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Meet Our Trainers

Danielle - Agility

Tawn - Obedience and Conformation

Debbie - Obedience

Lynn - Obedience

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Tawn

I have been involved in the sport of dogs since I was eight years old and checked out Milo Pearsall’s “Obedience Training Your Dog” from the local public library. I was enthralled with the visions that the book opened up for me and proceeded to train, not only my family’s own collies and mutts, but every dog in the neighborhood that happened to venture through our backyard. No fences or leash laws in those days in rural Indiana.

While I was a sophomore at UCLA, I acquired a sheltie mix puppy from the pound, snuck him into my “no dogs allowed” apartment and took him to class with me every day. While passing Stoner Park one evening, I spotted a dog obedience class in session and decided that “Bandit” and I should enroll. I was hooked and Bandit and I went on to attend classes all the way through Utility. In those days, there were no formal degrees for mixed breeds, but we were able to get the equivalent of our All American UD by competing in match competition.

In 1974, my husband and I moved to Malibu and I became an assistant trainer for Haleridge Kennels. Evelyn and Jimmy Hale raised English and Irish Setters and had raised and trained the Irish that were used in the making of “Big Red”. I took over the job of training the dogs of their private clients and assisting with the group classes they taught for the Malibu Township Council. In 1978, the Hales retired to Big Bear and turned their classes over to me. I have taught novice, advanced novice, open and utility in Malibu since then. I began teaching for the West Los Angeles Obedience Training Club in 1998 and teach advanced novice, competition obedience, open, utility, and conformation handling classes.

Over the years, my methods of dog training have changed considerably, from the old “never use food, or they won’t obey you unless they’re hungry” philosophy to becoming an avowed enthusiast of clicker training. Dogs and the people who love and train them are all different. A method of training which works for one team may not be ideal for another. As a dog AND people trainer, I believe it is my job to help the owner find and effectively use the method which works best for them, as long as the results are positive for dog and owner alike. In my classes, you may well find the dog and handler teams using different methods to accomplish the same goals. I think this flexibility make for a unique and rewarding group training experience.

My current dogs are all Keeshonden. I have been breeding, training, and showing Kees in conformation, obedience, agility, and therapy dog work since 1977 under my “Shoreline” kennel prefix. I have bred 37 conformation champions, 16 CD’s, 5 CDX,s, 1 UD, and numerous agility titles.. Several of my dogs also work as therapy dogs. I am the President of the Keeshond Club of Southern California and also serve as the Rescue Chairman and Health Committee Chairman for the Keeshond Club of America.

In my non-dog life, I am a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Psychology and work as a bureaucrat for the State of California, where I am the Southern California Director for Medi-Cal Disability. I am married to a very patient husband and have a daughter who is also very active in showing dogs and horses.

Danielle

Danielle has put NATCHs on two Australian Shepherds and is close to a NADAC championship on a third Aussie. She came to dog training through horses. For the last twenty years, she has trained horses and taught riding while also competing successfuly on the Paint Horse circuit.

Debbie

Debbie received her first dog, a poodle, for her sixth birthday (after much pleading to her parents) and took her first formal training class at age 11, with the family Saint Bernard. She is a graduate of Triple Crown Academy, completing the Canine Training Specialist Certification under some of the world's foremost authorities on dog behavior and training. She also attended Martin Deeley's International School For Dog Trainers, studying with Mr. Deeley to become an E-Touch method remote collar dog trainer. Her experience includes puppy and dog obedience, behavior modification, problem solving, agility, rally, clicker and tricks, sheepherding, therapy dog work, rescue, flyball, grooming, & CGC. She has put many titles on different dogs, and her dogs have appeared in movies and on TV. She is currently a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, West Los Angeles Obedience Training Club, & the Papillon Club of Southern California. She has served on the Board of Directors for WLAOTC, and served as Director for Santa Monica Dog Owners Group, helping overturn laws that prevented leashed dogs from entering any Santa Monica park, and opening the first two off leash parks in the city.

Debbie is a firm believer that all dogs, and owners, can benefit from consistent, positive training. She likes to say "There are many tools in the toolbox, we need to find what works for each team, there is no "one size fits all" in dog training. And remember, bad dogs need training, good dogs deserve it!"

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Lynn

Lynn Medlin has dog training in her blood. Her grandfather, Wayne M. Colby, was a renowned Field Dog trainer in New England. Lynn inherited her grandfather's love of working with animals, but followed a different path. Since 1991, she has focused her professional training on utilizing humane techniques to create a bond and greater understanding between pet and person.

Through the years she has studied the issue of dogs that are reactive on leash. This has lead her to teaching Feisty Fido to help owners gain control and manage this challenging problem. An active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Lynn continues to update and refine her methods, staying current with the latest techniques and philosophies. She regularly attends animal behavioral seminars given by celebrated experts such as John Rogerson, Patricia McConnell, Pamela Reed, and Jean Donaldson.

Through organizations like k9 Connection, the SPCA, and Love On Four Paws, she has worked with the blind, at risk and disabled children, and elderly citizens confined to hospitals or other institutions. Lynn's passionate belief in the positive impact of therapy dogs resulted in her becoming the subject of an E! Entertainment special featuring her work with challenged children. Lynn has served as a Board Member of the West Los Angeles Training Club, and is currently an advisor/trainer for k9 Connection.

She has a particular passion for bully breeds. Lynn owns bully breeds herself, and takes great satisfaction in teaching responsibility of proud ownership.

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