My Pembroke Welsh Corgi Danny & myself started along the exciting road of CKC Competitive Dog Obedience with Karen first teaching us in her Puppy K Class, Rally, and so on. Then as our CGN Evaluator, Judging us when we won our Open obedience title and now also instructing us in Sheep Herding.
Karen's well-rounded knowledgeable, positive & innovated approach to teaching everything dog, has made every learning experience with her a pure joy.
Barbara Hansen
MOTChCidel Danny Boy CGN, HIC, Therapy Dog. -AKC PHC, CGC, CDX
We wish you every success in your new venture however we are really so sorry to see you go. We started training with you with a very young, feisty, tear your hair out, English Springer Pup Winston. You have shown so much patience with him and Steve and under your guidance Winston has achieved far more than we could have expected in those early days. Who would have thought he could ever walk past a stuffed toy or a piece of tissue paper without grabbing both! If it hadn't been for you we would never have entertained actually competing in anything. Now he has completed his Rally O Novice, Advanced, and finally Excellent, and looks like he is going on to great things in Obedience Trials.
Karen, you make training fun and anybody fortunate enough to train under your guidance can be assured of success.
Best wishes
Linda Steve and Winston
I have taken both group and private obedience lessons with Karen, and she is bar none my favourite trainer I’ve worked with! Her motivational methods and positive attitude bring out the best in both you and your dog. I often come back to the lessons I first learned with Karen about motivation-based training, as I navigate the dog training world where there are many "less than kind" methods to train a dog. Karen proves with her creative approaches to problem solving that just because you're motivation-based doesn't mean you have to compromise when it comes to advanced competition! Karen’s goal is to improve her students and I have found she will go above and beyond to help you understand concepts and to help you make progress with your dog.
Karen adds a lot of value with her different expertise’s; not only does she instruct classes, she also judges trials and competes successfully herself in obedience, conformation and work. Her students benefit from this full insight into competing and training, as well as her personal experience training and working many different breeds. I have found Karen’s experience in obedience, work and conformation to be particularly helpful in her approach to training, as I am also pursuing events in all these areas with my breed.
Szikra, my vizsla, is the first dog I’ve done competition obedience with and Karen got us off on the right track: Szikra got her Rally Novice at 14 months in one weekend, and during her first 2 legs of her Novice Obedience she earned Second in Class and High in Class on consecutive days!
I have always found Karen to be a very supportive and inspirational coach, and look forward to many more lessons and fun times learning from her! I would highly recommend taking classes from Karen, regardless of your chosen venues or personal goals, be it pet manners or advanced competition. You will have fun with your dog and learn a lot! ADRIENNE & SZIKRA
I met Karen 7 years ago when I acquired my first dog. I loved attending her classes, she always made it fun and interactive. Karen wants us to have fun as we learn and create an amazing bond with our dogs. She has trained my 3 dogs and I would not train with anybody else! I also work in a Veterinary Hospital and recommend Karen to all our clients! Amazing trainer!
Martine, Veterinary Technician, Langley, BC
My Boxer Michael and I trained with Karen from the time he was a puppy until I lost my beloved friend at the very young age of 5 yrs old.We had to take a year or so off due to his illness. Through those years Karen taught us how to become one. Going to classes with your dog is rewarding, enriching and a great bonding time.- all that being said you need to have a trainer that is kind, compassionate and makes going to class fun. Karen is all that and more. She genuinely cares about her students and their dogs. Once you start training with Karen it will be very difficult to train under another. I know that personally. Karen saw Michael and I as beginners- with her guidance and encouragement Michael and I achieved our Novice A in Rally-O. Our first time in the ring and we had "high score". Karen is a perfectionist and that makes her students the same- don't ever settle for a crooked sit!
My new puppy Lincoln ( English Staffordshire Bull Terrier )and I have also been fortunate to have had Karen's expertise guidance in "Handling Classes". Our first time showing in confirmation we achieved, "Best Puppy" and "Third in group" at the Specialty Show in Redmond Washington, USA.
I would like to thank Karen from the bottom of my heart for being who she is and a fabulous trainer. I am really sad to see her go. It's our loss, but Armstrong's gain.
Lesa ,Michael and Lincoln
Karen is inspirational, educated, passionate and dedicated to her sport, the dogs, and their handlers.
It is a treat to find the whole package complete in one instructor.
Merilee Howley & ICE White Rock, BC.
We took “conformation” classes with Karen. She was very helpful in preparing us with our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for dog show competitions. I found her very patient and easy going which made our lessons enjoyable and stress free. We would recommend her classes to anyone who is looking for training their dog in any aspect related to dog training. She has had great success in showing/handling her own dogs. We wish her well in her new endeavour in Armstrong.
Tim & Nancy Mercer
Thank you everyone for your kind words... I will miss all of you and your amazing dogs who have taught me so much.