Canine Obedience is more than just giving a command and the dog follows it. Having a well-trained dog helps create harmony in your household, improves the bond you share with your dog and helps your dog become a role model for good behavior when in public.
Obedience is also a competitive sport for dogs and handlers to enjoy together. AKC Obedience is a sport with rules, regulations, judges, conditioning, training, placements and prizes. Dog and handler teams are judged on how closely they match the judge's mental picture of a theoretically perfect performance as they execute a series of specified exercises. Accuracy and precision are essential, but the natural movement of the handler and the willingness and enjoyment of the dog are very important. Each level of obedience competition - novice, open, and utility - requires mastering a specific skill set, which increase in difficulty, before advancing to the next level.
Diane Gaw has been teaching classes for the kennel club for 20 years. She has taught puppy, beginning and advanced obedience classes as well as conformation (how to show your dog at a dog show). Diane enjoys teaching the area 4-H kids and their dogs in obedience and showmanship, preparing them for the county fair. Currently, Diane competes in conformation shows with her poodles and enjoys training in agility and obedience.
Doreen Messner has been teaching puppy classes for MPMKC since 1993 and likes to help owners of puppies develop good training habits, as well as help people teach their puppies to become good canine citizens. Doreen has titled dogs in obedience competition and Freestyle, and has done pet visitation at various facilities since 1991 as a member of Delta Society's Pet Partners program.
Titles earned:
U-CDX (UKC)
CGC titled dogs
Delta Pet Partners teams
TDI teams
W-FD / MF (Canine Freestyle, Beginner title)
W-TFD / MF (Canine Freestyle, Beginner Team title)
Andrea Mata has been surrounded by Bernese Mountain Dogs since1997 and has been training and competing since. She enjoys the fun of the performance events like agility, obedience, carting and tracking and says that "Agility is my high because as you develop your skills you also build a special fun bond with your k-9 companion and this bond can make memories that last a lifetime."
Sherrie Start began doing obedience with her first Bernese, Ti in 1991. Sherrie is a draft judge for the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America and enjoys all aspects of working dogs. Sherrie says "It is the journey that I find fulfilling. The titles are nice but I love the time I spend with my dogs teaching them as well as learning from them."
CH M & M Mountain's Out Shine Them All! "Shine" CDX, RE, NJP, CGC, HIC (herding instinct tested) DD, BNDD She is a BMDCA Versatile BMD and a BMDCA Working BMD
CH M & M Mountain's Effervescence "Bubbles" CDX, RA, CGC, DD, BNDD (BMDCA Versatile BMD)
CH Belle Creek's Aggravated Rumor "Gabi"CDX, RE, CGC
Lori Lickly has been training and hunting with Golden Retrievers for 30 years. She enjoys working with her dogs in several dog sports, including field, obedience, agility, and others. She loves to learn new and innovative ways to communicate with her dogs, and regularly attends training seminars and workshops to help her become a better trainer. She also enjoys working with others to help them learn to train and bond with their dogs, and to achieve their goals as owners/trainers. She has been teaching classes in field and obedience for over 10 years.
Titles earned:
JH, SH, MH (AKC Field/Hunt Test titles)
CD, CDX (AKC Obedience titles)
WC/WCX (Golden Retriever Club of America field certifications)
CGC (AKC Canine Good Citizen certification)
TDI (Therapy Dog International team certifications)
Sue Gamble has been teaching classes for MPMKC for over 15 years and has taught both Puppy and Beginning Obedience classes. She has titled her dogs in conformation and obedience and has begun working in field. She has done visitations at nursing homes with her dogs as a member of Delta Society's Pet Partners Program. Her dogs have also been involved in Grandparents U at Central Michigan University. For the past 20 years, she has had Golden Retrievers, and she is active with the Golden Retriever Club of America and the Mid Michigan Golden Retriever Club.
Kelley MacConnel has been teaching for the Mt. Pleasant Kennel Club since 1991. In addition, she offers in-home behavior consultations for problems which are difficult to address in a group situation. (i.e. aggression etc.) Kelley is endorsed by the National Association for Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), and has fulfilled their strict requirements. NADOI is a selective group, which mandate that their members pass a rigorous examination by their peers.
Kelley has worked as a veterinary technician since 1987 and has a great interest in animal health and behavior. Kelley says "I enjoy spending time with my horses, cats and three Pit Bull Terriers: Bad Alice, Reuben, and Joey.
Sheila Beutler has taught and competed in conformation for many years with Bedlington Terriers and Golden Retrievers. Sheila is also involved in a wide variety of other dog activities and dog sports and breeds Bedlington Terriers. Sheila has been to the prestigious Westminster Dog Show multiple times, most recently taking Best of Breed with Snoopy the Bedlington Terrier in 2011.
