Biography of a Trainer

Chris is a wife, mom of three grown children, and now seven Grandchildren. Chris has loved dogs all her life and she especially remembers one of her dogs "Pinky". When Chris was 12 years old, she remembers teaching "Pinky" all kinds of tricks. Chris called her "My Circus Dog"; she jumped thru hoops, climbed ladders and much more.

She became involved with formal obedience training in 1970. She had a German Shepherd that she could not walk down the street because she was going to save her from the world. A friend of her suggested that she go to an obedience class with her. So she did, and the rest is history. She really just needed to be socialized around people and dogs. She did very well in class and graduated at the top of her class. She then went on and entered her in Obedience Trails thru various AKC Shows. She did very well and in doing so, earned a Companion Dog and Companion Dog Excellent Title. She also knew all the Utility Exercises, but her children were her main focus in her life at the time, so she never earned the Utility Title. As her children grew, they also became involved with the dogs and showing in the Obedience ring. Her daughter, Becky, was the #1 Jr. handler thru ASCA with her dog "Cindy". Her son, David, traveled across Canada with the Super Dogs Show, and performed before Princess Anne, with his dog “Teddy”. Her other son, Tim, enjoyed the dogs, but really loved his cat, “Heidi”, and taught her to walk at his side, like a dog.

Through the years, Chris has had German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Jack Russell Terrier, Papillion and several All American Dogs (Mixed Breeds). Once a dog (or any animal) comes into a family it stays, until it is time to go to the Rainbow Bridge and then he/she waits for her to get there and then they will cross it together.

Chris belonged to an Obedience Training Club for 20 years, and taught classes for them, and also was President, Secretary, and Treasurer for the club through the years. She is now a member of Dog Scouts of America, and a member of their core staff at camps. She has taught classes through Adult Ed. and Park & Rec. Programs since 1972. She has put many titles on her dogs through the years, Companion Dog, Companion Dog Excellent, Flyball Championships, Competed in Agility in its’ infancy before titles, before Agility became what it is today. She also takes her dogs to, Boy Scout Meetings, Libraries, ant etc. and does presentations on Pet Safety. She takes her dogs to Nursing Homes because she thinks it is really great to see the smiles on the residents there and it brings back memories of dogs she has had. She has also been part of the Super Dog Show. She has done Tracking work with several of her dogs.

She feels her dogs have done so much for her through out her life and have helped her and her family through sad times and enjoy the great times with them too.