Story submitted by our awesome Deaf Dogs Rock Ambassador Savannah LeFors with Savvy Dog Training.
Above: Savannah pictured with her two deaf dogs, sweet deaf Dalmatian puppy Bindi (left) and Australian Cattle Dog Sydney on the right.
I knew that I was ready to adopt a dog once I had graduated from Florida State University. I had a few criteria in mind: female, breed known to be active, under 6 months old, and DEAF! Sydney (then named, “Zeppelin”) was listed on the DDR website/facebook page the week I graduated from school! She was perfect!
We started playing sports together as soon as we could find a class to get into! We have taken dock diving lessons, sheep herding lessons, disc dog lessons, nosework lessons, and rally obedience lessons! Our favorites turned out to be agility and flyball!
Above: Sydney playing Flyball
Sydney has many AKC titles and is part of the AKC’s Purebred Alternative Listing Program. She is an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog!
Above: Savannah and deaf heeler Sydney running the Agility course
Photos above: Sweet deaf heeler Sydney posing with just a few of her championship ribbons/awards.
Her full registered name is:
Stumpy Tail Sydney LeFors CGC CGCA CGCU TKP VHM ACT2 ACT2J OF NAJ NAP SSA TF FDX
Awards she has received reflected in those titles are:
Canine Good Citizen
Canine Good Citizen Advanced
Canine Good Citizen Urban
Trick Dog Performer
Virtual Home Manners
Agility Course Test Level 2
Agility Jumpers Course Test Level 2
Open FAST (AKC Agility)
Novice Agility Jumpers (AKC Agility)
Novice Agility Preferred (AKC Agility)
Starters Standard Agility (USDAA Agility)
Top Flight Level 1 – United Flyball League International
Flyball Dog Excellent – North American Flyball Association
Sydney also has an IMDB profile because she had a spot in a short film about a deaf couple with a deaf dog! She also plays FastCAT (a 100 yard dash)!
Photos above: Savannah and Sydney enjoying being a team doing fun canine sporting events
Sydney’s 6th birthday is coming up and we don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon! Looking forward to many more years of playing with her, and she is also doing a great job of showing my younger deaf dog the ropes!
Above: Sydney on set performing in a short film for Savannah College of Art and Design
Note from Christina Lee with Deaf Dogs Rock – Savannah is also available for virtual training with your deaf or hearing dog. She is also fluent in American Sign Language the Deaf community.
Savannah LeFors, CPDT-KA, FFCP
Savvy Dog Training
Owner – Dog Trainer
Email:
(904) 242-6772
