I started with Schutzhund around 1990 or so and soon after helped to
start a local club where I spent many years. I discovered fairly early
that while I enjoy training my own dogs, competing didn't hold much
appeal to me. However, as a helper I found tremendous satisfaction in
helping other dog and handler teams to understand the many skills needed
to succeed in their work and to overcome the various training obstacles
we all face. I've done trial helper work but found my niche as a
training helper in helping "problem" dogs overcome their issues and
reaching goals that at some point seemed unlikely, whether it be a
Schutzhund title or becoming a more effective Police K9. I am happy to
now be training with a great group where we share both a positive
outlook and positive training methods to try to get the best out of the
dogs and develop into the strongest dog/handler teams possible.
I am also a freelance artist who specializes in working dog art. Some
people in the working dog community may have seen my designs through
Topdog Designs and more recently
Signature K9.
I started badgering the
Training Director to allow me to start to catch dogs about the beginning
of 2006. Around April of 2006 he finally allowed me to begin what has
since become quite an extensive apprenticeship.
I'm far from accomplished or smooth in
the activity but I hope to continue to build my skills and become a
certified decoy by the middle of 2008.
