I started in canine handling by apprenticing with a professional detection dog handler. I have now taught scenting classes in Belleville and Trenton for 10 years, and enjoy seeing students excel in the sport. My environmental air sampling background gives me knowledge and insight into odour dissemination and movement, providing a unique perspective for the sport and a sound foundation for my canine training methods.
"Dog training is only part of the equation, knowing how scent behaves is also crucial to understanding what is happening when a dog is scenting.”
As a trainer and CKC Scent Detection Judge, I am committed to continued learning in different canine scenting and tracking disciplines. I have attended workshops in detection as well tracking, including a notable workshop given by Paul Orcutt, Senior Training Manager of AMK9, who uses the latest in canine science, and is an expert in canine training for law enforcement, and government agencies. I was also one of a select group included in a Human Remains Detection workshop with an HRD specialist from the USA, and I have attended Search & Rescue and other tracking seminars.
I have trained my German Shepherd, Keeva, to find bed bugs, an endangered plant, as well as the CKC and SDDA scents. Keeva also has the ability to be given a new scent and then immediately go on to locate something matching that scent, a skill few dogs have mastered. Sadly Keeva is no longer with us but spent her last days scenting for whatever she wished.
We got Jackson our "2nd hand" Labrador Retriever when he was 7 years old from the Northumberland Humane Society. He is a typical lab with boundless enthusiasm and energy.... How old are Labs when they finally mature? ... Jacks is a work in progress to reign it all in, but he is learning scenting too. He earned his CKC SDN and SDO title as well as his CARO CRN title.
I have also had fun in other dog activities including; obedience, rally, and agility, however, my main interest is in nose work for dogs, including scent detection and tracking.
My life has always revolved around family including our many pets. I live with my husband Scott a Forestry Consultant, and my son Zach, who attends Loyalist College. My other son Alec is a Veterinary Doctor practicing in Guelph Ontario. We naturally have had many animals over the years and presently live with Keeva, Jackson and two cats, Lex and Cleo. .