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    Our Instructors

Valerie Bernhardt - I started in dogs in 1971 after finally moving to Pa. Working and having dogs was a childhood dream that after 40 plus years still remains my passion. I love training dogs and building a working/bond relationship with them. To date I have owned and trained over 20 Flat-coated retrievers and 9 English cocker spaniels to over 16 bench championships ( most were owner handled), over 30 obedience titles in various venues, 12 working certificates, 4 working certificate excellent, 9 junior hunters, 1 senior hunter plus over 20 titles in Rally both in the US and Canada. I have also run multiple dogs in agility gaining over 15 agility titles also in various registries. In addition some of the dogs have placed and won sporting groups, 3 achieved high in specialty trials awards and many have been nationally rated in various registries.

I have been training for TSDOC since the mid- 70's having apprenticed under some of the best trainers during that period. I try to keep current with training methods by attending seminars yearly. I am past president of the Flat-coated Retriever Society of America. I was a delegate to the AKC for many years and am currently secretary for the Westchester Retriever Club. After all of these years I still get the most satisfaction out of teaching the beginners class and watching dog and handlers become working teams.


Joan Clemmons - AKC RALLY INSTRUCTOR FOR 4 YEARS-
Before my involvement with dogs I worked with horses most of my life. During that time I owned, trained, showed and instructed. In 1996 I took my first obedience class at TSDOC with my German Shepherd because I wanted a well behaved dog. Later, I began training my Pug, Rosie. This is when my interest in training dogs for competition began. Rosie and I earned titles in Rally, Obedience and Agility. We are currently working towards her U.D. and excellent agility titles. My English Bulldog, Holly, has earned AKC Rally and C.D. titles and is now working towards her C.D.X.

I own six dogs, ranging from a Chihauhua to a Great Dane. My husband and I, along with our children started a 4-H dog club called K-9 Frenzy. I was lucky to start AKC Rally at its inception and attended seminars while working through my Novice to Excellent titles. I was asked to teach a class at TSDOC and found I really enjoyed the challenge.

Overall, for me, it is not the titles that are most important, but the people I have met and helped along the way, especially those who have helped and supported me.


Linda Husson - Linda has been involved in dog training since 1986. Her first dog was a Shetland Sheepdog named "Kelly", and after attending a Beginners Obedience class at Tri-State Dog Obedience Club, Kelly went on to compete in Obedience trials and became a Utility Dog. While Linda's foundation lies with obedience, her main focus is now Agility.

"I believe that dog training should not be a chore but something that is enjoyed by both dog and human. From basic obedience to the more advanced varieties of training, it's about the journey, not the destination. Positive reinforcement, clarity, consistency & mutual respect are key elements for building a solid & enjoyable relationship."

PAST DOGS
"Kelly" (Sheltie) - Obedience: Novice A to AKC & Canadian UD; Dog World Award
"Teddie" (Sheltie) - Obedience: AKC UD, UDX and OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion), Canadian OTCH.
- Multiple High in Trial & High-Combined awards; 2 Dog World Awards.
- Competed in several regional & national level tournaments, placing 4 times at Gaines Eastern Regional
   Tournaments (once in Novice, and 3 times in Super Dog). In 1990 & 1991, ranked as one of the top 10
   Shelties in AKC Obedience.

- AKC Herding Tested title on sheep
- Agility: USDAA MAD & JM; AKC MX
"Robin" (Border Collie) - Obedience: AKC and Canadian CD.
- Agility: AKC MX & MXJ; USDAA ADCH (Agility Dog Champion) & Lifetime Achievement Award (Bronze)
- 1999 PupPeroni Classic Agility Tournament, 3rd place in the 24" division.
"Toss" (Border Collie) - Obedience: AKC CD Agility: USDAA Agility Dog Champion; AKC MX & MXJ.
- 1999 Eastern Regional PupPeroni Agility Tournament, Winner of 24" division.
"Token" (Border Collie) - Agility: USDAA ADCH (Agility Dog Champion), Tournament Master-Bronze and several other titles; AKC AX, OAJ & XF. Flyball: FMCH (Flyball Master Champion)

RETIRED DOGS
"Tripper" (Border Collie) - Agility: USDAA ADCH & Lifetime Achievement Award (Bronze); AKC MXJ & OA.Flyball: FDX (Flyball Dog Excellent)

CURRENT DOGS
"Dandy" (Border Collie) competes in both Agility and Flyball. He earned his USDAA Master Agility Dog title at age 2, and his Agility Dog Championship at age 3. In Flyball, he has earned his FMX title, and averages 4.0 as start dog.
"Tempo" (Border Collie) competes in Flyball and is in training for Agility.


Barbara Miller - began her interest in dog training in 1979 and her association with Tri-State Dog Obedience Club started shortly thereafter. Barbara's first dog, a corgi cross named Ferdinand, completed his Mixed Breed Companion Dog title at a TSDOC match show back in 1986. Since then Barbara and her dogs have earned well over 100 titles in Obedience, Agility, Herding, Tracking, Flyball and Conformation. She has achieved several breed "firsts" including the first AKC agility title on a Basset Hound and the first VCD1 (CD, NA, NAJ, TD) on an American Foxhound. Her Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Australian Cattle Dogs, Foxhound and Basset Hounds have consistently been top ranked Nationally in Obedience, Rally and Agility.

Barbara teaches Agility at Tri-State Dog Obedience Club. She believes that building a strong learning foundation early in a dog's life is crucial to a successful life-long relationship.


Cathy Mann - STAR Puppy, AKC Tricks, AKC CGC Class, WCR Rally Class

There has always been a dog, or multiple dogs in Cathy’s life. If that was not enough she would bring home every ‘stray’ and make sure it found it’s way back to it’s owner. When the new Cocker Spaniel puppy came into her life when she was 12, she taught it tricks and won first prize in her Town Park competition. As an adult, her first dog was Penny, a German Shorthaired Pointer, followed by Nicki a Miniature Schnauzer and then her daughter Bridgette.

In 2010 Cathy started fostering for several Rescue Groups in the NJ/NY area. As of this writing, she and her husband have fostered over 60 puppies, and three found their forever home with Cathy. Zoe (since passed at the age of 14+) already had been adopted when the fostering started, as a way to get Zoe more ‘social’. Zoe earned her NACSW NW1 at the age of 13+. Sampson came next (now 7) who has earned titles in WCR Rally, Barn Hunt, CDSP Obedience, ACK Tricks and CPE Agility also had been certified with Pet Partners and routinely visited a Nursing Home. Sampson also has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen. Samantha (now 6) has earned titles in WCR Rally, CDSP Obedience, UKC NW and CPE Agility. Gideon (now 5, a deaf Aussie mix) has earned titles in WCR Rally, CDSP Obedience, AKC Tricks and UKC NW. Gideon also has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen. All three dogs have been included in the WCR Rally Annual ‘Top 20’ Rankings for various Titles. New puppy Morgan (Aussie mix) has joined the family, adopted from a local rescue group. Too young, yet to compete – but training has begun.

In 2013 when the opportunity presented itself to complete an internship under a dog trainer in NJ, Cathy couldn’t pass it up. Upon the completion of the 250 hours of one on one training/student teaching/researching and writing she then began to teach Basic 1 manners at the Dog Training School owned by the trainer. As well as Basic 1, Cathy also did private in-home lessons.

Cathy has been teaching at TSDOC since 2015. She is an AKC CGC and AKC Tricks Evaluator and is Certified in Pet CPR and First Aid.

In her spare time, Cathy volunteers as a transport driver for a number of rescue groups and actively competes with her dogs in CPE Agility, WCR Rally, CDSP Obedience, NACSW NW and UKC NW. Cathy’s passion is getting puppies off to the ‘right start’ and feels that the STAR Puppy Class is one of the most rewarding classes to teach. Both new and previous puppy owners will truly benefit from the class.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” - Roger Caras 


Betty Padgett - Started in dogs around 1969 when she brought her Rough Collie to obedience classes at TSDOC in Matamoras and became hooked.  Shortly thereafter she started competing in dog obedience competition and breed conformation with her Shetland Sheepdog. In the 1970's to 1990’s she also competed in sled-dog races with a variety of breeds from Siberian/Alaskan Huskies to Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers.

Over the past many years she has owned, loved and competed with her Siberian Huskies, Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retrievers. Doberman Pinschers, Miniature Pinscher, Australian Shepherd and currently, Border Collies.

Her dogs have earned (all owner trained and handled):

Multiple High In Trials in obedience and herding,

  • 2nd Pl 1987 Pennsylvania Sled-dog Championships  3-5 dog class
  • HIT 1993 Maritime Obedience Invitational in Nova Scotia Canada
  • 4th in the JL Versatility Competition at the 2010 BCSA National Specialty
  • 3rd Pl. Open Class, 2012 AllStar Obedience Championships
  • VCD2, Utility,C-OTCH & C-UDX
  • Herding Championships
  • Breed Conformation Champion
  • ScentWork Advanced
  • Agility Excellent
  • Tracking Dog
  • Rally Excellent
  • Trick-Dog Performer
  • CGCA

and Border Collie, Jake; Doberman Pinscher, Kimber; Labrador, Thumper were excellent pheasant dogs in the field as hunting companions and wonderful hiking companions.

Betty is an AKC-Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.  Her classes are flexible for the pet owner who desires to work towards a well-trained canine citizen/companion or competition partner.


Rose Robischon - At present Rose is the President of the National Owner Handler Association, Inc. Before moving to this area she was president of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of the Owner Handler Association as well as their handling instructor in conformation. She has been President of the Tri-County Collie Breeders Association and trained and shown Collies in breed and obedience to their championships. She is a board member and AKC delegate of the Wallkill Kennel Club. She is also Vice President of the Stewards Club of America.