About Us
Caleigh
American Kennel Club 2022 Influential Junior Award Winner:
"Caleigh Brown, Attleboro, Massachusetts: Caleigh began her journey with dogs at the age of 8, and her dogs have received many accolades and certifications over the years. She is the president of her local dog club, is a leader at the 4-H National Convention and Conference and heads high school’s stress-relief therapy dog club. She trains both dogs and dog handlers, and gives talks at schools, meetings, fairs and more. She looks to promote responsible dog ownership, share effective dog training, and the impact of the canine-human bond with others."
Caleigh Brown, 17, of Attleboro, MA is the epitome of AKC’s My Canine & Me. She continues to realize personal growth and leadership through dog ownership and participation in competitive events. And perhaps the greater source of joy and pride to me as a parent, she makes a substantial and positive impact on the world around her with her breadth of volunteer work with dogs and willingness to teach and share with others.
Caleigh’s journey with dogs starts at the age of 8 with junior showmanship at matches. By 12 she is part of a therapy dog team. At 14 she demonstrated at the Boston Museum of Science’s “Dogs: A Science Tail”. By 17 she is recognized with the 4-H Key Award, 4-H's highest award, and her first Berner ‘Teddy’ is honored with the 2021 AKC Award for Canine Excellence ACE Therapy Dog.
Caleigh is President of her local 4-H dog club, has leadership placements at both 4-H National Convention and National Conference, and is a member of the Massachusetts 4-H Dog Committee. She leads her school’s stress relief club “Coping with Pawsitivity”- specifically named for the value her therapy dogs bring. They are even included in the yearbook!
Caleigh is part of the future of the AKC through participation in confirmation, performance, companion and community activities. As a future breeder she is hands-on for litter evaluations, and fulfills the AKC Breeder of Merit health data on all her dogs.
Caleigh’s own training for teaching both dogs and dog handlers is through her participation in the Thunder Hill 4-H Dog Club. As a member of both the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America and the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Nashoba Valley, where she also advocates for AKC junior membership and is a founding member of the BMDCNV's Therapy Dog Committee. She continues AKC therapy dog work, certified by Dog B.O.N.E.S., and through K9 First Responders with ongoing training and their calls to duty for national trauma response therapy dog teams.
At every turn Caleigh and her now multiple Canines have found new paths to explore where she can continue to learn and share what she’s learning. She leads all-breed skills training in 4-H, gives talks at schools, boy scout meetings, meet the breeds at county fairs, provides canine reading companion rewards to challenged readers at libraries and 4-H STEM programs. She is a state dog committee member, makes therapy dog visits to grades pre to 12. She speaks on how dogs help us and how to train your dog. As a parent, I couldn’t be more grateful for that first Berner we brought home and all the doors that opened for them as a My Canine & Me team.
Teddy, Steadfast Bright Lights Prince Theodore THDD CGCA CGCU TK - (2012-2022) WS 42773503
Gromit, Steadfast Grand Day Out FDC THDN CGCA CGCU TKA - (2018) WS61053502
Taro, Steadfast Jardin De Taro CGCA CGCU TKN - (2020) WS70615305
Cricket, CH Diamond Cheeks My Steadfast Maxine RN (2010-2021) WS34456601