Deb Mickey

"I want a dog."  Deb can't remember much of her early childhood, but she does remember she always wanted a dog.  Just before she turned 6, she finally got one, a cocker mix she named Cindy.  Cindy lived to be 18 years old and started Deb's life-long love affair with spaniels.  Cindy taught Deb a great deal about dogs, what they think and want, and how to turn a "drop the leash and I'm outta here" dog into a dog that could be safely walked anywhere off leash.

The late 1970's brought Katie, an English Springer Spaniel, into Deb's life.  Together they learned about the world of competitive obedience and tracking and in the early 80's Deb started teaching obedience classes geared for pet owners.  Jessie, another springer followed, and through her Deb added agility and hunting tests to her bag of tricks.  Nifty, a 15-year-old rescue springer, joined the family and then the border collies came and an introduction to herding.

Currently Deb shares her life with springer, Oscar, kitties Emma and VIK ("Very Important Kitty"), and Border Collies Jill and Annie.  Deb believes in the benefit of versatility training and has competed with her dogs in obedience, agility, flyball and, with Jill and Annie, sheepdog trials.

Every dog in her life has taught Deb a great deal about canine behavior and she continues her education staying up-to-date by attending seminars, clinics and conferences, reading, and attending classes.  Deb believes training is meant to increase the cooperation and respect between dog and human, and hopes her students come away from her classes with a better understanding and regard for their dogs and the dogs come away with the training that ensures them a lifetime of love and companionship.