout out” from the judges who called her “an excellent young example of the breed standard.” (In AKC events, breeds are judged against a written description of the perfect specimen.)

Heather says, “It was an honor to be her breeder/owner/handler at this show, where the very best Cavaliers in each age group are invited to compete.”

As a conscientious breeder, Heather works tirelessly to produce bloodlines with the healthiest of genetic make-ups. Specialty shows are a great place to continue that education.

“We shared the company of the most dedicated breeders in the U.S. and U.K.,” says Heather. “It was very encouraging to meet other people who are willing to share honestly and help each other, in an effort to preserve the health of these precious animals.”

Heather’s work has always benefited from others sharing their knowledge. For five years she has been mentored by Cindy DeLoache at DeLwood Cavaliers.  “Breeders have a dual responsibility to raise dogs and to share their knowledge with the next generation so that the tradition of dog fancy can continue,” Heather feels.

Franklin Dog wants to hear from other breeders in our city. Send an email to randy@franklindog.com.

Core Value 1: EVERYONE’S BEST FRIEND
We believe that a properly mastered dog can provide a wholesome and rejuvenating relationship for a family or individual. We recognize the therapeutic impact animals can have on special populations of medically/physically/emotionally challenged children, adults, and seniors. We value the work of reputable breeders towards producing high-quality dogs.

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<!–[endif]–>Your interest in a dog/owner activity may have been piqued after reading about a Franklin dog owner that participated in a conformation show, agility, therapy, etc.

Everyone was a beginner at some point. Franklin Dog strives to connect owners, building bridges between members of our community and supporting recreational activities and event to help each owner fully enjoy their dog.

Whether it’s dog showing, agility, or even finding the right puppy, learning the ins and outs can be overwhelming.

Often, a breeder from which you obtain your dog naturally falls into the role of a mentor, providing one-on-one training, advice and assistance in everything from grooming, to health care, to showing, and even the eventual breeding of the dog.

However, other responsibilities or distance get in the way.

If your interest is in formal competition, you might have success working through The American Kennel Club’s New Exhibitor Mentoring Program:

http://www.akc.org/public_education/faqs_mentor.cfm

Or quite possibly, our Franklin Dog community can help by matching new exhibitors with local, experienced individuals. And your interests lie in something much less structured. It can’t hurt to ask.

If you have an interest in some personal assistance in some area, send an email to randy@franklindog.com, to find out if we know of someone in our area with experience. Or we will work through our network to find someone willing to show the ropes to a novice.

Everyone started at the beginning!

Mission Statement:

In a manner that’s distinctly Franklin, we provide services, training and supplies with the goal of helping dog owners fully enjoy their dog. We make Franklin dogs famous and serve as the local icon for all that’s good about dogs.

Franklin Dog recognizes and promotes the use of dogs in improving the lives of all members of the community. That includes supporting owners interested in using their dogs to reach out to others.

We are fortunate in Franklin to have a very active therapy dog program. Therapy ARC (Animals Reaching Clients) is affiliated with Delta Society, a leader in fostering the use of animals to improve the lives of individuals.

Chairman Ken Bell, who has been involved in therapy dog training for about 15 years, explains that classes are held in September and February and begin with two Saturdays of seminar work followed by four weeks of one-hour training sessions for owner/dog teams at Middle College High School. Total cost is $120.

Those interested in the next round of classes, beginning September 12, can contact Bell by phone (615-519-0179) or email (Kensk9@comcast.net).

For more information, click on the Therapy ARC link in our Franklin Dog blogroll.

Core Value 1: EVERYONE’S BEST FRIEND

We believe that a properly mastered dog can provide a wholesome and rejuvenating relationship for a family or individual. We recognize the therapeutic impact animals can have on special populations of medically/physically/emotionally challenged children, adults, and seniors. We value the work of reputable breeders towards producing high-quality dogs.

March 5-8

Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park

Arguably it’s the highlight of the year for dog lovers in Franklin. I’m there when the first paw steps into the Expo Center and don’t leave until the final bark on Sunday.

It’s a great place for prospective dog owners to see most of the 160-plus breeds in The American Kennel Club. Last year’s count included 19 labs, 26 afghans and 67 boxers!

A couple years ago at this show I met Nancy Nier Prince, from whom I got Rosalynn, our Giant Schnauzer. I look forward to seeing her again this year.

It’s actually four separate shows. A “Best of Show” is named at the end of each day, and the whole process begins the next morning under different judges.

You can see the most action in the mornings, starting at 8:30 on Thursday and at 8 Friday-Sunday. But there’s still plenty going on in the middle to late afternoon when breed winners compete against the other dogs in their group (Terrier or Sporting, for instance). The seven group winners then compete for Best in Show, which takes place not too much before suppertime.

There’s a surprising number of Franklin dogs in the competition, but dogs come from all over the country. There’s also plenty of vendors.

It’s a great family outing. There’s a parking fee, but no admission charge

East off the Peytsonville Rd. exit. Then left on Long Road.

I shouldn’t be hard to spot…..I’ll be on a wheeled scooter contraption because of my torn Achilles. I’d like to meet every Franklin dog owner!

Randy

Cover Value 1: EVERYONE’S BEST FRIEND

We value the work of reputable breeders towards producing high-quality dogs.