problem solver and specializes in fixing dogs that other trainers can not or will not take on. Chris does not believe that one system fits all dogs OR handlers. She strives to be on the cutting edge of her profession by dedicating a minimum of 100 hours a year to continued education and actively participating in "hands on" seminars, lectures, classes and workshops. This number does not include the additional time spent participating in online programs, reading books, papers, peer review journals and abstracts. Study topics include; multiple handling systems and styles, training methods and approaches, animal and human behavior and cognition, brain function and musculoskeletal studies, to name a few.

Chris is best known for is her relationship based training approach. She respects that everyones goals are different, so her focus is on much more than just making a champion. She believes that achieving a balanced and healthy relationship requires mutual trust and respect, solid communication, understanding and patience, as well as superb listening skills. And that these relationship requirements are essential in the coach/handler relationship as well as the dog/handler relationship. Chris takes great pride in her students regardless of their performance aspirations. Her students range in age from under 10 years old to over 70 years young and cover multiple continents.

All of Chris' training programs are custom tailored for each handlers physical abilities as well as being "breed specific" for each individual dog. Customized contact, jumping and weave training programs designed around the natural breed characteristics of the dog are just the beginning. Providing an actual physical and structural evaluation of the dog as well as consideration of the dogs individual personality, mental acuity and emotional traits adds to each individual program. No two programs are exactly the same but all programs end in success, as demonstrated by her students accomplishments. Recently, Chris had 10 students dogs and a dog she bred representing their breed at this years prestigious AKC/Eukanuba National Championship/Agility Invitational/Obedience Invitational (breeds including: Spanish Water Dog, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Wire Fox Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Briard and Border Collie). Of those 11 dog/handler teams, 5 of them advanced to the final round with ALL of them placing in the top 8 of their class, including one dog of her own breeding that WON the overall in 20".

Chris is an internationally recognized dog agility competitor herself, as well as a full time trainer and coach. She personally trains each and every one of her own dogs (including: Flat Coated Retriever, Dalmatian, Wire Fox Terrier, GSD, Labrador Retriever, Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, Cairn Terrier, Border Collie). She is one of the USA's top breeders of performance Border Collies with multiple dogs of her breeding being selected to represent the USA at FCI World Championships and Crufts as well as winning National and World Agility Championships.

Chris' 30+ years of experience in dog sports, coupled with the outstanding accomplishments of herself and her students, makes her one of the highest qualified instructors in the country.

Listen to what her students have to say! My Students Speak Page

Brief Synopsis of Chris' Dogs Accomplishments:
Cynosport World Champion
Two Time USA/AKC World Team Member
Guinness World Record Holder in Dog Weaving
10th Place FCI World Agility Championships Agility Class
4 Time Winner AKC/USA World Team Tryouts (both Individual & Overall)
8 Time AKC/USA World Team Tryout Participant
10 Time Cynosport World Championship Semi Finalist
4 Time ESPN Great Outdoor Games Participant
3 Time AKC Nationals Challenger Round Finalist
USA European Open Team Member (2 different dogs)
4th Place European Open Team Jumping
Qualified AKC/USA World Team Tryouts every year since 2001 with multiple dogs
Qualified AKC National Championships every year since 1997 with multiple dogs
Qualified USDAA/Cynosport World Championships every year competing in venue (10 years in a row) with multiple dogs
10 MACH titles on multiple dogs and breeds
ADCH - ADCH Silver on multiple dogs and breeds
USDAA Lifetime Achievement Award
USDAA Top Ten List (multiple years)
Golden Retriever Hall of Fame (GRCA)
"Register of Merit" Award (BCSA) on multiple dogs