Dog trainer extraordinaire

The daughter of a dear friend of ours from Oregon has, rather surprisingly, gotten into dog training. It's become a passion and a calling for her, and she has so many awards lining her bedroom walls that they're starting to spill into the hallway. I've joked that they'll be able to wallpaper their bathroom next, but it's not much of a joke. This young lady has earned so many awards with her training skills and her talented animals that it's astounding.

Anyway, as a result of these accomplishments, she was featured in an issue of Aussie Times magazine. Whoot!

(Here's her write-up, with identifying information removed.)
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Emily P., 15, is pictured here with her two year old Aussie, Bella. Emily is a sophomore at a private Christian school and enjoys time with her family, friends, and her pets. She has three dogs, two pet rats, and a Kenyan Sand Boa named Mr. Stubbs.

Besides receiving a Certificate of Merit from ASCA, Emily and Bella accomplished two major goals this year. In August they earned Bella‘s Novice Obedience Title in ASCA, and in September they earned Bella’s Novice Obedience Title in AKC. Then in November they got Bella’s AKC titles in Open and also in Novice Rally. Bella already has her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certification and Emily is planning to participate in the therapy dog program with her. Emily states “Bella is such a wonderful dog. I know she will bring joy to other peoples’ lives through our visits.”

Emily and Bella train nearly every day, with their average training totaling three hours a week when they don’t have a competition scheduled. However, that training schedule gets longer and more complex when a competition is on the calendar. They train with Sally D., who also happens to be Bella’s breeder as well as one of Emily’s 4H leaders. She says, “Sally is an amazing trainer and friend. She is a huge part of my life and I love her with all my heart. Bella and I would not be where we are today, and definitely not headed in the direction we are, without her. I am forever grateful for all she has done for us. I also am so very thankful for my mom’s love and support. She gives me everything I need to reach my goals, and she is especially a wonderful ‘chauffeur!’ No matter what I want to do she is always behind me 100% and that is a really great feeling.”

Emily is interested in working with dogs as a career, whether it be showing other peoples’ dogs or training the dogs for them. She’s also interested in perhaps having a training facility where people can bring their dogs to learn to work together as a team. Whatever God has planned for her, you can bet it will involve animals in general, and dogs in particular!

(No, that is NOT her on the front cover.)