Profiles

Australian Champion Mingdon Aka Saki, was born on 12th Sept. 1994 and came to live with me at 8 weeks. I showed her to her Title, and then she produced my first Chin puppies, and my first homebred Champion a couple of years later. Saki was one of a little group that I took on weekly visits to the local hospital, and was a great favourite.

From an early age, Saki seemed to "know" things, and we dubbed her our resident psychic. Twice she woke me when my tiny Pom was in trouble, saving his life by letting me know early enough. She started alerting me to impending diabetic hypo's, some years ago, and while proud of her abilities, again put it down to her "psychic" abilities.

Then last year, my diabetes became unstable, and I started to have frequent hypo's, and found myself really relying on her help. At that time, I also lost the confidence to go out much, as I would be without her, and had to try and arrange to have my daughter accompany me, which wasn't always possible.

I saw an item on the news about hypo-alert dogs, in America, and then set about finding out how to get my Saki recognised, so she could go with me everywhere. I've lost count of the number of phone calls I made, but eventually I found ASDOGS (NQ) and progress was finally made.

For about seven years, with my daughter, I ran an obedience school in the nearby town of Tenterfield, and Saki often came "for the ride" and often took part as the dog to walk between the class in a "stay", and other things, as she has such a stable temperament, and she also picked up a lot of the training as well.

Our school folded the year before due to rising insurance costs. This stood Saki in good stead however, for training for the Public Access test, as she was already quite well obedience trained, and had forgotten none of it. Also being now an elderly dog, she just does whatever I ask of her, even if it be something new to her.

As a breed, Japanese Chins are not noted for for obedience, there being only one to ever obtain its C.D. title in Australia. But then in Australia they are still a numerically small breed, which makes Saki all the more unique in her acheivements.

As the "matriarch" here, Saki has taken on the fostering of many pups, including the Sheltie pup I have in training at the moment. If she likes you, she will offer her paw, but if not you will be ignored, and nothing will change her mind.

When she passed her test, she looked at me as if to say "I knew I could do it all along". And that is Saki, the little dog who just "knows things".

On the 14th August 2006, Australian Champion Mingdon Aka Saki, shed her earthly shell and went to the Rainbow Bridge. Saki was Australia's first fully accredited Hypo-Alert Assistance Dog, tested to the standards of A.D.I. She was less than a month from her 12th birthday, a good age for a Japanese Chin. There is an empty place by the fire now, and a very large space left in our hearts, since this very special little lady has now passed into history. Rest in Peace dear Saki.