As soon as Jan Creek met six-month old shelter dog Jed, she knew he would be easy to train. Jan, 84, spent many years as an obedience trainer and dog breeder and was founder and patron of The Rottweiler Club of SA.
She hasn’t owned a dog for four years and was thrilled when her Support Worker Lynne Galaboff started bringing Jed to visit.
Once a week she and Jan took Jed to a local park to teach the pup to sit, stay and heel. Lynne says she saw an instant change in Jan. “I thought she would just talk to the dog and enjoy spending time with him, but as soon as I handed her Jed’s lead, she took control and started to walk him,” she says. “Her mobility improved and she enjoyed getting out into the fresh air and sunshine.”
In the 1980s Jan was a regular fixture at the Royal Adelaide Show, offering rides in a custom built sulky attached to one of her Rottweilers.
She bred dogs under the name ‘Kleinhan’ and sold pups around Australia and the world – she even sold one to Adelaide radio personality Bob Francis.
“I love dogs because they always love you in return,” she says. “I think they are wonderful company.”
Lynne’s creativity and taking action was inspired through ACH Group’s Dementia Leadership Program.
Find out more about our dementia services and initiatives here.