Dog Obedience Training Episodes

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You may wonder what it’s like to be competitive with your dog while keeping them motivated, in good physical condition and trained across multiple venues. I’ve admired Sandy Ganz and her ability to have versatile dogs who have competed in obedience, tracking, agility, herding and conformation. During this interview, Sandy and I will chat about how to follow your dreams, how to stay focused on goals, how to maintain your own selfcare and the importance of keeping your dogs condition for competition. All of that and more can be found inside this episode of The Animal Academy Podcast.

Sandy Ganz: 

I am always seeking continuing education and remain ever curious about better training techniques, as well as how to better understand, enjoy and care for my dogs. 
First and foremost, though, my dogs are my best friends and companions who sleep on my bed every night.

1967 – joined Mound City Obedience Training Club and the Greater St. Louis
Shetland Sheepdog Club. In recent years, I have been awarded Life Membership in the Sheltie Club
1980 – founding member of Gateway Tracking Club, one of the first 2 AKC tracking clubs in the U.S.
1981 – after several years of training Susi, our 3rd Sheltie, we earned her TDX title (Tracking Dog Excellent) to become the first Sheltie in the U.S. to earn that AKC title.
1982 – joined the American Shetland Sheepdog Association
1990 – co-authored with Susan Boyd, self-published and marketed the instructional book, Tracking From The Ground Up.
1992 – wrote, produced, narrated and marketed the instructional video, Tracking Fundamentals.
1993 – created the America Shetland Sheepdog Association’s Versatility Award Program, administering it for 19 years.
2011 – awarded ASSA’s Outstanding Service Award
Over the Years:
– Trained and showed 6 Shelties to AKC Obedience Trial Championships
– Trained and showed 3 Shelties to AKC Tracking Dog Excellent titles
– Trained and showed 2 Shelties to AKC Master Agility Championships
– Served on AKC’s Tracking Advisory and Obedience Advisory Committees
– Dabbled in herding trials and conformation shows
– Continue to train and show my current dogs in obedience and agility

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My guest tonight is Pat Kasten Long time animal lover and trainer. As a child she was called the animal whisperer because of her ability to connect and bond with them. During this episode we will discuss her interesting life with animals and some of the adventures she experienced. Besides having a gift with animals, Pat is a genuinely caring and funny person.

Pat Kasten: 

Being able to connect with animals has always been a passion of mine. From a young child I have always been called the animal whisperer because I had such a calmness with animals and could connect with them. I raised a wild baby squirrel that had fallen out of our tree and with the help of my Grandfather we taped its leg that was broken and put it in a crate to feed and take care of. Whiskers as I named her, began to trust me and eventually would eat out of my hand. When she healed and was let go, she always came to me when I called for her and ate treats that I would give her.

I also broke horses (in my younger years) and earned their trust with working slowly with them, letting them know that I wasn’t going to hurt them. I spent hours just in their stall talking to them and petting them to start our bond. Without much trouble I was able to mount them and start to train them in their gates.
The one thing I’m most passionate about is training dogs. The strong bond you build through training and working with them is so rewarding. My dogs are my best friends and are spoiled rotten but know and respect that I’m the alpha. Watching a dog learn and that is excited about learning is a thrill in itself.
1964 – Joined the Decatur Dog Obedience Club and was a junior trainer.
1971 – Joined the German Shepherd Dog Club of St. Louis and was an active obedience trainer and treasurer of the club.
1976 – Started my own business, Sharopa’s Obedience School, SOS for help, training all levels of obedience
1986 – Became an American Kennel Club Obedience Judge
2016 – Helped start up Dardenne Retriever Club, a new Hunt Test/Field Trial Club in the St. Louis area also the Treasurer.
Throughout the years I’ve put titles on German Shepherds, Welch Pembroke Corgi’s and Golden Retrievers titling to a Utility title and also one very special OTCH, Obedience Trial Champion on one of my Goldens Rip, in which I also put a TD tracking title on. Now I’m involved in field training with my two Goldens which both have their Senior titles and training for their Master title. The more I can learn and teach my dogs, the better!

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Have you ever wondered how to motivate your dog to do certain things or how to work through barriers in your training? Have you wondered how to keep obedience training fun and creative? When I remember the important people who got me started in dog obedience and gave me the motivation to continue training, I think about Ginger Kinion. I was in my early twenties and just got a Sheltie puppy. I knew I wanted to teach basic skills and was referred to Ginger’s class. She was one of several trainers who helped me learn the importance of keeping training fun with short sessions throughout the day. That was also known as “kitchen training” where you catch the teachable moments when they happen.  Ginger’s career as a 6th grade school teacher gave her the gift to teach what could sometimes be boring basic obedience skills, in a fun and entertaining way. This certainly made me return to class every week.  During my talk with Ginger, we will discuss how she first got started in dog training, how she uses her classroom teaching skills to apply to her dog training, how she uses creativity to work through challenging dog training obstacles and how she maintains her positive and upbeat demeanor over years of judging and competitions

Virginia Kinion

My name is Virginia Kinion, but everyone calls me Ginger. I have lived in the St. Louis/St. Charles, Missouri area my entire life. From my first memory as a child I have loved dogs. When I was five years old,  I won a cocker spaniel in a National television contest and that dog changed the life of my entire family. Later in life I became interested in competing in dog obedience and teaching others to train dogs. The teaching part was easy for me since my real job was teaching elementary school. Understanding how dogs see the world took much more education on my part and is an ongoing project. In 1993,I became an American Kennel Club obedience judge. Judging has provided with me a chance to travel and meet so many interesting people who have become dear friends. I presently am retired and have four dogs who share my life. Thank you, Allison White, for inviting me to take part in your podcast.

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Welcome to this episode of The Animal Academy Podcast. I’m excited to have this conversation wth my niece, Tori Peacock, who has just become the proud Mom of a Yorkie named Byron! I also recently added a Golden Retriever puppy named PJ to my household so during this interview I will have a conversation with Tori about all of the questions new puppy owners may have and some o the experiences that occur when adding a new pet into your family.

Tori Peacock  

Tori Peacock is a first-time dog mom! Always having been deemed a cat person, she is very new to having a dog of her own, but loves all animals. Tori has always had pets, but never one to take care of completely on her own. She had one dog growing up, a golden-retriever named Pamet, and several cats: Tigger, a sweet, drooling tabby; Truffles, a fluffy mix and a huge diva; and Vie, a cross-eyed Siamese who thinks he’s a dog.
Tori is a musician with degrees in composition and choral conducting. She also loves to hike, knit, eat food, spend time with family and friends, and watch movies.

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I’ve noticed many people who have puppies or have recently adopted dogs. Maybe it’s due to the pandemic and you’re spending more time at home and think it’s a good time to add a furry member to your family. Whatever the reason, adding a new dog is a fun time, but it also requires training at the basic level to have a dog who fits in with your lifestyle. Who doesn’t jump, destroy your house, doesn’t pee on the floor and is a well behaved new family member.

Due to the need to social distance, I panicked at the thought of not being enrolled in a puppy obedience course. A friend recommended that I contact Kama Brown of Forsta Dog Training for her online class called “Puppy Training During The Pandemic” and we’ll be talking to her during this episode of the animal Academy Podcast about her training classes, along with answering some of the more common dog training questions.

Kama Brown, CPDT-KA: 

Kama Brown is a CPDT-KA, accredited through the national council for dog trainers. She has authored over 50 published articles on dog training and is passionate about making the world better for dogs. She owns a dog training and daycare business with her husband in STL, MO.

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One of the consequences of the Corona-virus pandemic is people are adopting more animals, which means they are also trying to find obedience trainers. There are limited in- person classes and most have limited enrollment due to need for social distancing. Besides offering in-home obedience training, my guest today will also discuss her focus on separation anxiety, which may occur as people return to work after being with their pets most of the day. We will also discuss her background with greyhound rescue and some other animal-related community projects that she has been involved in. I’d like to welcome Marilyn Gaffney to this episode of the Animal Academy Podcast.

Marilyn Gaffney: 

As a dog trainer certified by NADOI (the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors), using positive training techniques, I teach people to train their dogs to be life-long companions.  I teach people how to communicate with their dogs in a language understood by canines. In 1991, realizing that many pet owners were no longer interested in coming to training classes, with a generalized obedience curriculum, one night a week for ten weeks, I created On The Spot Dog Training.  On The Spot offers training in clients’ homes, incorporating everyone living in the household and focuses on specific training needs of individual clients.  On The Spot provides flexibility, saves clients the time of transporting their pets to training facilities, and deals with pet behaviors where they occur – in clients’ homes.

For several years, prior to launching On The Spot, after a year-long apprenticeship, I taught obedience classes for Kennelwood and various community organizations. I have served as a mentor trainer for the Animal Behavior College providing local hands-on training experience for up-and-coming trainers. With my own dogs, I have pursued a variety of endeavors.  I have shown in competitive obedience and conformation.  One of my Dalmatians was featured in a photo shoot and a television commercial.  Additionally, I raised a puppy for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. My spouse and I were charter members of Friends of REGAP, a fund-raising arm we created in the early 1990s to support retired-racing Greyhound adoption in St. Louis.

I continue to work with the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine to grow Barkley House, a Ronald McDonald type facility for people and their pets at Mizzou.  While we continue to raise funds for the Barkley House prototype, we have retrofit two dedicated rooms at a nearby hotel as a precursor to Barkley House. Additionally, I serve on the Steering Committee of the Humane Society of Missouri Women’s Leadership Council, a group of professional women who connect with each other and direct our time, expertise and support toward making a lasting difference in the lives of animals in Missouri. Over the years, dogs have introduced me to many of my dearest friends and have taught me invaluable lessons applicable to many aspects of my life.

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Welcome to another episode of the Animal Academy Podcast. During my podcast, we’ve talked about the power of the human-animal connection. When I used to show my dogs in competition, I was amazed at how many young people were also running their dogs. In fact, they were often difficult to beat in competition! They had perseverance, self confidence and a special bond with the dogs they trained then showed in competition. I have the pleasure of speaking with Ella Palutis, a young adult who will share her experience in the 4-H program and involvement in competitive dog sports. She also discusses her goals for the future and demonstrates perseverance and ambition including the importance of mentoring other young people towards their own goals.

Ella Palutis: 

Ella is president of the 4-H club Roving Rovers, which is focused on dog care as their primary project. She is also working on both her RACH and her MACH with her Aussie, Bailiwick Quinn It To Win It CD BN RM RAE MX AXJ OF CGC TKI. She recently put her first MACH on a border collie (Cassidy) she co-owns, and in 2019, she was ranked the #4 obedience junior handler by AKC.

 

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One of the reasons why I started this podcast is because I enjoy talking with people. Hearing their unique stories and learning more about what brings them enjoyment, excitement and really, how they show up in the world. I don’t know if my guest today knows how many people have appreciated the things he’s done for them, but after hearing his name come up in conversations I thought this is a person I’d like to learn more about. I’d like to introduce David Frasca to the Animal Academy Podcast.

David Frasca: 

I have worked and showed multiple breeds including: a French Bulldog, a Doberman, border collies, golden retrievers, standard schnauzers, aussies, and a sheltie. I went to the 2019 AKC invitational with a standard schnauzer. I have put an RAE on multiple dogs, I am close to a RACH with a golden, I have put MACH’s on multiple breeds. I recently put a UD on my border collie. I have enjoyed going to AKC agility and rally nationals, I really enjoy every show I am able to go to. I have fun working with the dogs. I pretty much enjoy it all. A little bit about myself is that I am 16 years old, I have been the #1 versatile AKC Junior 2 years in a row, I work at a Dairy Queen near me, and I live with 3 dogs. I recently lost my golden retriever, and my mom lost hers earlier this year, so the house is emptier. I work with the dogs, but I plan on studying mechanical engineering in college.

 

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In previous episodes I spoke with two young people who have participated in dog performance events and who are active in programs that help facilitate animal related activities. Today’s guest is a judge and dog trainer who is energetic and I am impressed with her ability to inspire others to work positively with their dogs. She is a teacher for young adults and has several exciting programs that we’ll be discussing during this episode. I’d like to welcome my guest Charlotte Mielziner.

Charlotte Mielziner: 

In over 28 years of training, writing about, judging and competing in canine sports, Charlotte Mielziner is proud to be the Dog Project Coordinator for 4H Clubs in St. Charles County for over twenty years, teaching young handlers agility, obedience, showmanship, tricks, drill team and rally. An avid writer, she wrote “Good Dogs Bite Too,” a dog bite prevention manual for Visiting Nurses. Her Dogs with Jobs series and The Cheeseball Recall: Training Games for Kids and Dogs are currently in development. She is an Obedience and Rally judge for the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Australian Shepherd Club of America. Other accomplishments include: • BA in Behavioral Sciences and a certification in Canine Behavior from Purdue University • Originator the Canine Olympics, now Canine Games, an annual event at Purina Farms in which dog owners can try different canine sports at a beginning level • Researched and wrote the Safety Sam Dog Bite Prevention Program for elementary schools • Multiple High Scoring Dog of the Day and High Combined Awards in Obedience • Qualified for National Championships in Obedience and Rally Charlotte lives in St. Charles county, Missouri and considers herself lucky to get to take her dogs to work with her.

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