Dog training graduation held

June 11, 2008 07:36 am

— The second Lake Cumberland Kennel Club (LCKC) dog training class of 2008 concluded June 2 with a final lesson, graduation and pizza celebration.
The six-week class, led by professional trainer Liz Norris from Frankfort, attracted 24 participants in two classes – one for puppies and one for adults.
The dog training series was held at the Hal Rogers Fire Training Center in Somerset and in partnership with the county facility, offered a special fee to dogs adopted from the animal shelter or the humane society.
Two dogs in the training classes were approved to begin as in-training therapy dogs with the Love on a Leash (LOAL) Therapy Dog program: Toby, a Corgi owned and handled by Gary and Debbie Bailey, and Oliver, rat terrier owned and handled by Bob Walther (who is already in the group with his rat terrier, Speckles).
Four other dogs from the community were approved during the June 1 testing to begin as therapy dogs in training: Freckles, spaniel owned and handled by Cliff Steele; Lilly, yellow Labrador owned and handled by Noel Watts; Angel, black Labrador owned and handled by Charlotte Keeney (a previous graduate from the LCKC classes) and Lacey Beckwith (also a graduate of previous classes and in the LOAL group) with a new dog, golden retriever, Baxter.
Lexington LOAL Chapter evaluator Nancy Hansen volunteered her time to evaluate all dogs.
Lake Cumberland Kennel Club is an all breed club affiliated with the American Kennel Club and holds monthly meetings on the third Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the Hal Rogers Fire Training Center on Oak Leaf Lane.
The public is always welcome to their monthly meetings which include an interesting program about dogs and often times refreshments. Well-behaved dogs which are friendly to people and other dogs are welcome to attend on leash (no flexi-leashes please).
LCKC will offer additional classes in dog training during the coming year but no dates have been announced. Love on a Leash will also offer another therapy dog evaluation, probably in the fall. To be notified about the next series of dog training classes or the next Love on a Leash evaluation, e-mail Gloria Sams at:
gsams@kcp.uky.edu

Photos

Lake Cumberland Kennel Club spring dog training classes concluded June 2 with a celebration and presentation of certificates. Dogs participating in the graduation were (back row, from left) Kate (lab owned by James Wesley); Ruger (English Mastiff owned by Mark Whitney); Jill (Newfoundland owned by Ginny Lengel); Lena (Siberian Husky owned by Katie and Darrin McCuthchen); front row, Cloe (Golden/Lab cross owned by David Mayfield); Bogey (Pug owned by Linh Durham); Spatsy (Havanese owned by Christine Wilson); Oliver (Rat Terrier owned by Bob Walther, also shown with Newf puppy Addie); Shaunti (Pomeranian owned by Barbara Hall); Tootsie (English Bulldog owned by Laura Leigh Jones) and Toby (Cardigan Welsh Corgi owned by Debra and Gary Bailey). Commonwealth Journal

Helping with the LCKC spring dog training classes was Kennel Club member Caitlyn Mounce (shown with English setter Catie). Caitlyn is also a junior handler in the Love on a Leash program and a student at Somerset High School. Commonwealth Journal

Leading the Kennel Club’s spring dog training classes was professional trainer Liz Norris (right) from Frankfort. One of the successful graduates from the class, was Toby a Cardigan Welsh Corgi owned by Debbie and Gary Bailey (left and center) of Somerset. Commonwealth Journal