This website was developed in 2015, shortly before I got Voodoo, to track our journey and to share some resources I have found helpful over the years for creating an attentive, bonded, versatile and happy dog. My dogs are first and foremost my family. My training methods get the dogs as addicted to training as I am and I have learned to effectively apply reward-based training to many different situations and behaviors (even ones traditionally thought to only be reliable using corrections).
About me: I LOVE training dogs and my life has revolved around training, competition and teaching others to train their dogs. I have been training dogs for over 40 years and have used positive reinforcement methods since first learning about them in 1999. I am constantly expanding my knowledge and use of ‘It’s your choice’ and Error-less learning methods and I have helped literally hundreds of people train their dogs for a variety of sports as well as problem solving and behavior modification.
In August of 2014, I was approved as a Barn Hunt Judge and Judged many trials. And I was approved as an AKC Scentwork Judge with the first group of applicants just before AKC Scentwork started. In 2019, I stepped down as a Barn Hunt Judge because I could no longer stand for 10 hours straight without pain. But I recently got hired by Train A Dog Save A Warrior (TASDAW) as a trainer to help disabled Veterans and First Responders get Service Dogs at no cost to them. I work with the disabled Veteran/FR weekly to help them learn to train their own Service Dog. It’s been very rewarding work so far.
In the past, I have owned a rescued Border Collie/Husky mix, a Rottweiler, 2 Cattle Dogs (1 was a rescue) and 2 rescued Beagles, all of which lived long and full lives (when cancer didn’t take them too early) learning new skills their entire lives. To learn more about them, visit: At-The-Bridge.com
My retired dog is a Belgian Malinois from strong working lines, born July 31, 2008 to a breeder in Indiana (Loup Noir- no longer breeding). I got him at 9 weeks old and he is still doing well at almost 17 yrs old! I trained him to “do it all” and he has multiple titles in several different venues. He has also learned a wide assortment of skills from Search and Rescue to Carting, herding, and even painting and sign language! You can see all his titles and scores here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/dazzle/dazzles-titlesbadges/667597729963390
RATCHX10, UROC, URX, UCD, USJ, UAG1, TDCH Loup Noir Jasper DSA, CGCA, RAE, CW-OB1, CW-SR, W-FD/MF, TT, CA (UKC), CD, NA, NF, DS, ETD, PT, NNC, NNE, CW-SSS, TEAM1, FDC, BCAT, CA (AKC)
I also have a Black Lab from Eromit Labrador Retrievers in Canada. Born Mar 25, 2016. I had plans to do as much with him as I did with Dazzle, but life had other plans. My husband’s health declined rapidly and in 2019 he became my guardian angel (more on that below). Before my husband got sick though, I was trialing quite a bit. This photo shows what Voodoo earned in his first year of trials (the last time I had a dedicated training space to display everything).
RATChX4 Black Magic of Eromit WC, ITD, CGCA, BN, RN, CW-SI, CW-Ob1, DE, DCAT, SWN, CZ8G, SHR, AS, FDC, NA, CA, NAJ, CW-ARF
My past experience includes several years as a police officer in Cincinnati, Ohio, a few years working at a couple local dog day cares and several years as Administrative Assistant and then President of a national, non-profit, pet dog training organization (Dog Scouts of America). I was the founder, trainer and chief rat wrangler at the S.E. Indiana Rats and Dogs Club where I taught Barn Hunt and Scent work almost every day at my house and still have students tell me they want me to come back to Ohio!
In addition to the TADSAW work and Judging assignments, I currently volunteer to handle adding events and classes to the local dog club website and I’m on the Obedience Training committee and Lure Coursing committee. But other than that, I spend my days tending to my mini farm and all the critters.
I am proud to say that I have been told by a few breeders whom I respect that they wish I could have one of their puppies. And I feel that is very high praise considering how carefully they screen their puppy buyers. 10 years ago, if it wasn’t for the natural and very strong “defense of handler” tendencies of a working line Malinois, I would have gotten another in a heartbeat. I have been VERY happy with Dazzle and all we have accomplished together. I didn’t want to lose the energy level, work ethic, and intelligence of the Malinois, but needed less ‘defense drive’. So I felt that an energetic, tall (24″ at least) field Lab would fit my needs nicely. I was SO right and could not be happier with Voodoo! He is all the traits I love about the Malinois with none of what made Dazzle a big challenge. Voodoo has excelled as both a wonderful companion and travel buddy and in competition, with titles in obedience, agility, scentwork, fastCAT, tricks, and more.
In 2019, my husband passed away after a battle with COPD and my life was changed in some very big ways. We had planned to travel the country together and with his blessing I made plans to do it after he passed. By January of 2020, I had sold EVERYTHING (house, car, & 50+ years of accumulated stuff!) and bought a box van that I built out as an RV. I hit the road planning to make that my permanent lifestyle and made it as far as FL before everything started closing. I rode out the worst of the pandemic at my parents house, then hit the road again and traveled extensively with Dazzle and Voodoo loving the adventure.
But as gas prices went through the roof and the future of the country became more and more uncertain, I decided to settle down again and bought 4 acres of abandoned land in SC and have been focused on developing that for self-sufficient sustainability since I bought it in Sept. of 2022. I still have the van and plan to take short trips if prices ever come back down, but for now it’s a relaxed life filled with dog training for fun, and chores on the mini-farm.
With Dazzle nearing end of life and Voodoo getting older, I’m on the hunt for my next pup! I’m wanting to downsize and have a dog I can easily pick up. I’m also not planning to be at a dog trial every weekend like I had been in the past (hard to leave the farm for several days). So I’m looking at a breed with more off switch and less crazy over the top energy. I’ll still be doing a lot of training for a wide array of sports, because I love training and keeping my dog’s minds busy, but the trials will be more selective. Conformation is something that really interests me, but I haven’t had dogs suited to it. So my main focus with the next dog will be conformation, but I also plan to do rally, obedience, and scentwork competitions.
Raising a Genius Puppy 