Instructors
Julie Richards-Mostosky, CPDT
Puppy, Tracking, CGC, Private Lessons, and Foundation Skills
Julie is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT). She is the first and only person in the area to have this designation. Julie is also a graduate of the Purdue Dogs! course and the Bailey Operant Conditioning workshop (Bob Bailey and Marion Breland-Bailey PhD). Julie is our Puppy and Tracking instructor and sometimes fills in on the showmanship classes. Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Julie moved to Michigan in 1997 where she was active in the Duluth Kennel Club and a breeder of German Shepherd Dogs. She is a second generation dog exhibitor growing up with Wire Hair Fox Terriers. Since the 1970's Julie has been actively involved with German Shepherd Dogs as a breeder and an exhibitor. She has finished numerous AKC, CKC, and UKC Champion German Shepherds and several AKC Champion German Wirehaired Pointers. German Shepherds bred by Julie are used as guide dogs for the blind. Julie is an AKC licensed Canine Good Citizen test examiner and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and the only Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) in the Charlotte, Marshall, Battle Creek area.
Kari Selinger, NADOI
Obedience, CGC, Agility, Private Lessons, and Competition
Kari is our Obedience and Agility instructor. She is a Sports Rehab Physical Therapist by profession; currently her focus is on raising her son, Clayton, and training dogs. Kari is the only instructor in the area endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). For many years Kari has run the Michigan German Shepherd Rescue. German Shepherds are the third most popular AKC breed in the USA; making for a very high level of rescue activity. Part of Kari's duties are to work with new rescues assess their problems, to re-train and re-home them. As many as 300 to 400 dogs a year are evaluated by Kari. Yep - that's right - it is a lot of work! No titles are earned through this work and it is often a thankless job. However, the experience that Kari has gained through her rescue work is invaluable. Her students are most often the benefactors of her hard-gained knowledge. Kari is also an AKC licensed Canine Good Citizen test examiner. Kari's dogs have earned several AKC obedience and agility titles, as well as UKC obedience and agility titles. Dakota who earned his UD, by the age of 3 was working on his Obedience Trial Championship when he died unexpectedly at three years of age of a brain tumor. Kari has also trained and titled two dogs to their AKC obedience Companion Dog title both dogs were only SIX months of age when the title was earned!!!
Linda Wright, Professional Handler
Private Lessons and Consultations
Linda is a professional handler and has finished AKC champions in over 20 breeds. We are very fortunate to have someone of Linda's skill and expertise.
Brenda Aloff, NADOI
Consultant and Advisor; Special Programs and Seminars;
Aggression
and other serious behavioral Issues.
Beth Bishop, CPDT
Special Classes
A BIG thank you to our assistants |