I have been training my dogs and helping other people with their dogs for 11 years.  Love 2 Play grew out of demands from my friends to pass on the knowledge I was gaining by attending workshops.  The world of dog training has changed significantly in the past decade and I travel to numerous multi-day seminars each year in order to keep abreast of improvements in training methods in obedience, agility and behaviour.   Initially it was for my own benefit training my dogs, but now I attend seminars in order to bring to my doggie classroom successful training methods based on science.  In addition to receiving my certification through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA) in 2010, I recently graduated from Karen Pryor Academy of Animal Training and Behaviour (KPA-CTP) and am a Certified Training Partner.

My continuous education shows in the accomplishments of my own dogs.  Before his retirement my smooth collie, Andrei, placed 4th in his class at the AAC BC/Yukon Regional Championships 2 years in a row and 4th in his class at the AAC National Championships, achieved his agility championship, his CARO (RallyO) Versatility MCL, his CKC Novice Rally title, his CKC CD and worked as a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog.  My young border collie, Nai'a, clicker trained from 8 weeks, has completed her CKC Rally Novice and CARO Novice, Advanced and Novice Team titles (with several scores of perfect 200).  She is just beginning her career in agility, musical freestyle, scent work and was recently certified as a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog.  My adolescent, Torrent (also a border collie), is still very much a work in progress.  My new puppy, Focus, helps me remember daily the challenges that are faced by new puppy parents!

I am a judge with the Canadian Association of Rally Obedience, a rally and agility judge with the Canadian Kennel Club and a judge with the Agility Association of Canada. I am a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.   My passion is teaching people and watching their dogs learn.

In my ‘other’ life, I was a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing and also taught at UBC in the masters program educating potential teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing.  My dog students benefit because my teacher training background has made me adept at breaking down concepts and individualizing instruction.

Continuing Education

2011

Online agility seminar with Greg Derrett

Online recall seminar with Susan Garrett (twice)

Online puppy training with Susan Garrett

Online seminar with Pamela Dennison "Living in Multi-Dog Households"

Clicker Training/ Dog Behaviour

• Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behaviour
• Clicker Expo (3 day conference)

Other agility seminars

• Pawsitive Steps Summer AgilityCamp, Novice Dogs
• Pawsitive Steps Summer Aglity Camp, Masters Dogs
• Pawsitive Steps Agility Outreach

2010

Agility seminars with Susan Garrett:

• Foundation Agility Handling Skills
• Advanced Agility Handling Skills
• Online Recall Seminar

Other agility seminars

• Susan Salo Foundation Jumping
• Pawsitive Steps Summer Agility Camp, Novice Dogs
• Pawsitive Steps Summer Agility Camp, Masters Dogs
• Pawsitive Steps Agility Outreach

Clicker Training / Dog Behaviour

• Clicker Expo (3 day conference)
• Kathy Sdao Seminar -- Advanced Clicker Training
• Karen Pryor Clicker Training Academy

Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers (2 day conference)

2002 - 2009

Agility seminars:

• Susan Garrett (10 days)
• Jane Simmons Moake
• Stuart Mah and Patti Hatfield
• Jen Pinder
• Terry Simons (2)
• Barb Davis (2)
• Stacy Peardot Goudy (2)
• Theresa Rector (2)
• Puppy Foundations Skills (Theresa Rector, Shannon Mercer)
• Susan Salo Foundation Jumping
• Pawsitive Steps Agility Outreach – 6 years
• Pawsitive Steps Agility Summer Puppy Camp--2 years
• Pawsitive Steps Agility Masters Camp--2 years
• Pawsitive Steps Winter Agility Camp

Clicker Training

• Kathy Sdao "The Art and Science of Clicker Training" (basic and advanced)
• Sue Ailsby --basic and advanced seminars

Dog Behaviour::

• Jean Donaldson
• Relaxed and Ready: Go for It! (based on Control Unleashed)--twice

Tracking Seminar

CARO judges’ clinic

AAC judges’ clinic