Morris K9 Campus

OUR STAFF

	"We started to bring Lucy to K9 when she was about 8 months old. She was a very rambunctious and tireless young yellow lab. Immediately K9 accomplished what we needed for Lucy - providing a safe place with professional supervision so Lucy could run out some of the boundless lab puppy energy and learn to interact with other dogs. Four years later Lucy still loves her time at K9. She is well "socialized" with other dogs and well exercised after her K9 sessions. Thank you, K9!" Marilyn Burk

Abbie Stuttard - Daycare Manager

Since rescuing her first dog in 2001, a German Shepherd, Abbie has been committed to the goal of dog socialization. This goal sparked her interest in learning more about the group play aspect of socialization. Since then, she has attended numerous seminars by nationally recognized experts to further educate herself on the responsibilities of play group management and understanding canine body language. Abbie continuously strives to provide a safe environment for dogs to play and socialize at Morris K9 Campus, ultimately making both their lives, and those of their owners, more enjoyable.

Before joining Morris K9 Campus, Abbie worked as Lodging Manager at Morris Animal Inn, where she was responsible for the daily care of hundreds of animals. Abbie earned both PCSA Level I and II Advanced Pet Care certification while working at the Inn.

Robin Lash - Daycare & Training

Robin studied at a nationally recognized dog training school where she learned everything from puppy imprinting to agility and nosework. She has also attended seminars to better understand canine behavior and the canine/human relationship by experts such as Ian Dunbar and Patricia McConnell. Before finding a home as a trainer at Morris K9 Campus, Robin taught her own group classes, in-home sessions, and countless private lessons devoted to canine behavioral problems. Her method includes using balance and structure to help develop the bond between dog and owner, and her personal philosophy emphasizes that training should be fun, encouraging behaviors that involve everyday situations.

Prior to working at Morris K9 Campus, Robin spent more than six years caring for dogs and cats in Morris Animal Inn's Lodging department. During this time, she took care of hundreds of animals, studying and learning from her daily observations. In 2004, Robin earned her PSCA Level I and II Advanced Pet Care certification.

Margaret Reitmeyer - Agility Instructor

Margaret Reitmeyer has been competing in dog agility since 1997. She has been an agility instructor since 2001 and spent two years as an assistant pet trainer. She realizes that all dogs and people do not learn through the same methods so she tailors her approach for each dog and handler team. She has been an instructor with the Morris K9 Campus since 2005, when the school opened.

Margaret's current agility partners are a rescued Portuguese Podengo named Jonah and a Cattle dog mix named Tempe Wick. Jonah has earned 3 NATCH -S titles and has competed at the NADAC agility Championships in 2009 and 2011. Tempe Wick competed at the NADAC agility Championships in 2009. Both dogs made the NADAC Top Ten by Breed in 2009 and 2010. Tempe Wick made NADAC Top 10 overall (US, Canada and Australia) by class in 2009 and 2010.

Margaret loves to see the confidence that dogs gain while training in agility as well as the strong connection that develops between a person and their dog.

Kim Seiter - Agility Instructor

Having been involved in many aspects of competitive dog sports for the last fourteen years, Kim brings a unique behavioral approach to training. This approach is built on relationship-building and the principles of operant conditioning. Kim trains all foundation behaviors with clicker and play-based methods, maximizing the bond between dog and handler. She has also worked with American Eskimo Rescue, where she specialized in aggressive behavior.

Originally showing German Shepherds in competitive obedience, Kim trained under renowned obedience trainer and competitor, Elwood Wilson. She has been actively training and competing in agility for the last seven years. To date, Kim titled in the Masters levels, with six different dogs in three different agility venues.

Frankie (Sassie) Joiris - Agility Instructor

Sassie Joiris has been teaching cognizant, non-human animals most of her life, beginning as a pet and competitive obedience class instructor at age sixteen, and continuing to the present day. Sassie previously taught animal actors, working with a wide variety of species, and has been teaching and competing in agility with her own dogs for the past seven year.

Sassie has lead agility seminars geared towards "hard to motivate" dogs, and offers one-on-one motivational sessions. She utilizes the best tools possible for each dog and handler team, including bridge and target techniques. Sassie is on the staff of the nationally recognized dog camp, Camp Gone to the Dogs in Vermont, and is a regular contributor to Clean Run Magazine.

Linda Bogert - Agility Instructor

Linda Bogert started agility training in 2001with her Cockapoo, Bogey, in order to build his confidence and strengthen their bond. The two started competing in 2003, quickly rising to the Elite level of competition. Linda is now training and competing at the Excellent level with her 3 year old Australian Shepherd, Haley, who has been training at Morris K9 Campus since she was a puppy.

Prior to teaching at the Morris K9 Campus, Linda was a certified pet obedience trainer. She believes that agility should always be fun and that each agility team has a unique combination of personalities and capabilities. Linda utilizes an analytical approach to problem solving and her varied training background to help each team accomplish its goals.

Karen Stiff-Carroll - Agility Instructor

Karen Stiff-Carroll has been training and competing with Rottweilers in agility since 1999. She loves the challenge of training a non traditional breed in the sport of agility. Karen is currently competing with Jerome, a seven-year-old Rottweiler. They have completed Jerome's AKC Masters titles and are working on his MACH, his USDAA PD3, and Performance tournament masters title and are almost at his PDCH. Karen and Jerome participated in the USDAA Cynosport World Games in 2010 and 2011, where Jerome was the only Rottweiler to compete. Karen also successfully competed with Alice, a Cattle Dog and Takoda, a five-year-old Rottweiler. She is currently training 19-month-old Cyder as her next partner.

Karen enjoys the journey of training and fostering a great relationship with her dogs. Her success is a by-product of that relationship.

Jenn Stollery - Agility Instructor

Jenn Stollery got her first dog in 2003, and was immediately bitten by the agility bug. Competition was soon to follow, and it was all uphill from there. Now, she has four Cavalier King Charles spaniels, all of which compete in agility, rally, obedience, and anything else they can convince someone to give them a ribbon for.

An avid Cavalier King Charles spaniel enthusiast, Jenn volunteers for cavalier rescue. She models her own attitude after theirs, and hopes to be just as joyful and fun-loving as they are. She spends any free time trying to train her dogs to do things other than barking and running around like lunatics.

Nicole Fischer - Agility Instructor

Nicole Fischer's energetic style is just organized and methodical enough to leave plenty of room for experimentation and fun! For beginners, she'll help you discover what makes your dog tick and how to use that to blossom as a team; experienced handlers, she'll enjoying working with you to refine your timing and strategy so that you can run faster, with confidence and joy. Nicole's comfortable working with all breeds small to tall, driven or timid, and enjoys the process of bringing out the best in each dog.

Nicole has been competing in agility for ten years. Her second Standard Poodle, Ruse, at just three years old, is close to both his MACH and his ADCH and often earns placements in large classes. Nicole and Ruse qualified to compete in all classes at the 2011 USDAA National Championships and are qualified for the 2012 AKC National Championships. Ruse earned his CD and CDX obedience titles at age two in a minimal number of trials and with a placement for each leg, including 1st place four times.

Nicole has also been a professional agility photographer for six years and has a unique perspective on handling and on the canine-human bond after capturing hundreds of thousands of beautiful images of dogs and their handlers in action and repose.

James Lee Epperly - Agility Instructor

James Lee Epperly became a professional dog trainer in 2005 and focused his efforts on behavior and agility training. In 2006, he began competing with his seven-year-old Yellow Lab, Boo Boo. In 2010, a Jack Russell named Willy came into his life and agility became his favorite activity. Most recently, in August of 2011, he adopted a year old Great Pyrenese named Dallas. Falling in line with the rest of the pack, agility has become amazing fun for this goliath dog, Dallas as well.

Currently James competes in AKC Agility with his Jack Russell. In 2009, James was voted a favorite Agility instructor for the Tri-State area in Tails magazine.

His goal as an agility instructor is to use positive reinforcement and fun techniques to keep both dogs and students happy and having fun.

Diane M Lange - Agility Instructor

Diane M Lange taught numerous levels of Obedience classes for over ten years for a local dog club where she was President, a past Assistant Obedience Director and is now the current Agility Director. She worked with owners of re-homed American Eskimos through the Eskies Online Rescue Group and wrote a monthly column called "Tri State Tails" for "Front & Finish Newspaper" from 1990-2000.

Diane has been in involved in performance dog sports for over twenty years. Her first American Eskimo and Novice A dog, Delilah, became the first Utility Dog Excellent in the breed. She was a consistent placement contender at Regional Obedience Championships and earned a variety of Agility titles in AKC and NADAC. Her next Eskie, Breyer, started in the Conformation Ring and then progressed into Obedience, earning through her Utility Title as well as in the AKC and NADAC Agility rings to the Master and Elite levels. Her third Eskie, Chase, was found by Diane on the streets of lower Manhattan. Despite being untrained, blind in one eye and bundled with "rescue" issues; Chase cheerfully earned Agility titles in AKC, NADAC and USDAA. Her current dog, Morgan, a Norwegian Buhund, is working on a variety of Master titles in both AKC and USDAA Agility. Sookie, another Norwegian Buhund and AKC Breed Champion, is anxiously awaiting her turn at the start line. All of Diane's dogs have been nationally ranked over multiple years within the top five of their breed in either Obedience, Agility or both including Morgan who was #1 AKC 2010 Agility Norwegian Buhund. Diane has handled Golden Retrievers in Agility, earning AKC Master and USDAA Advanced Agility Dog titles. Additionally, Diane enjoys being the student when working with sheep with her Norwegian Buhunds as these dogs instinctively know more about herding sheep than she does.

Since 1999, Diane has been a strong believer in natural rearing methods and holistic alternatives for animals. With her partner Donna, Diane owns and manages their all natural pet product business, Paws Up On Health.

Diane has studied with a variety of instructors including: Laurie Rubenfeld (Obedience), Diane Bauman (Obedience/Agility/Herding), Diane Sobel-Meyer (Herding) and Kim Seiter (Agility).

While Diane has trained many dogs, they in turn have taught her many lessons. Training methods have evolved over the years and Diane is grateful to be a part of that progression.

Mary-Anne Gross - Agility Instructor

Mary-Anne Gross has been active in agility since 1994. She took her first agility class because she thought her dog Sally might like it. "Like" turned out to be an understatement, and it became an obsession. Mary-Anne began teaching classes in 2000 and is now returning to teaching after several years' hiatus.

As an instructor, Mary-Anne brings a sharp eye, years of experience, creativity, and a sense of fun to her classes. She enjoys the challenge of solving a variety of problems and helping dog and handler teams realize their potential. An avid student of animal behavior and operant ("clicker") training, she takes a special interest in bringing out the best in shy or fearful dogs.

Her own dogs have earned over 130 titles in AKC, CPE, NADAC, USDAA and ASCA agility venues. Her Shelties Bryce and Jayda were among the first ten dogs from New Jersey to earn a CPE C-ATCH. Today, Mary-Anne competes primarily in AKC, CPE and NADAC at the Masters/L5-C/Elite levels. She also has dabbled in a number of other dog sports and has experience working with feral cats. When not training her dogs, Mary-Anne can usually be found doing "geeky computer things" or occasionally training her cats.