Owner & Instructor, 2015

-Training dogs for 45 years

-Certified Pet Dog Trainer, CDPT-KA 2019

-Association of Pet Dog Trainers 2019

-Canine Good Citizen Evaluators (CGC)  2015

-S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator 2015

A life long passion for working with animals and teaching led me to start Happy Tails Training Center in fall of 2015. I have been training and competing with dogs for over 45 years, in Competition Obedience, Rally and Hunt Tests. I have also been instructing group classes for the past 30 years. My goal is for people to learn how to better communicate with their dogs. I find that often some of the most annoying dog behaviors…are very rewarding to the dog. 

Training dogs since 2017

-Shelter Dog Training Certification, 2024, Animal Behavior College

-Family Dog Instructor, 2020

-Animal Behavior College, Certified Dog Trainer, 2018

-Canine Good Citizen Evaluator (CGC), 2021

-Basic and Advanced Instructor at Happy Tails Since 2020

My passion for animals started young with horse riding and then volunteering at the humane society in my hometown. I love helping other dog lovers learn about dogs and build a stronger relationship with their k-9s.

I currently have two dogs; Lily and Frog. Both will be competing in Rally and Frog is training to be a therapy dog. 

Training dogs since 2006

-Agility Instructor, 2020

-Certified Pet Dog Trainer – CPDT-KA 2019

-Association of Pet Dog Trainers, 2019

My first Labrador, Otis, was purchased from a home in Bangor, WI. I decided then and there that I wanted to compete in dog sports (although I really didn’t know what that meant) and have since concentrated my time in agility, trick training and dog dancing. 

Instructing and competing in Agility is a crazy passion of mine. I am proud of our program that takes the very beginner handler teams to become competitive agility teams. This is not without time and dedication, but our students will tell you it is worth it.

Therapy Dog Instructor, 2017 

-Therapy Dogs International TDIRVA Title, Over 250 visits 
-AKC THDX Title ,Over 200 visits 

I have had the privilege of having and loving dogs my whole life. Since 2017, I have been a dedicated dog trainer specializing in therapy dog training. I take great pride in teaching dogs along with their handlers to provide comfort and support to those of all ages in need. I share my life with three wonderful dogs—all certified therapy dogs—consisting of two golden retrievers (Murphy and Haylie) and one lab mix (Ella).

In addition to my work with dogs, I am also a teacher with a master's degree in education. My golden retriever, Murphy, accompanies me daily in my classroom, enriching the learning environment and bringing comfort and joy to my students. He is the subject for a study in the state of Wisconsin on the impact that a therapy dog can have on student success in post-secondary education.

My passion extends to dog agility, where I enjoy guiding dogs through courses in the AKC, UKI, and CPE venues that enhance their physical and mental agility. Additionally, I focus on strength training to ensure dogs are healthy and fit.