My Story
What I find most rewarding, is helping new handlers develop deeper relationships with their dogs.
My goal is simple: To help you and your dog fall in love with herding.
I didn't grow up on a farm, and I spent the majority of my adult life as a professional dog trainer, helping people with their pet dogs, and competing with my own dogs in a variety of sports.
A little over 20 years ago I dipped my toe into herding world. I started out driving 3 1/2 hours each way for lessons. The drive was MUCH longer than the time I actually spent training my dog!
My husband Travis realised I was was hooked and suggested that it would be less expensive to buy a few sheep, than for me to drive back and forth constantly...so we made a little pen and bought 6 sheep.
I’m pretty sure that in the end we did NOT save anything by buying those first 6 sheep!
In the meantime
My agility equipment sat idle
I finally sold it when I admitted to myself that I was completely bit by the herding bug.
While my original goal was to learn some basic herding skills, I discovered that I like sheep almost as much as I like dogs. That I really enjoy working in a tractor. That livestock guardian dogs can be an integral part of a livestock operation, and that while they are very different from the other dogs I’ve worked with, they are also very interesting, lovely animals.
Coming from a competitive obedience/sport background, and having spent years helping owners train their dogs using positive reinforcement methods, I thought I had a pretty good idea how to train a dog to do most things.
My perspective on what works, and what doesn’t has changed. My “tool box” has grown. The relationship I share with my dogs has deepened significantly.
Be forewarned before dipping your toe in the herding world. It can be life changing!
A bit more
am I experienced?
I have over 35 years experience as a professional dog trainer. I'm past vice president of the APDT, and past president of the CBCA.
am I successful?
My dogs and I are multi Open trial winners. We are CBCA Championship finalists, and Calgary Stampede finalists.
I am a Meeker semi finalist, and have won both the Rising Star award and the Maureen Scott Robinson memorial award.
What am I most proud of?
I raise and train my own dogs (a lot of dogs are either purchased fully trained, or sent away to be trained). They are effective both as trial dogs, and as work dogs. Aside from being competitive, they are lovely companions.
I am also really proud of my students. Their successes are as important as my own wins.
