GAIL HUBBARD
In 1995, Gail Hubbard set out on a mission to better understand how dogs think so that she could help owners deepen their relationship with their dog. Training that is fun as well as effective was her goal. While reading and researching dog training, Gail started a dog walking business, A Dog’s Life, in Cleveland, Ohio. After helping clients with the basics and building more of a love for helping owners bond better with their dogs, she put her real job on hold and went to West Virginia Canine College.

At WVCC she lived and breathed dogs for 8-10 hours a day for 3 months. The experience was full of classroom work learning the dog’s mind and the natural approach to training that parallels Volhard motivational methods. The experience of training basic commands to different breeds was a great start in learning about relationships between human and dog behavior. Extra emphasis was placed on tracking, drug detection and protection work. WVCC had a German Shepherd breeding program and the main sport of Schutzhund was practiced twice a week.

Since graduating from WVCC with a certification as a trainer and behavior specialist in 1997, Gail has adopted a coaching approach tailored to each particular dog, it's breed personality and the dog/owner relationship. This approach is based on experience with and knowledge of motivational, positive and scientific methods. Gail helps students narrow down the different techniques of training into a well-defined, scientifically proven approach based on humane principles of how dogs actually learn. She understands that training is a process, not an event, and she encourages her students to develop a simple communication style to achieve their goals.

As a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Gail strongly believes in continuous education. She attends APDT's annual conferences as well as attempt to study with some of the best trainers and behaviorists in the field. Attending workshops and seminars as much as possible, Gail stays on attuned to new information which only will make her classes the best they can be.

Her sport of choice is a toss up between AKC Tracking and Agility. Since 1999 she has been involved in both. At that time her young GSD, Madison, started Tracking and SAR Training and took her first agility class. Falling in love with the relationship building potential of both sports she has been going to seminars and teaching ever since. Her Border Collie Quinn has several titles in agility and has his TD title. Even though competing is important, the relationship between the handler and dog out weighs any title recieved. She is starting her Parson Russell Terrier with the VST tracking training as well as agility. She encourages anyone interested in creating a stronger relationship with their dog to investigate both agility and scent games (tracking, SAR and/or K9 Nose Works).

SUSAN WILSON

MARGARET ECKERT
Margaret has been training dogs since she was really young.  She started working at a veterinary hospital when she was 13 and was exposed to behavioral problems throughout that experience.  She became a certified veterinary technician when she was 18.  She became a Master Groomer shortly after and started studying canine nutrition. She has continued her education online and through seminars.
 
She is a positive trainer and behavioral counselor who continues her training and stays up to date on state of the art training techniques.  She has been training dogs for over 30 years. All of her dogs have obedience titles and most of them have the highest levels of titles. 

Margaret is an ASCA Obedience Judge, judging all levels of obedience.  She is pursuing her AKC Judging Internship and will be judging AKC obedience classes upon completion.  She is certified to do AKC Canine Good Citizen testing. She continues to do nutrition and behavioral counseling.  She knows that good health starts with good nutrition practices.  Dogs live a longer and healthier life with proper nutrition.
 
Margaret believes that if you want a companion that will always trust and respect you, the positive and reward-based methods of training will get you the results you are looking for. 

MILLS, CATHERINE