Rescue dogs achieve worldwide fame

Two rescue dogs have jumped their way into the record books.

Feather, a greyhound, holds the Guinness World Records title for Highest Jump by a Dog launching herself over a height of 75 1/2 inches.

Border collie Geronimo is another jumping champion, holding two world records; Most skips by a dog in 1 minute at 91, and Most Double Dutch-style skips by a dog in 1 minute at 128.

The canine stars have much in common. They are both rescue dogs, and they have the same owner.

Samantha Valle, of Frederick, adopted both pets and also trained them for their record-breaking feats.

Valle started teaching dogs when she was 15 and has been doing it ever since.

She said she practices with both dogs frequently, adding it only took six weeks for Geronimo to master the Double Dutch technique, while Feather trains three times a week to increase her jumping stamina.

Valle said the key to coaching the dogs is not comparing them to each other, but responding to each animal’s needs as well as having a lot of patience and being consistent.

“I feel like people have a lot of misconceptions about rescue dogs,” Valle said. “Like, ‘oh someone threw it away, there must be something wrong with it.’ But I really enjoy taking people’s throwaway animals and making them into something great.”