Registration Begins Last Week of August
Puppy and Beginner ClassesContact Diane Henn kitsana@shaw.ca
All Other Classes
Contact Leslie Gardiner dlgardiner@shaw.ca
Note: Registration in Trials Practice, Open and Utility classes requires permission from the Instructor
CLASSES
Meet Our Instructors
Obedience
Class Schedule and Fees
Leslie
I have had dogs all my life and love training them! My first obedience competition dogs were Springer Spaniels. In 1996 I got my first golden retriever from my sister - "Riker" OTCH CAN CH Doniekas Number One O Westwood TD WCI AGN CGN. He was my first Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) and he also introduced me to retriever training, tracking and many other dog sports. My second golden retriever - "Griffin" OTCH HR UH GoldnGun Done on a Dare SH WCX CGN SDDA- MACH was an awesome training partner as well and introduced me to the world of scent detection when he was just 9 weeks old! I presently have two lovely goldens in training - "Remi" and "Rowan" both from GoldnGun kennels. Remi at the Utility level and Rowan just starting her obedience career. I have been teaching obedience classes for over 30 years and have been the Head Trainer of Cowichan Dog Obedience Training Club for for many of those. I love being a part of a dog and handler's journey and watching them grow as a team. I am very proud of the classes we provide to our students. I have been an Association of Island Obedience Club (AIOC) judge for over 20 years and also judge CKC hunt tests, retriever trials, obedience sanction matches and scent detection trials. I love that my dog training has introduced me to so many great people.
Mary
Since the mid 90’s, I have trained and titled eight Golden Retrievers in competitive obedience, four to the OTCHX/MOTCH level, including the first CH-OTCH-MH Golden Retriever in Canada. Over the years I have been attended obedience workshops with Anne-Marie Silverton, Terry Arnold, Bridget Carlsen, Keltie Lang, Janice Gunn, Ward Faulkner and my biggest influence, Connie Cleveland. My first love is field work, but strong obedience skills play into every other performance venue, and more importantly, living with our well-behaved pets. Currently we share our home with four wonderful owner/breeder/trained girls: "Oli” ~ HRCH UHCH; CH MOTCH GMH NMH2 Zaniri Olive That N More WCX TD CGN; GRCA WCX CCA; Am **; 1045 HRC points; GRCC VHOF OBHOF HTHOF MVCX OD (b. 2012 - retired) “Morley” ~ HR UH; MOTCH Zaniri Say No More WCX SH CGN; GRCA WC CCA; GRCC OBHOF (b. 2017 – retired) “Ninja” ~ HRCH UHCH; OTCH GMH Zaniri Dare I Say More WCX JFTR CGN; 530 HRC points (b. 2020) …and our new upstart, the first of my solo breeding kennel name: “Hoopla” ~ Keenmor As it Happens (b. 2025)
Maria
Maria has been training dogs since 2008, as a volunteer instructor with local clubs & as a private coach. She is the owner of The Canine Acamania. Maria’s enthusiasm & creative approach give her students a high success rate. Maria's achievements with her dogs reflect her expertise, as they have earned multiple titles in obedience and field events, including several High in Trial (HIT), Master Obedience Trial Champion (MOTCH), Grand Master Hunter (GMH), and Master Hunter (NMH) titles.
I started training dogs in 1974 at CDOTC; my first dogs were Samoyeds. I stared as an assistant in 1976 (approx.) in the Novice classes and have pretty much been instructing ever since. I have mainly instructed Beginner classes, but also Open. I have earned numerous CD titles with my Samoyeds, Shelties, and a Standard Poodle. I also earned a few CDX titles with the Samoyeds and Shelties and a Utility title with one of my Shelties. Over the years, I have attended numerous seminars to keep up with learning new skills to help students ave a well-balanced pet.
Susan
Heather and Cathy are CDOTC's Rally Obedience Training's dynamic duo. Heather has been training dogs for more than 25 years. Her current canine partners are Golden Retriever, Ollie and her Yellow Labrador, Gambit. Ollie has earned his Master's Title in RO. Gambit has finished his RO Masters Excellent and is working on his RO Championship. Both dogs participate in hunt work- Ollie is working on Junior and Gambit on Senior. Gambit also participates in scent detection and is working at the Utility level in obedience, Ollie is just stating out in Obedience. Cathy
Heather
Cathy
Assistant Trainers
Mavis
I first became interested in Obedience training when I got my first Golden Retriever in the 1990's. Since then, I've had four more Goldens, including two rescues and I managed to put Obedience and Field titles on all of them. Since moving to the Island and becoming part of the CDOTC, my Golden Retriever, Cochise and I enjoyed competing in Obedience, Rally, Field, Scent Detection and Sprinter. I now have a new puppy and I am starting all over again! Current;y, I am assisting in our Beginner's Obedience classes.
Dave
I have been involved in training and trialing my small dogs at various levels for 60 years. I believe training should be a fun and positive experience for both the dog and the owner. The rewards are many. I now like to train and assist in classes as a way to stay involved and to help others.
Erin
I have three dogs who participate in many sports including obedience, rally, scent work, sprinter, field, and conformation. I started obedience training and trialing with my first Golden, Arthur, in 2021.
Yvonne
I believe I have been with the club for 30 years now and I have been an assistant trainer for about as long. For close to 10 years, I have been assisting Sue with Beginners, I love seeing the people "get it" when they start to connect their dogs and become a team. I have been training my own dogs and began with a Cocker Spaniel, then Shelties, Rottweilers and now, a Pitbull Akita mix. I have done a lot of Obedience trialling with my Shelties in addition to Agility and Herding.