You will find Dee on the tracking field on Saturday and Sunday mornings with her Schutzhund titled K-9 Kiwi. Also lead trainer working with the new dogs and puppies on Saturday and Sunday mornings. On Saturday afternoon she is the lead instructor in our AKC Star Puppy Class and works her Kiwi in obedience and protection work on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
"As a small child around 4 years of age I knew I was meant to work with animals in some fashion when I found a litter of kittens discarded on the side of the road wrapped in a pillow case and I brought them home. This was my first attempt at being an animal nurse.
It didn't work out so well as the kittens all passed away but it made me aware that I wanted to grow up helping animals.
Growing up I was given the chores to feed, water and of course clean up after the dogs.
At the age of 10 we adopted a border collie from a local shelter. It was at this time I realized training dogs was going to be a given in my adult life. I began bonding with her and shortly thereafter we began our training regimen. During the summer I would take her outside and teach her to sit and lay down with treats.
As an adult married to a law enforcement K9 officer my first dog to do serious training with was a small female GSD named "Casey". At the time I did not know the difference between imported dogs, backyard bred dogs, puppy mills, working dogs, show dogs or pets.
Luckily for me, she was the product of two imported Schutzhund titled working line German Shepherds. I soon learned how fast working line dogs could be trained due to their inborn instincts to work and their drive to please their handler.We worked together as a team for almost two years in Schutzhund but before I was able to title her she unexpectedly passed away at 2 years of age.
I was broken hearted and vowed to not have anymore dogs, although with my husband being a K9 officer thankfully that was not the case.
I started holding small classes for my friends and coworkers. That was the beginning and I am still excited and look forward to training every time step on the training field. It is my greatest satisfaction with training to take an untrained and unruly animal and turn them into an animal that their owners are proud to own."
"Dee"
