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 at Olympic Level Dressage, 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, Sue Sternbergand Bobbie Crissey Dog Obedience Training Seminars, Linda Tellington-Jones TTOUCH seminars and Karen Pryor Clicker training. Also, Turid Rugaas (Calming Signals),& Corally Burmaster dog training/education seminars. I am now currently training dogs privately.

A Founding member of the International Association of Canine Professionals #1015 (IACP www.dogpro.org) I am still active in Jacksonville, Florida, guest training for Sharon, when asked, at First Coast Dog Training. An avid Dog Rescue advocate, 10% of the any income derived from sales at Doglogic.com goes to Great Dane Rescue, Inc (www.greatdanerescueinc.com) to help spay, neuter, provide medical support, and ultimately home these wonderful companions. We are also avid supporters of S.A.F.E. Animal Shelter!

Education and training for my 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 15 years I've been a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dogs International Evaluator and Volunteer. For that time, I have been involved with 8+ nursing homes, as well as Elliot Hospital and Parkland Medical Center. I developed the Therapy Visitation protocols now in place at hospitals for utilizing therapy animals in various modalities. Frequently, I present free, Canine educational and Dog Safety seminars at City Libraries, Public Schools, as well as at various civic events. These programs center on the proper care, training and feeding of dogs and other pets, as well as child / dog safety. I am a paid speaker/ seminar presenter of Dog Safety programs for utility companies such as Keyspan Energy.

My current fur-kids include Bugs (G'Dieters Wild Thunder v Billyn) an 8-year-old neutered male Dane, and L.A. (Billyn's Little Austin Bantam). 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!

We also have 4 Kitties (all rescued of course!) Dusty Rhodes, Becky-Lu, Free-Toes & Mystique. I have a hobby, turing serious, burning Lampwork beads and designing Wearable Art (Artemis Lampwork) Check it out and you can click here to see some of my previously Auctioned pieces.

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.

Molly our 17-year-old English Pointer bitch, just finally lost her battle with old age this past October (2004), and we miss her very much.

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 Administrator (volunteer position) 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. Netpets started the only MILITARY PET FOSTER which has been Recognized, Recommended and Endorsed by the U. S. Department of Defense! (check it out here: https://www.netpets.org/netp/foster.php )

I am curently a Real Estate agent here in Jacksonville, a whole new and exciting adventure. What a great way to meet people and their pets, as well as build a wonderful business.

Past employment includes that as a Manager at AOL's Call Center here in Jacksonville FL from July 2002 until my dept was outsourced in July 2004, Internet Support Technical Supervisor for AT&T's (Media One's) Road Runner, in Chelmsford, MA. from 1998 o 2001, as well as having been simultaneously employed by Animal Behavior Training Associates (ABTA), 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, achieving Private Trainer status on first try. 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 IACP, I write for the Great Dane Reporter, Dog Fancy, and many small canine and feline publications. A holistic type publication, called the Whole Dog Journal sometimes buys my articles about health and training, and I highly recommend subscribing to it.

Howell books recently published a book on Great Dane breeding by Jill Swedlow, entitled "The Great Dane, Model of Nobility". I was proud and honored to be chosen to author theTraining and Activities chapters.

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 2005.

Welcome to my site, I hope you benefit from the information I've catalogued here. I have spent over 12 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!

FAMILY MAIN PAGE

Click here for great dog toys!