I was first exposed to dog shows when I was 17.  I was working for Linda Greenly at her dog grooming business, Pampered Pets for which I now own and operate.  She bred and showed American Cocker Spaniels.  She took me to my first show and I followed her and watched her every move, paying attention to the grooming and handling.  I took an English Springer spaniel she had purchased from Steve and Kelly Dainard of KAS Springer's, Nikki, into junior handling and I had to have a show dog of my own.  I had intended to buy a Springer from Linda when she bred Nikki.  Unfortunately she could not be bred so I decided to purchase an American Cocker from her, BISS CH. Mapleayr's Lord Houston Nesmar, Houston.  Houston was the number 5 cocker in Canada in 1996 with me showing him, that was it……I was hooked.

I was asked by professional handler, Colin Brownlee, if I would be interested in working for him at shows, I took no time to think about as I knew this was a direction I wanted to go.  To be able to handle dogs for other people.  Working for Colin, I learned a lot about other breeds, not just cockers and felt confident that I could go out on my own handling.  I joined the Canadian Professional Handlers Association, with the support from Colin, in 2002.  I have worked for several other handlers in my area and am now out showing dogs for many people from Canada and the United States.

I have won several Best in Shows, Best in Specialty Shows and Best Puppy in Shows on my own dogs and on client dogs.  I have multiple group first wins and many other group placements and best puppy in group placements on several dogs' different dogs to date.  I have finished numbers dogs for my friends and clients since I first began.  I would like to thank them for their friendship and all their support when I decided to go out on my own; Denise Copas, Copadale; Cathy Sager, Casa; Betty Soulsby, Fanciful; and to Christine Wagner, Christycrest, for always being in my corner