INSTRUCTORS

Mary Davis became involved in dog obedience training as a 4-H member in 1975. Since then, the love for the sport expanded to exhibiting dogs in conformation as well as performance events. A mutual enthusiasm with husband Bill, numerous bench championships, obedience, and rally titles reflect the human / companion animal bond shared between owner/handler and the Labradors, Chesapeakes, Goldens, Pointers, and mixed breeds calling Rainbow Lane home. Other dog activities include dock jumping, therapy dog visits, and retrieving birds. The Davis Family currently includes 5 Chesapeakes (Lex, Ruby, Heisman, Deacon, Payton), 4 Labradors (Cooper, Quincy, Busy, Val), Hunny the Australian Cattle Dog mix, and four very tolerant felines (Digit, Hillary, Scooter, LaVerne). 

Dode Froman got her start training dogs with unknown pedigrees and taught them simple tricks. After she acquired her first purebred dog, she took conformation lessons and finished championships on several dogs -- German Shorthaired Pointers, Keeshonds, and Flat Coated Retrievers. She decided she would like to try obedience, and has put Utility Dog titles on Flat Coated Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Doberman Pinschers. She then tried field work, and put working certificates on several of her retrievers. She has been an obedience judge for over 25 years, and has attended many seminars and summer sessions put on by well-known obedience specialists. She has also worked with 4-H obedience, and has given seminars for people interested in working with 4-H dog classes. Dode is a founding member of the DTCCU, served as Director of Training for several years, and has taught many classes.

Linda Glynn has trained her dogs at DTCCU for 15 years and has taught Home Companion and Rally Obedience classes. She is a strong believer in positive training and developing teamwork between handler and dog. She has had the pleasure of living with a wide variety of breeds including mixed breed, Labrador, Irish Setter, German Shepard, Great Pyrenees, and a Basenji. The current roster includes two Airedale Terriers (Zowie and Olive). She and Zowie have earned several APDT Rally titles. Olive will be competing in rally as soon as she is old enough. Linda is also an APDT Rally Obedience judge>.

Robin Haggard has been involved with the sport of purebred dogs and Obedience since the early 1960's, first with German Shepherd Dogs and, since 1963, with Alaskan Malamutes. Robin and Jim Kuehl have completed almost 30 Obedience titles on their Malamutes and have bred over 50 conformation Champions. They are also active in working their Malamutes and have completed many working titles as well. Robin is a founding member of the DTCCU. She has served the Club in various capacities through the years, and taught many classes. Robin feels very strongly that pups need to be well socialized to people, other dogs and new environments as soon as possible in a positive way and for that reason feels that Puppy Kindergarten is a very important class.

Linda Hasadsri has been training and competing in agility for nearly 2 years, after discovering what a wonderful outlet it was for the energetic whims and wiles of the first dog she has ever owned, a Parson Russell Terrier named Lapu. Lapu is currently competing at the Excellent level in AKC and level 3 in CPE. Being subject to the zany and conniving rule of such an indomitable breed, her training philosophy can simply be summarized as "food, fun, and frequent rewards!" She also recently added an adopted/rescued miniature Schnauzer, Minnie, to her home, who also started competing in agility in CPE at level 3, and will now begin competing in AKC.

Carol Le Seure has taught many classes for DTCCU. She was an English teacher and counselor at Urbana High School for 33 years.  She has taught Puppy Kindergarten, Intermediate Puppy, Home Companion, and Novice 1. She earned several obedience titles with her dog Tucker, a Shetland Sheepdog, and now trains Rebel, another Shetland Sheepdog.

Chris Mayer has taught Agility classes at DTCCU since 1999. She puts an emphasis on teamwork and enjoys helping handlers and dogs through the learning process.  She also believes in using positive motivation to create a happy and confident performance dog and handler team.  Chris competes in agility and obedience with her Norwegian Elkhounds and, no matter how things go in the ring, she always manages to bring the best dog back home with her.

Nichole Morrison has been training dogs using positive reinforcement for about 5 years through her involvement with various rescue organizations, including Akita Rescue, Rottweiler Rescue and CCHS. She has also been attending training seminars for the latest information regarding the use of positive reinforcement, behavior modification, and humane education. Nichole has been teaching a family oriented class for a little over a year. She loves teaching, learning, and experiencing the bond that forms between companions through the art of fun training.

Lisa Pellum engages in a wide variety of dog activities, having earned titles in flyball, agility, herding, frisbee and pet therapy. She has taught classes in home companion, flyball and agility for DTCCU. She has served on the boards of DTCCU and the Champaign County Humane Society. She is currently working in conjunction with others to develop in this area a pet therapy program, Canine Connection. Her long time companion Australian shepherd, Mike, thrilled crowds with his speed at flyball demonstrations. Her current dog, a versatile border collie named Sam, has Lisa practicing for an appearance on Pet Star

Hanna Rao enjoys training dogs for both the home and competition. Most of all, she enjoys watching students and their dogs learn to communicate clearly and efficiently with one another. Her training philosophy focuses on understanding your dog and developing your unique handler-dog relationship. Hanna trains her own dogs in obedience, rally obedience, and agility. She makes a point to compete in many different venues and registries (i.e. UKC, APDT, CDSP, CPE, NADAC, and USDAA), especially those that welcome mixed breeds, veteran dogs, and isabled dogs and handlers. Hanna is a member of DTCCU and the Rally Club of CU.

Mary Rivers. I have been a member of DTCCU since 1990 when Carol Ruthenberg talked me into buying a Belgian Tervuren, and I realized the dog was smarter than I was. Once I started being possessed by Malamutes, courtesy of Robin Haggard and Jim Kuehl, DTCCU was my sole avenue to sanity. I trained the Terv to track and do her own version of obedience, and the Mals continue to teach me how to be creative, patient and ready to laugh. Over the years I?ve worked my dogs in pulling, mushing, and back-packing as well as obedience. I?ve assisted in many classes, been a student in even more, and read everything I could get my hands on. I believe that there are almost as many ways to train as there are dogs and so try to help others discover which method will work with their dogs. I am currently heavily involved in Animal-Assisted Therapy (through Canine Connection in Champaign) and Rally obedience.

Carol Ruthenberg has been involved with dog training for over 25 years.  She has titled several breeds in all levels of obedience.  Carol is an active American Kennel Club Judge for every level of tracking dog events and was chosen by the AKC to serve on the national 2008 Tracking Advisory Committee. Carol also actively exhibits in conformation finishing many breed champions including an owner/handled Group winner. She has taught all levels of obedience and tracking classes for the DTCCU and served the club as an officer, board member and director of training.

Barb Scanlan learned the value of a creative outlook and positive training with her rescue Toy Fox Terrier, Shaun. He taught her to work outside the “cookie cutter” -- by building attention, motivation and teamwork. Shaunie, despite severe prior abuse and behavioral problems, went on to earn his Novice obedience and Open agility titles. He also became the first Toy Fox Terrier to earn the AKC Rally Novice and Rally Excellent titles. Barb now trains primarily with her Papillon, Taylor, whom she calls, “The Little Engine that Could.” He earned his Novice obedience titles with a High in Trial, and has earned his AX and AXJ agility titles. Barb especially enjoys formulating problem/solution techniques, and helping beginner trainers.

Heidi Schwarz. I have been a member of DTCCU for about 4 years. I started with my German Shepherd Levi. I never took a dog to classes before but when I rescued Levi they suggested I take some classes because of her Breed. I started her in kindergarten and that's when I knew what we were going to do. She loved the tunnels so there you have it Agility.We have earned 2 titles in Agility and Levi is now Retired due to health.So now I have a new dog I'm working with.I started as an assistant in home companion and moved up to being an instructor .I love the animals and want to help others enjoy theirs as well.

Jan Sears has had dogs all her life which included a wide variety of breeds as well as mixed breeds. As a child, she worked with and taught them mostly tricks. Jan began formal training about ten years ago and has been competing with her Miniature Australian Shepherds for about eight years. They have earned numerous titles in Agility and Rally Obedience in several venues. Jan enjoys training her own dogs using positive reinforcement and also likes helping others with their training to reach their own goals. She finds it very rewarding to see the progress of the dog and handler teams. Jan has taken many basic obedience and agility classes and a few agility seminars and spent one weekend with Carolyn Scott learning canine freestyle dancing. She has learned much from each instructor and feels it is beneficial to have an array of experiences and methods to draw from. She has taught and/or assisted with home companion, agility and novice obedience classes. Jan has been an officer of DTCCU and served as membership chair for several years.

Judy Van Cleeff has raised 3 mixed-breed dogs, and they are her family, not just pets. She is the doggie equivalent of a "soccer mom", taking her dogs to classes, competitions and demonstrations in agility and flyball. She also has recently registered two of her "kids" as official therapy dogs, and is looking forward to putting them to work. She has assisted in teaching in several home companion classes, and is now branching out into agility instruction. Judy believes in positive training and making sure the dog is having as much fun as the human.

Duane Walton has trained dogs for over 30 years. He has instructed many classes for DTCCU, from Home Companion through Utility, and has been a past director of training for the club. He has made an ongoing effort to stay informed concerning various training techniques and AKC rule changes. He has titled dogs in obedience, tracking, and retriever hunt tests, including three tracking dogs, seven Hunting Retrievers (HR), two Hunting Retriever Champions (HRCH), six utility dogs and two UDX dogs. He currently has six Golden Retrievers and two young Labrador Retrievers at home. Duane is a retired Elementary School Principal.

Wendy Woods as been training and competing in agility for 5 years. Her 2 shelties are currently competing at the Excellent level in AKC agility and at the P3/Masters level in USDAA. Her household was recently expanded to include Qwik, the super puppy—a miniature dynamo in a border collie disguise. She believes strongly in making agility training fun and exciting for both dog and handler and stresses positive reinforcement.

 

       This page last updated 22 June 2008
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