I was born an animal person. I began riding ponies before I could walk.
I begged for my first show/breeding dog at 6 years old, a German Shepherd named Trina. Showing horses and dogs was my passion as a child. As a teenager I moved to the dogs exclusively. Breeding the best dogs for other families became very important to me, not just showing, grooming, working at different veterinarians, but also apprenticing with some of the best professional handlers in the German Shepherd and All-Breed dog world. I became a professional all-breed handler at 19 years old in 1985. I was fortunate to have extraordinary mentors such as Bill Trainor, Lewis Grello, Alan Waterman and Anne Rogers Clark (iconic Portuguese Water Dog Handlers).
I have groomed, exhibited, owned and/or bred dogs in every Group pertaining to German Shepherds, Portuguese Water dogs, Boxers, Whippets, Bearded Collies, Standard and Miniature poodles, Bedlington terriers, Italian Greyhounds, the list goes on. My first Best in show was on of the top winning Great Pyrenees of all times at the age of 21 years old (1986).
After the birth of my son in 1996, I specialized and focused exclusively on Portuguese Water dogs. I am fortunate to have achieved Portuguese Water Dog National Specialty wins in four countries, Sweden, Norway, Canada and the United States. My dogs and I have won multiple times at the Crufts Dog Show in England, The World Dog Show, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, England, Netherlands, and Canada.
Aside from handling multiple breeds as a professional handler and many as an owner/breeder/handler, I have also been fortunate to judge Portuguese Water Dogs in the United States, Sweden & Norway.
our breed is famously known for it swimming ability and work drive. This has given me the privilege in working with my dogs in the water; both competing and teaching water work to others. I trained, exhibited and have achieved a Courier title.
My Passion for the breed has driven me to show PWDs, a successful breeding program, grooming, judging, and performance venues of all types with my dogs. I producing multiple Best in show winners, National Specialty winners, champions, performance-titled and service dogs in PWDs.
At this point in my career, I have a deep desire to pass on the vast knowledge I have gained over the years to those who will carry on with a desire to excel in this amazing breed. There is nothing I enjoy more than teaching and helping people in our breed to be the best they want to be with their dogs.