An elderly woman sitting outside on a sunny day, smiling.

I became interested in dog training quite by accident while taking a basic pet obedience class. The year was 1980, and my first dog was a quiet-natured, rough collie. One of our classmates was a rambunctious chocolate Labrador Retriever, and the seed for my next dog was planted.

Several years later, I acquired my first chocolate lab and have never looked back. And, YES, my dog must be chocolate!

My current dog competes in three registries in Obedience and Rally Obedience’s canine sports and has earned advanced titles in all. We have begun and enjoyed a fairly new area of competition called Nosework.

A Lifelong Passion for Progress

Lots of fun! Even though I have taught various classes for Kalamazoo Dog Training Club, I continue to learn by being a student myself. Teaching is rewarding because both the owners and their dogs can make positive progress. This is wonderful to see! My 35 years as a public school educator provided me with plenty of instructional experience.

My involvement in dog obedience and rally obedience has extended into judging 4-H kids and dogs at local county fairs for many years. It’s great to see these young people learning, training, and competing. EXCELLENT.