How It All Began
I have always had a passion for dogs. Born into a family of animal lovers, I grew up around dogs, cats, horses, and quite an assortment of pocket pets. Yet there was always something very special about dogs. 
After high school I ventured off to Spain and eventually came home without a penny in
my pocket but with my love, Tigre, a 180 pound Mastine Espanol.
During my college years, I worked for a large boarding kennel in my hometown. I also volunteered for an organization called Amigos de las Americas. While others chose projects to build latrines and vaccinate children, I spent my summer vaccinating dogs against rabies in the Andes of Ecuador.
In 1992 I brought home my first Rottweiler, Greta. Purchased from a responsible breeder, I was told I would have to take her to training classes and earn her AKC Companion Dog Obedience Title (CD) as part of the purchase agreement. What a thrill! Greta and I would go on to compete in both Obedience and Herding earning multiple titles.
During this time I became an assistant trainer at the school where Greta and I trained. I loved working with all the different dogs and their owners. I was hooked!
Then there was my Rottweiler, Chai. She changed everything. She taught me to find a better way to do everything and set me on the path to where I am today. She would not work if it included collar corrections or unkind words. Happy tones, treats, and toys got her attention. It was me that needed to learn how to use these instead. She thrived in using her brain and problem solving. Life was grand and we had a ball. She obtained her AKC Championship, Obedience and Herding Titles. Just before we could finish our CDX and compete at the next level she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, bone cancer. I lost her a month later. But the lessons were learned and the journey continues so it is partly for her that this business is named.
Since then I have earned my Certification, CPDT, from the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (www.ccpdt.org) which required me to pass a comprehensive exam that covers a broad range of canine behavior and psychology. The exam for Certified Professional Dog Trainers is administered by a national independent testing agency and is designed to provide the public with an assurance of a high level of expertise. In order to keep my certification current I often attend training related seminars and network with other trainers, behaviorists, and veterinarians in order to keep current on the latest methods and research.
I currently compete with my Rottweiler Asher. He has earned his CGC, CD, and German BH. We will be trialing in the spring of 2010 to earn his CDX.
Currently I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Emerald Valley Rottweiler Club of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland All Breed Training Club, Medina Kennel Club, Ohio Hundsport and United Schutzhund Clubs of America.
I am a founding member of the Northeast Ohio Positive Dog Trainers. We are a group of canine professionals dedicated to excellence in training, behavior consulting, and animal care who use methods that are safe, humane, effective, and backed by the latest scientific research.
I am also a volunteer with the Humane Society of Greater Akron where currently I am helping to launch their new CGC program to help dogs become more adoptable.
Education:
BA in International Relations from Kent State University
Post Baccalaureate studies at the University of Akron
Recent Seminars:
2009
Dr. Raymond Coppinger PhD - Evolution and Natural History of Dogs - This seminar focused on the natural evolution and history of dogs and their natural behaviors, as well as, how man has altered the dog for his own purposes and the effects this has had to their innate behaviors. Biological development was also covered, including proper brain development between 0-16 weeks and why this is the most crucial period of development in the life of the dog. This seminar was presented at the Wolf Park Ethology Center. When we were not in lecture with Dr. Coppinger then we were doing wolf related activities with the staff of Wolf Park. This provided quite a contrast between natural wolf behavior and natural dog behavior.
Dr. Ian Dunbar PhD, BVetMed, MRCVS, CPDT - Effective Painless Punishment Telecourse
Midwest Veterinary Conference 2009 Patricia McConnell, PhD CAAB - Both Ends of the Leash: Understanding the Behavior of People and Dogs - This seminar focused on the comparative ethology of people and dogs, and how genetically-mediated behavioral predispositions both enhance, and threaten, our relationships.
Emma Parsons BA - Click to Calm - Clicking the Reactive/Aggressive Dog
Changing Human Stress Cues to Calm Cues
Creativity and its Role in the Rehabilitation Process’
Teaching a Reactive Dog
2008
Deborah Jones PhD and Judy Keller - Positive Solutions for Behavior Problems – how to work dogs with behavior problems using Counter Conditioning and Clicker Training.
Sarah Kalnajs CPDT, CDBC and Pat Miller CPDT, CDBC - Canine Behavior Problems, Recognition to Resolution -
Problem Recognition through Canine Body Language
Problem Resolution through Counter Conditioning and Operant Conditioning
2007
Bernhard Flinks – German Police K9 Officer, Police Dog Trainer, and world level competitor in the sport of Schutzhund. In this working seminar handlers were taught how to work with their dogs through all aspects of schutzhund using positive non-violent methods.
Certifications