Meet our team

Instructors

It’s Nice to meet you

Connie Skinner

Connie specializes in early puppy socialization and prevention through management and training. She is also the trainer to turn to when dealing with aggression, separation anxiety and any other problems. She focuses on reinforcing desired behavior with positive techniques instead of punishment or pain-based tactics. Handlers of any age, size or strength can apply these dog-friendly, human-friendly methods. In Connie’s classes you will learn about canine body language, appropriate play styles and how to work with your dog, instead of against your dog.

Connie understands the importance of involving the whole family in training a dog, and includes even the youngest children into the process whenever possible. Further encouraging youths to get involved with dogs, she also volunteers her expertise and facility to a local 4-H dog club.

History

Connie Skinner:

Connie started training with Lynne Lawhern at Good Puppy Good Dog training facility in 1992. In 2003 she took over complete training responsibilities under the name Mind Your Manners Dog Training. Connie has studied canine behavior and training with Dr. Ian Dunbar, Turid Regaas, Dr Roger Abrantes, Karen Pryor, Patricia McConnell and others. She takes every opportunity to continue her education.

Connie is a member of APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers), PPG ( Pet Professionals Guild) and is an Evaluator for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC), S.T.A.R. Puppy and Trick Dog programs.

Connie trains, breeds and shows Australian Cattle Dogs and Akitas. She is mentoring several clients-turned-friends as they enter the world of dog-showing and breeding. It’s also not unusual for Connie to be fostering a homeless dog or two until they can find new homes.

Email Connie at connie@mymdogtraining.com or call 360-693-4503.

instructor – ccft fit paws – nutritionist

Patti Salladay

Patti is a member of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and is an Evaluator for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC), S.T.A.R. Puppy and AKC Trick Dog Evaluator. She is a certified K9 Nutritionist and is also a Certified Canine Fitness instructor. Her passion is keeping dogs healthy by incorporating proper nutrition and exercise.

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AKC CGC Evaluator – AKC Trick Dog Evaluator – First Aid and CPR Canine Certified

Jordan Richards

Jordan has followed her love for dogs into a career in Pet Grooming, which she has done for the past 11 years. She got her first Australian Cattle Dog in 2014 which opened a door to to her passion for dog sport

including Agility, Barn Hunt, Rally, Dog Diving, Herding and Conformation shows.

instructor

Conformation – Rally

Kay Pedisich

In 1982 Kay began her love of dog shows with English Cockers and included working titles on her dogs. As her time in dogs progressed, she worked as an assistant to professional handlers, honing her grooming and handling skills. She showed professionally for a short time and decided that she liked showing her own dogs and helping people learn to do the same. Several years into her dog career, Kay started training and exhibiting in various performance venues, working ability tests, lure coursing, obedience, field trials, rally. She enjoys helping people build the bond with their dogs so that they enjoy competing in any venue and teaches versatility so that the dog that shows in conformation will have a strong foundation to go forward to other disciplines.

Assistant instructors

Aly Oler

Aly has been involved with training animals all her life – she jumped into conformation with her 2 Australian Cattledogs Indy and P!nk. She started taking classes at Mind Your Manners and excelled in training and communication with students. She has been assisting in classes for the past several years.

instructor

And Daycare Attendant

Victoria Armstrong

Victoria specializes in the sniffing end of the leash.

Whether it is finding hidden cookies in or around your house, truffles in the forest, or jumping into one of the nosework sports, she is excited to play a part in creating a solid foundation in hunting for target odors, while building a special bond between dog and owner.

Victoria’s background with dogs includes many years as a volunteer at her local shelter, and co-running a breed specific dog rescue. Her passion is to bring home the missing. She has been a Search and Rescue K9 handler since 2005. Her SAR focus for the past 10 years has been in Human Remains Detection. She and her current K9 partner have certified in Land HRD through local, State, and National organizations. She has attended many hands-on seminars by master trainers and experts in the field of scent detection.

DAYCARE ATTENDANT

Ashley Lindauer

Aly has been involved with training animals all her life – she jumped into conformation with her 2 Australian Cattledogs Indy and P!nk. She started taking classes at Mind Your Manners and excelled in training and communication with students. She has been assisting in classes for the past several years.