Our Instructors

On a personal note, I am a wife/mother/grandmother. My husband is a retired surgeon and I am a retired nurse, although, I claim that women NEVER retire. We enjoy our garden and pond in the summer and spend all winter planning for the next spring. In my "quiet time", I enjoy classical music, and reading.

I have always had a love affair with dogs but never owned one until I moved to Toronto in the late 60's. Although he was not a purebred animal, he shares a very special spot in my heart even today.

I was first introduced to the world of "purebred" dogs in 1988 when I acquired a magnificent German Shepherd Dog from Richtbar Kennels. Magnum was quite a handful and at times difficult to train. After meeting Linda and enrolling in K-9 Studio, Magnum and I blossomed. He not only became a champion in conformation but attained his Companion Dog Excellent title as well.

From that moment forward, I have never looked back. I started apprenticing in 1989 at K-9 Studio as an instructor. Over the years I have attended a variety of seminars and lectures on canine behavior, obedience training, Schutzhund and tracking. My kennel name is Vonmatris, and numerous Vonmatris German Shepherd Dogs have attained titles in all levels of obedience, conformation, as well as tracking and Schutzhund. As I believe so strongly in the theories of dog ownership that K-9 Studio promote in their training classes, all of my puppy owners are given an 8 week training class coupon along with their puppy kit.

The people and their dogs that I have had the pleasure to meet in the various levels of classes over the last 14 years has encouraged me to want to be the best instructor possible. Watching them get to know their dogs and appreciate how dogs think and learn is amazing and gratifying. Nothing brings a smile to a pet owner quicker than watching that bond develop and having the best canine companion possible.

It seems I have always had dogs in my life, as a child in England we had a Curly Coated Retriever, a Rough Collie, and German Shepherds. Coming to Canada, getting married, and having children we moved around alot and finally settled in Kaministiquia on a hobby farm. We raised Hereford cattle, along with a herd of goats and flocks of chickens, geese, rabbits, and turkeys. My husband raised Black and Tan Coonhounds, and I had a Dobermann, and a German Shepherd that I was obedience training myself, during this time I also had a sled dog team, which was a lot of fun in the winter. My day job was driving a school bus, bringing all the High School students into town from the whole surrounding area.

In the early seventies I fell in love with the Bouvier des Flandres, a large coated dog with prick ears, a short tail, beard and mustache. I took my first Bouvier, a female to Linda's obedience classes, which were held outside back then, and the rest as they say is history. I was working with my third Bouvier " Troy" when Linda asked me if I would like to become a trainer, that was in 1991.

My Bouviers and I have achieved titles in obedience, confirmation, tracking, flyball, agility, and herding, both here in Canada and in the United States. I have also worked my Bouviers in Schutzhund, and I am still working "Tucson" in this sport. In the spring of 2004 I am looking forward to my new Bouvier puppy.

During my years teaching, I have really enjoyed showing people how to work with their dogs as a team, and have the dog become an important member of the family. I have worked to the best of my ability to become the best instructor that I can be, reading many books about dogs, and why they do the things they do, taking seminars, and learning from and asking questions from instructors with more experience than I have. There is always so much more to learn, and to pass this knowledge onto my students, is something I love to do. I hope that all students get the same feeling of joy and accomplishment that I do when working with their dog, or working with my own dog.

Carolyn Puppy Kindergarten, Beginners, Clicker, Agility Class Instructor

Dogs and dog sports have always interested me. In 1976, after much research, I began Stryver Kennels. My breed of choice was Shetland Sheepdogs. 5 years later I added Papillons. I also have an Irish Wolfhound and Belgian Malinois - for the learning experience, not breeding! The dogs and I play obedience, agility, and tracking as well as conformation together. I still want to learn lure coursing and freestyle. We have accomplished high aggregate scores in the obedience ring as well as titles, and the top conformation Papillon (CH Stryver's Ted E. Bear CD) in Canada in 1992. In that year I discovered clicker training and I've used it and promoted it ever since.

I was amazed and delighted to be asked to be an instructor at K-9 Studio in 1980s. It gives me great pleasure to foster relationships and encourage growth - both human and canine - by teaching the activities we participate in with our dogs.

I am currently a member in good standing of Papillon Canada, the Papillon Club of America, the Canadian Kennel Club, NADAC, and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Joey Beginners, Beginner Novice, Advanced Obedience, Agility Class Instructor

Joey was brought up by a German Shepherd so it was only natural for her to want her own dog once she left home. Her first dog, Jasper, a German Shepherd/Setter cross, was a dream dog who made training dogs seem so easy!!! As time passed, the family expanded as did Joey’s knowledge and experience about dogs. She quickly learned that most were NOT as easily trained as Jasper!!! Ultimately, Joey ended up with Flat-coated Retrievers, as their energy and temperament most closely matched that of Jasper.

Since Meaghan joined the family, Joey has competed in Obedience, Field, Agility, Tracking, and Conformation. Meaghan is now retired but her children (Solo, Blazer and Hellon) and grand-child Opal continue to excel in dog related activities. Most recently, Solo completed her American Master Jumpers Title in agility having already finished her Master Standard title. Blazer completed his American Junior Hunter title and Championship. In Canada he recently earned two Group 1^st placements, thanks to his friend and expert handler Trish McGonigal. Hellon, blind from birth, has completed her Tracking Dog title and Opal, the baby, is starting to compete and excel in field events.

As well as actively competing in a variety of events with her dogs, Joey is a CKC Obedience, Hunt Test and Working Certificate judge. She instructs all levels of obedience as well helping people out at the agility field and with field training. She enjoys watching dog/handler teams improve and enjoy themselves working together. As she loves being outdoors, her favourite time is during agility and field season!!!

If thirteen years ago someone said to me I'd be an instructor in training dogs, I would have said "yeh, right!" or "no way"! I started training my German Shepherd Logan (Can. Obedience Trial Champion Lindau's Chartreuse T,T, AD) in 1989 at K-9 Studio, and was immediately hooked on training dogs. By the time Logan was 3 years old, he was an Obedience Trial Champion (Utility Dog), Flyball Dog Champion and a USDAA Agility Dog. Linda's Task and Logan were the first dogs in Thunder Bay to have their Agility titles.

Then came Hunter (Lindau's Hunter Echo CDX) and Ben (Can. Ch. Lindau Echoes of Big Ben CDX). By two and a half years of age, they both had their Companion Dog Excellent titles. Hunter has his Flyball Excellent and Herding Dog titles. Ben has his Junior Herding Dog Certificate. Both dogs are trained in agility and flyball, but only perform demo's due to health issues. Both Ben and Hunter have won the Lucille Siczkar Aggregate Score Trophy, and a local kennel club aggregate trophy.

I am a flyball instructor, and now have a Golden Retriever named Bailey, whom I inherited last year at the age of six and a half years old. She had no previous training, just good manners. In March 2003, Bailey received her Companion Dog title in four straight trials, placing within the top ten of a class of 24 very competitive dogs. Currently she is training in agility.

My goal is to be the best instructor I can be, helping people understand their dogs and to know that any dog at any age can be trained to be a wonderful companion. I try to be a fountain of information by learning, listening and participating in classes and workshops/seminars.

I first started dog training 10 years ago, with my first and oldest dog, Gage. Just like any other dog owner, I wanted my dog to be well behaved, or in other words, have good manners. I learned that starting out with a terrier breed isn’t as easy as smelling the roses. To my surprise, this little puppy tried to mentally challenge me during, after, and even before training. He was the most stubborn dog I had ever seen. Persistence paid off, and after 2 years of battling wits with him, I decided to get my second dog, Kahlua, a Doberman Pinscher. And that is when the agility bug bit me. I was now training Kahlua in manners classes and thought it would still be good for Gage to do some sort of activity. And that is when we joined our first agility class. I believe it was Gage’s stubbornness and patience that made me become the trainer I am today. I have definitely learned that if you don’t have a sense of humour, agility isn’t for you. Today, I have 3 dogs running in agility. My youngest is a Border Collie named Breeze. She is just starting in her agility career. Gage and Kahlua have both earned their elite titles and still continue to compete today.