A Graduate of UNH Durham, NH in 1977, I have a Degree in Animal Science, with a Major in Light Horse (as opposed to Draft Horse). Animal related training includes being trained in and teaching Hunt Seat for three years at Townsends Training Farm in Pembroke, NH and competing on the 3-Day-Event Hunt Show Circuit in New England with an emphasis on Dressage for 6 years. Due to an injury in the late 80's my horseback career ended, but I loved working with horses, and credit my early education with those noble beasts for motivating my current work with dogs.

I raised and trained German Shepherds for 6 years, and trained one Shepherd to CD readiness that unfortunately died before completing his CD. Also, I have trained at Gail Tamases Fisher's "All Dog's Gym. I've 8 years experience training and teaching at The Center for Dog Management in Manchester, NH under the expert tutelage of Carole Baikow. I have attended Bernie Brown and Bobbie Crissey Dog Obedience Training Seminars, TTOUCH seminars and Karen Pryor Clicker training. I am now currently training dogs privately, and recently (spring 2000, spring 2001) attended Turid Rugaas, and Corally Burmaster dog training/education seminars.

Education and training for my TDI (Therapy Dogs International) evaluation certification, was through Dog Talk under Maureen Ross, and at the Center for Dog Management. Brattleboro retreat is where I have attended numerous seminars on AAT / AFT (Animal Assisted Therapy/Animal Facilitated Therapy).

For over 9 years I've been a certified Therapy Dogs International Evaluator and Volunteer. For that time, I have been involved with 8+ nursing homes in Manchester, as well as Elliot Hospital and Parkland Medical Center. I helped develop the protocols now in place at both hospitals for utilizing therapy animals in various modalities. Frequently, I present free, educational seminars at the Manchester City Library, as well as at local schools. These programs center on the proper care, training and feeding of dogs and other pets. Currently, I am presenting Dog Safety programs for utility companies such as Keyspan Energy.

My current fur-kids include Bugs a 4-year-old neutered male Dane, and Molly a 15-year-old English Pointer bitch. All have legs toward a Companion Dog Title. As well, all of my dogs are, or have been, Therapy Dogs.Bugs, my 4year old black Dane boy is a pet and a sweetheart! Bugsy had a pretty bad episode of OCD, and that put a halt to his Obedience Competition training, but he's my best bud!

Apollo had earned TDI and CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certificates,and had completed his American Kennel Club and Canadian Kenel club "CD" (Companion Dog) Obedience titles. In his AKC CD legs, Apollo scored a second and first placement against tough competition.  During the second day of the Canadian trial, Apollo also captured the High Scoring Dane in Trial Trophy. 

Billyn's Blue Belle v Linhavn, TDI, our now deceased beautiful Danegirl, was well on her way to her titles as well, when she injured her shoulder and had to be retired. Belle died at the age of 8 years of Osteogenic Osteosarcoma....a nasty disease, affecting many giant breed dogs. You can find her memorial and tribute at her new page.

My internet experience is pretty wide ranging, including the ownership and management of several breed related e-mail lists and one obedience list, as well as web site design, building and management, for myself and for the dog community. I am the Dog Site editor for a non-profit web site called NetPets.org, which has been officially designated as a nonprofit 501-(c)-3 organization, Internet Library by the IRS, the first of its kind. International Association of Canine Professionals, is a groups designed to unite all dog-related professionals. A member of their board of directors, I am also their Webmistress.

Past employment includes that as an Internet Support Technical Supervisor for AT&T's (Media One's) Road Runner, in Chelmsford, MA., as well as having been employed for 2 years by Animal Behavior Training Associates, a Dog Training organization out of California. The testing process for this company was GRUELING....it took me a week and 25 typed single spaced pages to complete the final stage of my pre-hire advanced testing procedure. That took place only after they researched every one of my training references, and found out everything about me, except maybe my birthmark locations<G>, I was a top scorer. I am proud of my accomplishments in the dog training field, and hope to learn a lot from all of you in order to become a better trainer and understand even more about how those dog minds operate!

A member of DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America), and APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), I write for the Great Dane Reporter, and Dane World Magazines, as well as other small publications. A new holistic type publication, called the Whole Dog Journal sometimes buys my articles about health and training, and I highly recommend subscribing to it. I recently became a director of IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals).

Howell books recently published a book on Great Dane breeding by Jill Swedlow, entitled "The Great Dane, Model of Nobility". I wrote the chapter in this book on Training and Activities for Great Danes.

Currently in the process of Manuscript revision for a book I'm writing on Training Large and Giant Breed Dogs, I expect publication to take place in 2002.

Welcome to my site, I hope you benefit from the information I've catalogued here. I have spent over 7 years building and maintaining this website, because of my love of Dogs, and the hope that we may someday have no need for Rescue, and have a longer, healthier life expectancy for our fur-buddies. Search away, I may have something you can use!
Thankyou!

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