I have owned dogs for over thirty yearsand was fortunate enough that the first club I belonged to was a veryforward-thinking club. Being a military wife meant I moved frequently and toother countries. Sadly, I soon realized this is not how some clubs trained. Myexperience made it obvious to me that "man's best friend" is reallymisunderstood.   I studied Canine Psychology in the "ThinkDog" program with the late John Fisher. I continue to stay up to date,because you can never stop learning. I have been very fortunate to have alsobeen mentored by some amazing trainers and handlers, whose wealth of knowledgeand experience has been incredible. I will always be grateful with their pearlsof wisdom I can pass on. I strongly believe any training should be fair, so wemust understand the dog's side as best we can. This can only improve ourrelationship with our dogs, and certainly won't be damaging. In the same light,training should be fun and rewarding for both the owner and dog.  With my background strongly in caninepsychology, be prepared to "Think Dog" and join us for a date nightwith your dog.

Sterling Hinch has been instructing at the club for over twenty years, after starting as a student with his Dalmatian, Daisy.  He has attended behavior seminars with Roger Abrantes, Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, and Emma Parsons. He has also been a member of CAPPDT and has been involved in agility and obedience. In addition, he has attended and instructed at a Dog Scout camp in Michigan. Sterling let Daisy cross the Rainbow Bridge in December of 2012, but has continued on as a dog obedience and agility instructor. He hopes to instruct until he can no longer do so, focusing on instructing and dog behavior.

Sterling earned the Canine Specialist Diploma in March 2018.  Sterling is also a registered Team Evaluator for Pet Partners™ and has participated in both training and evaluating pet visitation therapy teams since 2018.  He is also involved in preparing Service dog/handler teams to be evaluated.  

Sterling is active in assessing and evaluation of behavioral issues and frequently works with owners on an individual basis to address those issues.

Alta has been a member of Gas City Dog Club since 1989, serving on the executive for many years as well as being show secretary for various United Kennel Club Licensed Obedience and Rally Obedience Trials. During those years, she actively competed with her dogs and was able to achieve Companion Dog Titles with the United Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club as well as making progress towards a Rally Obedience Title.

Alta enjoys working with her dogs as well as assisting with classes offered by Gas City Dog Club. She loves learning and has attended many dog training seminars and workshops over the years from such instructors as: Sue Ailsby, Brian Kilcommins, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Michael A. Neil, Cindy Leung and most recently Amanda Labadie.  She has completed many online courses through Fenzi Dog Sport Academy and Pet Partners™. She has received certification as a Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor through ICS Canada.

As a retired health care worker, Alta recognizes the value of pet therapy/visitation and realizes there is a huge gap in this area. She is actively working with Gas City Dog Club to promote a pet therapy training and assessment program. Alta is a licensed Instructor and Team Evaluator for the Pet Partners™ Pet Therapy Visitation Program.

Sandie recently graduated from the Good Dog Academy and is our newest instructor. She spent all of last year being mentored by Sterling and Beccy. Although new to instructing, Sandie is not new to the dog community. She has always been very active with her dogs, whether it be taking obedience classes, rally obedience, or scenting. She has even tried her hand at dock diving, disc, and flyball, and her latest pursuit is barn hunting with her lab/collie Ollie.

Sandie believes most dog owners want a well-rounded, non-reactive family dog they can take anywhere. She believes that to build a great relationship with your dog, you need to be consistent with your training, exercise your dog, socialize it, and provide mental stimulation. 

She hopes to constantly grow and learn as a dog instructor and be open to new training methods. She is currently taking a course on how to relax your dog.  

She says her dog is her best friend and partner in crime, and there is nothing better than the love we receive from our dogs.

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