I have been in love with dogs since I was a small child.  I have owned, trained and shown Shelties for over thirty years.  When I was thirteen I trained my neighbor’s Norwegian Elkhound, and that experience cemented my interest in training and showing dogs.  I was fifteen before I got my first Sheltie “Robbie” who was my devoted companion for many years until he was stolen from my friend’s back yard while we were in the middle of moving.  I didn’t get another one until I married and had a family of my own.  I wanted my children to grow up with a dog as part of the family, so April came into my life and I had her for only five years.   It was with April that I started training at Mt Diablo Dog Training Club.  I trained her through her CD and then lost her to kidney failure.  When she died I brought Cricket home because I couldn’t be without a dog, and she filled the void for sixteen years.   Cricket was one of a kind and a wonderful working dog.  She received Dog World awards for both her CD and CDX.  I trained her through utility, but because of family circumstances I was unable to get a utility title on her.  By then Casey was also in my life, and I trained her through her CD and also competed in many team competitions with her and Cricket and with other team members from Mt Diablo. It was during this time that I became interested in conformation competition as well, which I am still involved in.  I have had several pointed dogs and a homebred champion.  I have several shelties that I am showing now.  I also have done some breeding with them.  People call my small two-acre ranch “Sheltie Camp,” because I usually have a houseful of dogs running around, my own and Shelties that I board. They also share the ranch with three cats and a Tennessee walker and three miniature horses.  I am kept busy with my animals and I love every minute of it. I have been teaching the Puppy Class at Mt. Diablo Dog Training Club for over twenty years.  I have a special place for little ones and I feel that they need special handling when they are at such an impressionable age.  New owners and young puppies need gentle guidance during the trying times of puppy hood. I also have recently branched out to teach other classes at Mt. Diablo which I share with two other trainers.  I really enjoy training and teaching others how to have a companion that they can be proud of and can enjoy for many years. I hope to continue showing, training, breeding and being involved with my animals and making a difference with the many lives that I come in contact with for a long time to come.