Thunder Bay Dog Training

 I have been involved with dogs with what seems a zillion years. There is nothing more fulfilling than watching a dog who has been a 'problem child' flourish. My main passion is the conformation ring, and dog psychology. I work with several dogs that require additional care & understanding and realize that a dog's mind is unbelievably unique and complex at times.
I find it extremely rewarding when I can break through the barrier and achieve a level of mutual respect with my client dogs. Patience and a strong level of positive leadership is what is absolutely necessary and what I promise.
I have bred & trained German Shepherd Dogs for 20 years and have recently become involved with Afghan Hounds and now breed Standard Poodles under the prefix of VisualArt! 

Seven dogs own me...and are the loves of my life
** Envy, Mighty, Halo, Prophet, Solar, Shine  and Tizzy are fixtures at the center.
I am all about science based POSITIVE MOTIVATIONAL training and ensuring that you will leave our program with a dog that will give you a lifetime partnership of love & respect!

A Member of the Canadian Kennel Club for 35 years

In 1963 the first purebred Collie joined me. She was Pixie, Ch. & OT Ch.Ravensglen Lovely, UD who set records for Collies, becoming the first Ch./UD titleholder in the breed history in Canada.  She was only 3 years old when she finished her Utility Dog degree, the highest formal obedience title available at the time. Since then, I have been involved in many areas of the dog world with a number of my dogs being Pixie’s descendants.  I have owned/bred/finished the Championships on many dozens of Collies, and completed titles on many dogs of other breeds such as Shepherds, Dobermans, Tibetan Terriers, Shelties, and so on.  I have enjoyed working on obedience titles and have a number to my credit as well as a tracking title and a number of CKC herding titles.  Currently my dogs and I are exploring the worlds of Rally and Agility.
I believe in positive training, the old methods were punitive, and I have chosen to be a partner with my dogs not a feared master.  It makes a world of difference in the quality of the relationship and in performance, quite frankly.  A wagging, happy, willing dog is such a joy!   Dog sports enhance the relationship of dog and person and I feel that a dog with a job is a fulfilled being and taking the relationship with a dog to that level is truly the ultimate “inter species” experience! Just after Pixie finished her UD, I started teaching dogs and their human partners and have trained all levels of formal obedience and also show handling and junior handling.  As well, I have had a career in classroom teaching that stretched for 35, busy, challenging and much enjoyed years.  Certainly, as has been noted, teaching goes both ways. I’m always learning from students!  That is very much part of the experience for me!

Arletta has always had dogs but got her first registered collie in 1970. She exhibits her dogs in conformation and performance. She has bred over 25 breed champion collies (rough & smooth) under the kennel prefix Glenwater, including a home bred Best in Show winner.

She has achieved Obedience Trial Championships on her collie and has earned many obedience titles on her collies & a sheltie with multiple class placements and High in Trials.

She is always competing with her dogs in herding trials and is constantly pursuing and learning more about positive training & canine behavior.

She is also a retired professional groomer

She has taught obedience classes for 35+ yrs and has the 1st Rally Master title in Thunder Bay & 1st Rally Master Collie in Canada

She is a Life Member of CKC, TBK&TC

I've had dogs all my life and a desire to go further into training than just having the everyday family pet. When I rescued Ginger (a Cairn Terrier....think Toto but red-blonde) I was finally able to pursue a sport I found when I was a teenager. While watching show jumping at a fair they had the horse/dog team competition and it introduced me to agility. I knew in the back of my head that my first dog would be involved no matter the breed. I've been training Ginger for 6 years in agility and been trialing for 4. I have had many great trainers (for whom I wouldn't be here without them!) and am finally able to step up and be one myself. Ginger has also taught me a lot as well. She's shown me that even the dog with great drive in class will be a 100% different dog in a trial setting. I've had to be creative with the way I run her and a lot of thinking outside of the box (and on my feet!). She has definitely been an adventure to learn with and I'm happy my first agility dog has been a bit of a challenge. I'm hoping that I can guide my students into successful teams who have fun out in the field. I want to share my love and enjoyment of the sport and I hope I will be able to pass that on to them.

"Samantha is the Breeder behind FoxFire Beagles – a local breeding program who’s hounds are proudly bred for excellence, health and temperament and accomplishments reflect this. Her passion and dedication to raising sound, well socialized Beagles not only reflects in her breeding program but also in her approach as an instructor working with the young dogs. With the knowledge and experience of raising many litters paired with over a decade of practical, hands-on experience training hundreds of puppies of different breeds, Samantha’s specialty is Puppyhood. From understanding breed instinct traits, to relationship building, to the importance of putting focus in crucial areas of training -  she thrives and truly enjoys working with young, moldable puppies with a realistic, no-fluff approach. Sam’s mantra being “train the dog in front of you” and how she approaches each puppy as it’s own individual, helps owners understand not only why behaviors are happening but also how to address them and move forward with a positive and fair approach. Sam is a strong believer in setting up puppies for a lifetime of success while providing owners tools to have a well balanced, canine companion to love and enjoy for years to come.