Meet the Staff

Photo by Louis B. Ruediger

Pam Dennison - Owner

Pam Dennison is a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America) and is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant with the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and former member of NADOI (National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors). She is the training writer for the Mid Atlantic Border Collie Rescue newsletter, “Have You Herd?” and a staff writer for The Chronicle of the Dog, the award winning newsletter of the APDT. Many of her books and articles have been nominated over the years for special awards by the DWAA. Pam started her own business, Positive Motivation Dog Training in 1996. Since then she has helped thousands of dogs and handlers build their relationships and solve problems, by teaching basic obedience through competition and working with a myriad of behavioral problems. Pam teaches puppy K, basic obedience through the Canine Good Citizen test, competition obedience, Rally-O and holds regular classes and seminars for aggressive dogs.

Pam is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training, Alpha Books, Bringing Light to Shadow; A Dog Training Diary, Dogwise Publishing, and How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong, Alpine Publications, Alpine Publications, Click Your Way to Rally Obedience, Alpine Publications and Civilizing the City Dog, Alpine Publications. She also has two videos/DVD’s, Positive Solutions for Standard Behavior Problems, and Camp R.E.W.A.R.D for Aggressive Dogs, available from Barkleigh Productions. Pam has given seminars on positive training, competition, Rally obedience and aggression to the general public, many Kennel Clubs, Off Lead Training Expo, IAABC in 2005 at their first annual conference, the American Boarding Kennel Association, as well as to Therapy Dog Groups and presents her camp for aggressive dogs, Camp R.E.W.A.R.D. at home and across the country.

She currently lives with three rescued dogs (Border Collies) and trains them all for competition. She and her Sheltie Cody qualified and competed in the Eastern United States Dog Obedience Championships held in Bethlehem, PA in 1996. Cody was also in a Milkbone print ad. Her Border collie, Beau was in a Mack Truck print ad, Border collie Emma was in an Olympic Paint TV commercial and Beau and Pam were in the movie, I am Legend. Pam competes successfully with all of her dogs in competition obedience and Rally (to date: six CD titles, two CDX, two ARCH’s, two ARCHX’s, three R1MCL, one RL1, one R2MCL and one R2CL, two RL3, with almost every leg in both sports being a placement), and agility, (to date: one NJC, two NAJ and two NA, all first placements) plus three CGC certificates, one TDI and three TSW’s (Canine Water Sports) and she continues to train for competition obedience, sheep herding, tracking and carting.

Be sure to check out Pam in the kitchen!

 

Jane Killion, Agility Instructor

Jane Killion's passion is helping people who have been told that their dog “just has an attitude” or is incapable of learning. She has had great success showing people how to find agility success with their canine companions by shaping new behavior. Most of all, she never trains for mere compliance – she teaches her students how to shape a dog who vibrates with happiness when working.

Jane has successfully competed with five different Bull Terriers, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and an Australian Cattle Dog in agility and obedience. She is a member of the Bull Terrier Club of America Performance Committee and is one of only three people to have put both AKC Excellent Regular Standard and Jumpers titles on a Bull Terrier. Her Bull Terrier, Ruby (at right), was ranked number 23 in APDT Rally Level 2 for 2006. She is the author of the forthcoming book, When Pigs Fly: Training Success With Impossible Dogs (Dogwise Publishing). Her dogs have appeared in magazines and on television and she has contributed several dog training articles to various publications.

 

 

Sharleen Mompalao, Instructor

Sharleen went to Northampton Community College for 1-1/2 years where she studied Biology and Psychology. She then went on to work for Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for two years. She has been teaching since 2005. Sharleen is a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and is a behavior “junkie.” Sharleen enjoys continuing her education by going to positive training seminars.

Sharleen firmly believes that learning should be a good experience for the dog as well as their owner. By using positive training methods, she finds that both ends of the leash have an eagerness to learn and a higher level of confidence.

Sharleen owns 2 dogs, Bella and Jack. Bella is a four-year old Pug that was very shy when Sharleen got her. She has now overcome that timidity and is now her main “demo” dog. Bella is on the road to competing in Rally and Competition Obedience. Sharleen recently adopted Jack, a two-year old Labrador Retriever mix. He is learning very quickly and although he is a handful, Sharleen says he is fun to have around.

 

Anna Burbank, Instructor

Anna has been involved in dog training since 1985 when she took her rough collie, Toth, to a beginner obedience class. Toth quickly earned his CD (Companion Dog)certificate with scores in the high 190s, but became fearful and unwilling to work after being exposed to harsh training methods (which were pretty much the norm back then).

In the late 1980s Anna attended a Karen Pryor seminar on Clicker Training and has been hooked on positive training ever since. A casual competitor, she has dabbled in obedience, tracking, schutzhund and agility. She is a member of the Lenape Tracking Club and Kruisin' Kanines Agility club, has served on the board of both organizations and is an instructor at Kruisin' Kanines.

Anna has been most delighted to share her love of dog training, particularly clicker training, with her daughters, Brigit and Molly. Now 17 and 18 years old, they have earned many agility titles with their Papillion's, now competing in Excellent levels.

Anna’s family currently includes her husband, Dave, her two daughters and four dogs - her daughter’s Papillion's (Tuffy and Sempkin), her new Pryenean Shepherd puppy (Spring) and Po, a mixed breed dog found on a dirt road near their house.

The Most Important Members of Our Team!
** Photos by Louis B. Ruediger