Jake no longer gets to jump off the dock or run up and down the ramp like a crazy dog when he swims but he does get to retrieve his toy about 30 times twice a week when we go to SwimDog Wellness Center. While he needs help getting in and out of my van and sometimes up and down a ramp into the house, he is doing remarkably well for what he's been through in his 11 and a half years! Of the 8 German shepherds I've had, I don't think I've had a happier dog that smiles more!
"Jake" earned the first RATCHX in the history of the Barn Hunt on July 27, 2014, at Waukesha, WI. Rat Champion Excellent requires that a dog earn 25 Master legs total, including the 5 earned in the RATM and the 10 earned in the RATCH! He subsequently earned another 10 legs to earn his RATCHX2 (CLICK HERE to see the facts of this journey) in October 2014 and his RATCHX3 in July 2015! In 2015, our focus turned to Dock Jumping and he is competing in the venues of Dock Dogs, NADD and Pier Pups where he has a personal best of 16'6" in Big Air (earning a Junior title and an invitation to Worlds) and 9.330 seconds in Speed Retrieve! In 2016 Jake earned his RATCHX4 in Barn Hunt, a Speed Retrieve title from Dock Dogs and is now a Nosework junkie where he has earned in 2 years his UKC Elite title!