All Paws Welcome

Dogs have been at the center of my life for more than 25 years, both professionally and personally. What began as a passion for working with dogs grew into a lifelong commitment to training, competing, teaching, and continually learning how to help dogs and their people succeed together.

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Throughout my career, I have competed in and trained across a wide range of dog sports and working disciplines, including conformation, field trials, nite hunts, water races, hunt tests, flyball, obedience, rally, agility, nosework and scent detection, barn hunt, schutzhund, lure coursing, and tracking. This broad experience allows me to understand dogs not just as pets, but as athletes, working partners, and individuals with unique needs.

For over 15 years, I have taught both private and group classes in obedience and conformation, working with dogs of all breeds, ages, and temperaments. I am also an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator, an AKC judge for all coonhound events, and a UKC judge for coonhound bench shows, giving me a well-rounded perspective on training, performance, and evaluation standards.

Beyond competition and instruction, I have groomed, trained, and fostered dogs for local humane societies in Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Giving back to the rescue community is an important part of my work and reflects my commitment to ethical, compassionate dog training.

I believe strongly in continuing education. I am a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the Pet Professional Guild (PPG). I have attended numerous in-person and virtual seminars with respected leaders in the field, including Suzanne Clothier, Virginia Broitman & Sherri Lippman, and Denise Fenzi. My ongoing education also includes coursework through Susan Garrett’s Handling 360, OneMind Dogs, and the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, where I have studied Agility, Nosework, Canine Fitness, and Rally.

My formal education includes coursework through the London Hanover College of Zoological Studies, where I completed CANI 220: Principles of Narcotic Development with funding assistance from the American Society of Canine Trainers (ASCT). I am currently continuing my professional development as a student at Victoria Stillwell’s Dog Training Academy.

In addition to my canine education, I hold a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University and am a Board Certified Christian Master Mental Health Coach, Certified Master Life Coach, and Certified Goal Success Life Coach. This background allows me to support not only dogs, but the people working with them—helping build confidence, clarity, and strong partnerships.

I have handled both my own dogs and client dogs to numerous titles across multiple venues, including CH, GRCH, NITECH, GRNITECH, WCH, GRWCH, FCH, GRFCH, HTX, CCH, CGCH, CWC, CGW, CFC, GFC, CNC, TT, CGC, CD, CDX, BH, and TD.

My Philosophy

My training philosophy is rooted in science-based, humane methods, clear communication, and respect for each dog as an individual. I focus on creating reliable, real-world results while strengthening the bond between dogs and their handlers—whether the goal is better manners at home, success in competition, or a confident working partner.