Meet Sadie, a one and a half year old Miniature Australian Shepherd. Sadie is a lively little dog who enjoys chasing birds and deer in her back yard. Her favorite activity is practicing the ‘classic shepherd’ herding technique on her big sister, a Miniature Schnauzer named Abby.
Sadie loves to jump into any available lap and curl up for a nap or some good petting. For her favorite food, a Charlee Bear Dog Treat, she will show off all her best tricks such as sit up, high five, and shake. At night she can be found on the bed, sandwiched between her owners, with her tongue slightly hanging out of her mouth, dreaming of another fun filled day.
The Miniature Australian Shepherd, also known as the Miniature Aussie, was developed in the 1960’s through the selective breeding of small Australian Shepherds. This breed is not recognized by the American 
Kennel Club as a variety of the Australian Shepherd, but can be registered with other registries such as the National Stock Dog Registry.
This compact breed loves to work, and excels at agility, obedience, disc dog, flyball, and herding. The Miniature Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, loyal, playful, affectionate, and courageous breed. An excellent pet for families with children, this dog loves to please and is easy to train. However, they can become easily bored, so plenty of exercise, both mental and physical, is needed to prevent a dog from becoming destructive.
As a herding breed, Miniature Australian Shepherds will herd other animals in the home. They will even attempt to herd people by nipping at heels, a behavior which should be quickly stopped.
Miniature Australian Shepherds are so adorable they stop most people in their tracks. They are perpetual puppies that fit well in today’s modern lifestyle. They are easy to groom, are average shedders, do well living in apartments with regular exercise, and they make excellent working dogs and love to have a ‘job’.
To learn more about Miniature Australian Shepherds or to rescue, please visit the North American Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA at www.namascusa.com.
On Thursday, February 18, at LeDeux Hotel in Hollywood, California, a two-year old Golden Retriever named Ricochet accepted the Dogswell “Wag” award for “Most Charitable,” a title that is only partially fitting. However, the words “Most Charitable, Inspirational, Amazing, Determined, Touching, Accomplished, Tear Jerking, and Heartwarming” might not have all fit on the award plaque.
Ricochet came into the world white patch and all. The tiny pup was quickly name Ricochet because she bounced all around, a fitting name since she still bounces around the world touching people’s hearts.
from chasing birds while working, Judy made the tough decision to release her from the program. “Can you imagine a service dog running after a bird while on the job? In good conscience I couldn’t breed Ricochet knowing her puppies could have the chase drive. It wouldn’t be beneficial to the people that need them,” said Judy who decided to keep Ricochet as a pet.
Injury Recovery Center for physical therapy.
Ricochet’s fundraiser profits go to a variety of charitable causes, such as Ricochet’s Surfin’ Santa Paws toy drive which helped purchase toys for over 638 children in hospitals, and domestic violence shelters. She assists six year old Ian McFarland, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. She is even giving her Dogswell “Wag” Award prize, a year’s supply of Dogswell dog food, to the 
Away from her ‘cool surfer dog’ persona, Ricochet is very submissive and gentle. “She can get excitable, but she is very low key,” says Judy who must watch Ricochet around other dogs that may pick on her. Her favorite activities include running as fast as she can, lure coursing, digging for gophers, eating, surfing, and naturally, bird chasing! Ricochet plays hard, works hard, and sleeps hard, going to bed on her own at seven in the evening and rising every morning at eight. “In a sense she is very spiritual, there is some other energy at work and it is exhausting for her,” says Judy of her extremely loving and affectionate dog.
Ricochet’s best dog friend is a Golden Retriever Lab Mix, named Rina. “They are very different, but they get along very well, Rina is a wonderful teacher for her,” says Judy of seven year old Rina, who is also a trained service dog.
me acceptance, and to focus on the positive rather than the negative. Look at the things she has accomplished, they have been so big.”
California’s beautiful Sonoma County is home to award-winning wineries, luxury spas, scenic coastlines, amazing restaurants, and the world’s largest Social Therapy Dog Program ‘Creating Wellness.’
Roz’s own eight year old Golden Retriever named Ally. A graduate of the Bergin University of Canine Studies Social Therapy program, Ally is a sweet and loving dog who is eager to work at the Hospitals.
nursing skills. She prepares by having Roz thoroughly clean her feet with disinfecting wipes, and by adorning her fashionable K9 nurse’s cap. Once prepped she takes out her nursing bag containing various medical instruments: a stethoscope to hear a patients love for her, a reflex hammer to test a patients potential ball kicking skill, a hypodermic needle for injections of happiness, a cell phone incase she is paged, a band-aid cuff for children’s boo boos, and a rectal thermometer for – what else – show and tell! Even though all of her instruments are only toys she takes her work very seriously.
“The goal of a Therapy Dog is to make you feel better while you are getting better,” says Roz while working with her beloved canine, who she claims is even qualified to take a patients blood pressure. Their visits help facilitate healing, using all the unconditional love that a dog has to give.
also works as a Therapy Dog. Justice, a five month old Golden Doodle, is a Therapy Dog in training! Strict vegetarians, Ally and her sisters enjoy carrot treats, long walks, and naturally – sleeping.
“The greatest gift you can give another human being is yourself and a dog, there is nothing better than that,” says Roz. “This is the best job I’ve ever had in my life.” With all of her experience as a therapy trained Golden Retriever, one can truly say Ally has the golden touch when it comes to her patients.
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