My training method is based on what I’ve learned by studying with a variety of the world’s top animal trainers and competitors. I have been considerably influenced by the work of Jean Donaldson, Bob Bailey, Michael Ellis and Karen Pryor. I thank Jean Donaldson for being a compassionate advocate for dogs and a revolutionary in the world of dog training. I recommend Jean Donaldson's landmark book, "The Culture Clash" to all my students.

I thank Bob Bailey for all the scientific work he has done in the world of operant conditioning and helping me understand how to apply the work of B.F. Skinner and his followers to dog training. I thank Michael Ellis for bringing the fun and excitement back into my training by being a huge proponent of "engagement and training in drive." I thank Karen Pryor for educating dog trainers in how to apply clicker training, which was formerly used in marine mammal training, to dog training. I have taken all the various techniques from the world's top trainers and competitors and put them together into a comprehensive training program.

I have an M.A. and B.A. in Communications and also graduated from wild animal training school, where I worked with wolves, lions and tigers. I have two California teaching credentials and am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) as well as an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.  I have been a National Agility Finalist with my golden retriever, ADCH MACH 3 Roxy, who is in the Agility Dog Hall of Fame. My border collie, MACH ADCH Red-Dawn Blue Sage, is a nationally competitive agility dog who recently won the Palm Classic Grand Prix Agility Speed Challenge in Del Mar. I am currently training and starting competition with my young border collie, Spritz (imported from Germany), who is a repeat breeding of the 2005 World Cup of Agility Winner.  My youngest border collie (born May 2010) is a puppy from Spritz and is already well on the way to also becoming an agility champion.

Although I currently compete with border collies, I have been training dogs all my life and have had many breeds of dogs, including a Cocker Spaniel, an Australian Cattle Dog, Golden Retrievers, a Malinois, a Doberman Pinscher, a German Shepherd, a Shetland Sheepdog, an Australian Shepherd, a Chihuahua and Border Collies. Many of these dogs were rescue dogs and I am well aware of the need for humane ways to deal with both older dogs with “behavior problems” and young puppies who don't know “the rules” yet.