PENNY – CANINE PET OF THE YEAR MERIT AWARD

I have owned Rottweilers since the mid 80’s and regard them as amazing dogs. Penny is my fifth Rottweiler. I got her at 10 weeks from a breeder near Huntly.

I enrolled her in puppy classes and obedience classes (as I did with all my Rotties) to ensure that she was properly socialized. It was 2013 and I heard about the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) program that our club had just started to get involved in and thought it would be a great way for other people to see what amazing dogs Rottweilers were. We started off doing Foundation and went to Taupo to sit our test which she passed. A few months later came the Bronze test then a year later she passed both Silver and Gold. I was over the moon.

In the meantime my Pointer Cindy who was a Canine Friend dog was getting on in years so I thought Penny would make a good substitute and while out on a CGC exercise we met the then local assessor for Canine Friends and she had no hesitation in recommending Penny as a pet therapy dog. Cindy has since passed away and Penny has now taken over the role as the dog for visiting Makoha Rest Home. We visit once a week and the staff have told me that after Penny’s visit all the residents that patted and talked to her (as well as encouraging her to do her few tricks), were happy and contented for the afternoon.

Penny is also used for the strange dog for my CGC class handlers and she always seems to calm all the dogs just by being there.

Everyone who meets Penny shows no fear of her and she spends a lot of her day looking under the front gate at the children playing in the park across the road and they all yell out “hello Penny” as they walk past. While my husband is walking Penny in the mornings some children will come out to pat and give her hugs, which she enjoys. Penny is always ready to welcome anyone who comes into our home and they are usually gently patting her while having a conversation with us.

We have recently adopted an ex racing Greyhound and Penny has made him very welcome to our home.

To us Penny is a hero and has certainly enriched our lives.

Julie Cowell