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- Training dogs for self control and good manners
- Training people to train their pets and have fun doing it
- Providing pet safety and Tricks demos for children
- Home visits to solve problem behaviors
- Personal training to build confidence and dog-owner bond
- Clicker training workshops
- Evaluation for Canine Good Citizen certificate
Background and Philosophy
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I have always been captivated by animals &ndash all animals, including insects, reptiles and ampibians, birds, dogs, horses. All of the family dogs were my students, and I taught them good manners as well as many hilarious tricks. Our smart and funny old cock-a-poo Tonnie, in particular, helped
me discover how much fun it is to train dogs.
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I figured out early on that the way to a dog's heart was through play and training! I was closest to our family pets because I played with them, and taught them to do things. But that was in the 1960s, and I had never even heard of positive or reward-based training. I read book after book about training, which led me to believe that I was going about it all wrong &ndash that I needed to exert "dominance," use a choke collar, and be quick to punish disobedience in order to be "alpha"... but fortunately the brainwashing didn't take. Tonnie had taught me better than that.
At a Suzanne Clothier seminar, Jeepers shows off by "swearing in" on her excellent book.
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Tricks are fun, but not frivolous. I am a big believer in teaching tricks and "fun stuff" for
dogs. Far from being demeaning or silly, tricks training is very enjoyable
for the dog. Through shaping, a dog learns to be creative, to offer behaviors, and to enjoy
training. It is very clear to me that most dogs love to perform and make
people laugh. Teaching a dog to roll over, spin, stretch, tug,
beg, or say prayers can increase flexibility and fitness, and
also relieve stress and boredom for a dog.
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Training
these things also makes you a better trainer! And finally, the more behaviors a
dog learns, the smarter she becomes, and the quicker she is to learn other
things. The sky is the limit, and it's all good fun.
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I am also a big believer in teaching dogs basic good manners and
respect for humans--and perhaps more importantly, in teaching humans to earn
this respect from their dogs. I have adopted Jean Donaldson's mantra:
Positive is not permissive!
. . . And also
It's all tricks to the dog!
I have been most privileged to attend two
week-long "Chicken Training Camps" with the maestro of behavior modification,
Bob Bailey. That was the opportunity of a lifetime, because no one understands and can teach operant conditioning like Bob. We are fortunate that Terry Ryan has been working with him for years, and will continue the tradition of "Chicken Camp" at her training center in Washington state. I have also had the good fortune to take seminars with some of the world's most talented animal trainers (see below ). Each of them gave me precious insights and inspiration.
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The
real thrill in dog training comes from watching the lightbulb go on for your dog, and the shared joy when you connect and make something happen together. It doesn't matter whether it's a simple Sit, or running a complex agility sequence fast and flawlessly; when the dog realizes "I got it! I did it!" it's always exciting and fun. Here's what else is thrilling: seeing dog owners, and
their children, catch the "training bug" by finding out just how much fun and interesting and smart their own dog is! That's my ultimate goal as a dog training
instructor.
Teaching Experience
2007-present
Family Pet Instructor, Glenwood Animal Hospital, Raleigh, NC.
- Family Dog classes
- Puppy classes
- Others TBD...
Shaping & Tricks Instructor, Pet Behavior Hep, Chapel Hill, NC.
- Family Dog classes
- Puppy classes
- Others TBD...
2006-2007
Dog Training Instructor, Sunny Acres Pet Resort, Durham, NC.
- Doggie Manners classes
- Puppy classes
- Tricks class, others TBD...
2001-2006
Dog Training Instructor, Teamworks, Raleigh, NC.
- Beginner Canine Good Citizen classes
- Advanced Canine Good Citizen classes
- Clicker and Tricks Training classes
1999-2000
Class Assistant, Teamworks, Raleigh, NC.
- Beginner Canine Good Citizen classes
- Advanced Canine Good Citizen classes
- Therapy Dog classes
Dog/Animal Behavior & Education
- January 1999.
Pittsboro, NC. Bow Wow Trick
Workshop. 16 hour workshop with Virginia
Broitman and Sherri Lippman.
- February 1999.
Pittsboro, NC. Clicker
Training Seminar. 16 hour workshop
with Deborah Jones
- February 2000. Clicker Training Tools of the Trade. 16 hour seminar with Corally Burmaster.
- June 2000. Mebane,
NC. Teaching Positive
Discipline. 16 hour seminar with
Trish King.
- August 2000. Tampa,
FL. UKC Rules and
Regulations. 6 hours seminar with Tom
Graham.
- April 2001. Mebane,
NC. Shelter Dogs and
Behavior. 16 hour seminar with Sue
Sternberg.
- January 2002.
Advanced Clicker Training. 16 hour workshop with Steve White.
- March 2002. NC State
University. Animal Rescue
and Shelter Management. 16 hour
symposium with a variety of speakers.>
- 2002 Raleigh, NC Temperament Testing Applications. 7 hrs with Dr. Lori Mearkle, Ph.D.
- May 2002.
Bridge and Target Training. 16 hour workshop with Kayce Cover.
- 2002 Raleigh, NC. Dog Aggression. 7 hrs with Dr. Lori Mearkle, Ph.D.
- October 2002.
Trick Training for Show Biz.
16 hour workshop with Col. Haggerty and Babette
Haggerty.
- November 2002
Mebane NC Advanced
Canine Behavior. 16 hour seminar
with Dr. Patricia McConnell
- January 2003.
Winston-Salem NC. Rally
Obedience: Rules and Judging Workshop.
8 hours with AKC field reps.
- August
2004. "Chicken Camp I" Discrimination Course 40-hour course with Bob Bailey. The best thing I've EVER done!
- March
2005. Mebane NC. The Integrated
Approach. 16 hour workshop with Suzanne Clothier.
- February 2006. "Chicken Camp II" Criteria and Cueing. 56 hour workshop with Bob Bailey.
Agility Training
- March 2002. Mebane,
NC. Agility Training Seminar. 16 hour seminar and workshop with Susan
Garrett.
- February 2003. Mebane
NC. >The Canine Athlete.16 hour workshop on structure and conditioning
with Christine Zink.
- 2004. 16 hours agility seminar with Kathy Keats.
- March 2006. Mebane NC. Agility Workshop. 16 hour workshop with Mary Ellen Barry.
- May 2006. Agility Workshop. 16 hour workshop with Terry Smorch.
- March 2007. Durham NC. Agility Workshop. 16 hour workshop with Mary Ellen Barry.
- August 2007. Barto PA. Kinetic Dogs Skills and Drills. 16 hour workshop with Mary Ellen Barry.
- Ongoing: Training since 2004 with agility mentor Melanie Miller of Agilitiz.
Life Aside from Dogs
- Currently: Terminologist, SAS Institute, Cary NC
- 1984-1996: Instructor of University English and Research Writing
- 1984: Master of Arts, Applied Linguistics/TESL, University of Hawaii
- 1979-1981 Peace Corps volunteer, Thailand
- 1979: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Albion College, Albion MI
Volunteer Experience
- Rat Terrier Rescue foster caregiver and trainer
- 1999-2005 S.P.C.A. of Wake County: Volunteer for various educational, fund-raising, and rescue activities
- 2001, 2003, 2005 Volunteer, NC State Dog Olympics Fundraiser
Canine Memberships and Activities
- Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
- Certified Instructor, Teamworks Dog Training
- Invited Presenter, 2003 and 2005, International Symposium for the Kangal Dog in Sivas Province, Turkey
- Board of Directors 1998-2007, Kangal Dog Club of Americater
- Member, Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Our Pets
 Ripley is sweet and smart, and has many friends and admirers. She's a UKC Champion Rat Terrier, and our Tricks Dog Extraordinaire. Ripley loves learning and performing her many clever tricks, and she's a great demo dog for illustrating the power of clicker training! | 
Photo by Diane Lewis. Jeepers is my adorable little Rat Terrorist, just as bright and eager to learn as Ripley, and full of mischief and humor. He's zooming forward as my agility partner, and he loves the game. He loves any game! |
 Widget is our newest family member, and she loves clicker training too! She knows several cute tricks, but my favorite is "go potty." There's no need for a stinky litter box in our house! |
 | Kangal Dogs: This is Lule [LU-Lay] with her 2-week old puppies. She's a Kangal Dog--Turkey's national breed, rare in the US. Lule is obedience trained, a UKC conformation Champion, and a wonderful mother, beautiful inside and out. Our gentle friend and protector.
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My other dog links:
Our Sivas Regal Kangal Dogs
Our SmartyPants Rat Terriers
Photo gallery of our dogs and other stuff
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