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. Her training philosophy is a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

Be sure to check out Pam in the kitchen!

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.

Renee Hall, Instructor

Renee Hall has always been involved in animal care; training and well-being, starting as a child working with wounded and abandoned animals in her own catch and release program. Her informal education included working as an assistant at a local animal hospital and volunteering at shelters. Renee's formal education is a BA from Rutgers University, majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Biology. While in college, she continued to work at an animal hospital and was the resident adopter - continuing to work on rehab, release and rehoming of a variety of animals, domestic and wild and continues to work in rescue. Although her professional career was in business management, not in animal care, she was responsible for introducing pet integration programs at a variety of Residential Care facilities for at risk populations and these programs are still working today.

Currently, Renee is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Golden Retriever Club of America, Allentown Dog Training Club, and an AKC-CGC Evaluator. She is working toward her CPDT and continues her education through seminars, lectures and classes to keep current in the behavioral field and improve training techniques. She is active in a variety of dog sports including AKC Obedience, Rally, APDT Rally, AKC Tracking, field work and dabbles in agility. Currently, Renee has 3 Golden Retrievers- Dylan (Viking's Wheelin' N Dealin' RA, TDI)- he has been in 8 TV commercials/TV shows, is a therapy dog and participates in the BASD Reading with Dogs Program, Sophie - (ArchX Camelot's Ready to Rumble, CD, RE, RL1X, RL2X, RL3, CGC) has qualified over 50 times in the ring with placements and is currently working toward her CDX and APDT ArchEX. Sophie was the #4 RL2 dog in the nation in 2007 with limited showing and she finished her RL3 with an Award of Excellence. Darby, the new pup, is gearing up for fun this year and currently is working in tracking and field using positive motivation. Since learning clicker training, Renee has never looked back and is amazed and thrilled at not only what her dogs accomplish, but at what her students accomplish. "I am thrilled daily at how positive motivation works in the every day world and humbled by my students accomplishments"-Renee Hall.

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