My very first dog was a spaniel mix from a neighbor's "oops" breeding.  I was 7 years old and Tippy and I were inseparable until we had to move to South Africa.  My Dad was career Air Force and we relocated every three years.  I was very lucky that my parents understood how important dogs were to me but it was heartbreaking leaving them behind.  At 11, I took my first German Shepherd, Duchess, to obedience classes, taught her several tricks and how to pull a cart.  She stayed in South Africa when we moved back to the states.  

After college, I purchased another German Shepherd, Maddie, and we started obedience training. We were soon joined by Brindyl, a black Labrador Retriever and Crockett, a Great Dane. Those three started the next 40 years of my dog training obsession. This included more Great Danes, Australian Shepherds, a Treeing Walker Coon Hound, a Chow/Pitbull, Border Collies, service dogs in training, and several rescued and re-homed strays.  

I was a founding member of the Star City Canine Club and discovered the new sport of agility.  All my dogs participate in some kind of training or activity. Taking a coon dog to an obedience class is an incredibly humbling experience! Even my Great Danes did agility, obedience and tracking. I spent 10 years visiting a pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU with Sam, my wonderful pet therapy Chow/Pitbull.  He starred in two theater productions too!  Through the years, my dogs have earned many obedience, herding, and agility titles and one tracking title! However, one of my proudest moments was when my first service dog Barney, a rescued German Shepherd mix, graduated from the Saint Francis Service Dog Foundation.  I am also proud of starting the New Leash On Life prison dog training program.  I watched it change lives for both shelter dogs and inmate trainers.  

I've taken dozens of seminars and hundreds of lessons with some of the best trainers in the country.  However, there still comes along a dog that challenges me and makes me realize that I have a lot to learn.  I appreciate having the Durham Kennel Club as a resource.  The outstanding volunteer trainers, supportive members, and varied dog activities are incredibly helpful.