CV and My Dogs

Click here to see teaching and training experience, philosophy

Education:

NC State U College of Veterinary Medicine- Canine Strength and Conditioning Certification Program, 2023 (CSCC)
Graduate studies Animal Health Promotion, VA Tech, 2003-2004
BS Health Sciences (Animal Health Management) Old Dominion University, 2002
CCS Biotechnology, Blue Ridge CC, 1997
AAS Veterinary Technology, Blue Ridge CC, 1990
AAS Animal Husbandry, Blue Ridge CC, 1974

Credentials, affiliations:

CSCC, Certified Canine Strength and Conditioning Coach, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
LVT, Licensed Veterinary Technician, State of VA
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior-member, veterinary professional
Cooperative Care Certificate Judge for the Fenzi CC TEAM titling program
Teaching assistant to Dr. Deb Jones for Fenzi Dog Sport Academy
NATE, National Association of Treibball Enthusiasts, Founding Charter Member, Past Board Member and retired Judge. Served on the Rules and Competition Standards Committee 2013-2016
AKC Certified Fit Dog Instructor (all levels)
AKC Trick Dog Evaluator
AKC Farm Dog Certified judge
CTDI, Certified Trick Dog Instructor

Continuing education since 1991:

Fenzi Dog Sport Academy – Continous since 2013-Online studies in Behavior & Foundations, Fitness, Health & Enrichment, Scent Sports and more.
2023- Canine Fitness: NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Certified Canine Strength and Conditioning Training Coach (CSCC). Program Design, Implementation, Coaching, Evaluation.
2022–Grisha Stewart Academy courses, webinars, Enrichment
Canine Fitness: Certified AKC Fit Dog Instructor, Course Levels l-ll- lll
Canine Fitness classes 2015-present – FDSA Canine Fitness classes– Instructors: Debbie Gross Torraca, Petra Ford, Leslie Eide DVM, Sue Yanoff DVM, Lori Stevens, Bobbie Lyons, Chris Zink DVM. Topics: Dogs with Long Backs, Canine Conditioning series, Powerful Performance for all Sports, Forelimb Health and Strengthening, Fitness In Five Helping Dogs Thrive, Cavalettis For Fitness, Platforms for Fitness, Designing a Canine Fitness Program, and more.
Scent Sports 2017-and continuing- FDSA Scent Sport classes, gold (working) level. Tracking (3 levels), Scent Theory and Dynamics, Building Confidence in the Nosework Dog, Nosework 101, 120, Advanced Skills, Nosework Games, Distractions in Nosework, Lost Item Recovery, Instructors: Lucy Newton, Stacy Barnett, Melissa Chandler, Julie Symons
Scentwork University–2019 and continuing. Sue Sternberg, Dana Zinn, NASDA, Donna Santos, more.
2019-March 21-24 Clicker Expo, Washington D.C.
2018-Sept. 23- Stunt Dog Judge Certification with Kyra Sundance (Do More With Your Dog), All Dog Adventures, Richmond, VA
2018- April 14-15. 2 day seminar with Michele Pouliot, Wholistic Hound, Alexandria, VA.
2017: July 15-16. 2 day seminar with Michele Pouliot, at Wholistic Hound, Alexandria, VA.
2016: November 13-14. 2 day Seminar and workshop in Mebane, N.C. with Shade Whitesel, Fenzi Academy faculty in Competition Obedience and IPO.
2014: Clicker Expo, March 29-31, Norfolk VA. (Instructors Ken Ramirez, Leslie Mc Devitt, Kay Laurence, Michele Pouliot, Kathy Sdao, Hannah Branigan)
2013: Trick Dog Instructor Certification program (Do More with Your Dog, Kyra Sundance), Richmond, VA
2012: Pat Miller Shaping Camp (Peaceable Paws, Fairplay, Maryland)
2012-2017: World Treibball League, participant for 5 seasons, 3 different dogs.
2010-11: Treibball workshops (4), by Pat Miller, Peaceable Paws
2010: Clicker Expo Lexington, Ky. Instructors: Ken Ramirez, Joan Orr, Helix Fairweather, Kathy Sdao, Jesús Rosales-Ruiz, Ph.D., Jenn and Steve White, Eva Bertilsson and Emelie Johnson Vegh, Michele Pouliot.
2009: Guiding your Dog to Greatness, Virginia Dare (Broitman) Clicker Workshop (Glen Allen, VA) 2 days- clicker, shaping and targeting.
2009- Michele Pouliot (Red Lion, PA) 3 days- training connection, performance and competition.
2008: Stuart Mah (2 days agility). Jane Killion (clicker/shaping for agility).
2007: Canine Freestyle Festival (VA)- 3 days, clicker seminars by Kay Laurence, Julie Flanery, Diane Balkavich, and Nancy Von Koehnnen.
2006: John Rogerson (Richmond, VA) (3 days-performance and competition obedience)
2005: APDT Rally Judges and training seminar
2003-4: Virginia Tech, Graduate studies in Animal Health Promotion
1991-2004, LVT Professional C.E.:
Veterinary Technician VA State C.E. conferences -1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004;
National and Regional Veterinary Technician C.E.: American Veterinary Medical Association Conference 1992 (Pittsburgh, PA), North American Veterinary Conference 1994; Mid Atlantic Veterinary Conference (York, PA.) 1995

Some favorite inspirational quotes: https://dogsontheball.com/favorite-dog-quotes/
My Dogs: I have had a nonstop stream of wonderful dogs throughout my life, all of whom are my teachers. I have trained and titled over the years in AKC, UKC and CDSP obedience, agility, rally, conformation, treibball, tricks and more. My current companions are both sighthounds, Flash, a Whippet, and Wilkie, a whippet x Cirneco D’ell Etna. They are wonderful companions and training partners with me, while each come with their own set of challenges in varying degrees-especially high prey drive and environmental sensitivity. At the same time they both love to learn and train a variety of activities, and they teach me every day! Below are pictures of Flash and Wilkie, along with just a few of my previous canine partners who remain with me in love:

“Flash”, aka Shannon Down Color In Lines

In memoriam: So that my previous wonderful dogs do not remain nameless, I list them here in chronological order with great love: Heidi (Great Pyrenees, 1971-1980), Border Collies-Wendy (1975-1986) and Virginia aka BooBoo (1980-1988), Herding Mixes-Vally (1986-2003) and Lacey (1988-2004), All Americans-Abby (1999-2016) and Haley (2002-2019). I will always love each and every one for their individuality and what they taught me. Heidi, Wendy, Abby, and Haley earned many titles in various sports, including obedience UD and an historic AKC All American VER, but in the end the titles are not what matters to me. What will stay with me is the unconditional love and the learning that every one of my dogs has given me. Their gifts are with me forever. Pictures of some them here, forever loved.

Abby (right) and Haley (left)